THE TRIAL OF CAMILLE CLAUDEL
«you better not shout,you better not cry,
you better not pout i’m telling you why »anon
INQ
Are you Camille Claudel?
CLAUDEL
Yes. And, who are you?
INQ
My name it means nothing.
Camille, are you capable of understanding the charges against you?
CLAUDEL
I don’t see why not. What are they?
INQ
Camille, you are charged with borrowing a guitar without permission and returning it to its owner untuned. You could end up in the asylum.
CLAUDEL
It was tuned.
INQ
Your mother said she couldn’t play it in the condition it was returned.
CLAUDEL
Yeah, my mother. It was open D Tuning.
INQ
She said it sounded like a witch had been playing it.
Are you into the devil’s music?
CLAUDEL
I forgot to tune it back to standard.
INQ
Have you been forgetting many things lately?
CLAUDEL
Look, it’s been a difficult time. After 13 years, Rod and I are separating.
INQ
Your husband needs you now. Why are you abandoning him?
CLAUDEL
I gave him my youth, my love, my sweat. I helped him.
But now he’s too old to satisfy my needs.
INQ
Your needs? What about his?
CLAUDEL
He doesn’t acknowledge my contribution.
He doesn’t want me to do my own work.
He might be scared he’s peaked and I’ve surpassed him.
INQ
A Woman surpass a man? A master!
Do you really believe that is possible?
CLAUDEL
Is that a rhetorical question?
INQ
Good answer. Have you been well lately, dear?
CLAUDEL
Fuck off.I feel unappreciated.
INQ
Another good answer.
Your mother says you’ve been playing on the street.
CLAUDEL
IT’s as good a place as a concert hall,sometimes –
not that I’ve ever played in a concert hall.
INQ
The police have been bringing you home.
CLAUDEL
Does a bird need a permit to sing?
INQ
We are not birds.
CLAUDEL
Does a canary request flight time to warble at a certain frequency?
INQ
You are not a bird.
CLAUDEL
Am I n o t a s f r e e a s a b i r d ?
INQ
No you are not as free as a bird.
CLAUDEL
I am not as free as a bird?
INQ
She’s repeating herself.
CLAUDEL
He’s repeating himself..(Camille pirouettes)
INQ
Do you think you will fly if you spin fast enough?
CLAUDEL
ARGHHHHHH!!!!
INQ
Or sing like one?
CLAUDEL
Do the lilies of the field work 8 hours a day to look pretty?
INQ
No, but some women do.
CLAUDEL
Does a parrot need a bill of rights to soar to satirical heights?
INQ
You’re getting better at this!
.Camille Claudel you have a wonderful imagination.
Do you believe in the tooth fairy?
CLAUDEL
No
INQ
Witches on broomsticks?
CLAUDEL
No
INQ
or Santa Claus?
CLAUDEL
Not anymore-
INQ
Ah, but we do! Take her in for observation.
The usual medications
Keep her there for at least a month and as long as necessary
CLAUDEL
I guess there is a sanity clause after all
INQ
Bzzzzz. Good answer but time has expired–bye bye.
*******
PANDORA’S JUG
PANDORA, PANDORA
THEY SAY I DID
WHAT I SHOULDN’T HAVE OUGHT TO
I USED TO CARRY WATER IN A BEAUTIFUL JUG
WHO BROKE/STOLE MY PITCHER
WHO REPLACED IT WITH A BOX?
HOW DID MY GIFTS GET SO DEFTLY TWISTED
WHO CONVINCED ME
TO STOP LISTENING
TO MY OWN INNER WISDOM
YOU’VE INVERTED PERVERTED
REWORDED ALL MY STORIES
YOU’VE REMOVED ME CONFUSED ME
INVENTED A WAR TO WAY LAY ME
YOU DEGRADE ME UPBRAID ME
YOU’RE TRYING TO
MAKE ME GO CRAZY
YOU IGNORE ME YOU DEPLORE ME
I WON’T LET YOU FLOOR ME
I’M ALL ESTRANGED MY LOVES INSANE
WHATEVER TWISTED ME INSIDE OUT
SHOULD NOT BE MINE ALONE TO FIGURE OUT
YOU’VE PUSHED ME DOWN INTO A BOX
TIED, KNOTTED, TWISTED
& SEALED IT WITH A LOCK
GRACE, WIT AND WISDOM
FLOWED FROM YOUR PITCHER
WHO INVENTED THIS BOX
WHO PERVERTED THE PICTURE
WHO REWROTE THESE TALES
UNDER WHOSE ORDERS
PANDORA POURED FREELY
HOPE WASN’T HOARDED
THE LORD IS A CERAMICIST
SHE CREATED THE FIRST JUG
CURVES AND SPOUTS AND HANDLES
THE POET OF THE MUD
SHE LEARNED THE STRENGTHS OF HER SUBJECTS
THEIR WEAKNESSES, TOO
DON’T UNDERESTIMATE HER
SHE WON’T UNDERESTIMATE YOU
GOD IS TIRED OF BEING ALONE
RETURN THE GODDESS
TO HER RIGHTFUL THRONE
LET A CYCLE BE RENEWED
HAND IN HAND, SIDE BY SIDE
PROMETHEUS, PANDORA TWO BY TWO
********
from the play Tightrope see webpage
and youtube
Tightrope 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUpXqoe5HnI
14:05