The Oz Exception: Part Eleven

The Oz Exception: Part Eleven

We gathered in the amphitheater at Pongset. And at the exact same moment, our green little moon, Ping, rose behind the hill with the giant S on it. Ping was gifted to Saragun Springs by the Discworld realm, when the Great A’Tuin and company crossed our sky a while back. At least that’s what we think happened. But, Pong and Ping claim to be brothers, and Ping is a native of the Springs–regardless, anything remains possible when you don’t have all the facts.

Speaking of unlikely Brothers, Beezer and Barkevious, the Braw Bros. Baw were on the stage, both wearing formal looking bow ties and white dickeys. As stated earlier, my capacity for three active characters in one scene is three plus myself. Since there were 250 or so FC’s in the audience and another estimated 400,000 Sheep and Lambs gathered on S hill to watch (even Pong occasionally peeked over his setting spot to check things out, which caused a weird strobe effect), only up to three will be active at a time, in little scenes, like this:

Scene one

Beezer is a British Bulldog and Barkevious is a Scottie. Inspired Pong shone a single beam on the stage, creating a spotlight.

“Welcome to the first annual Pushsprings awards,” said Beezer.

“How can it be annual if the first ain’t happened yet?” Barkevious asked. They were supposed to follow a script, but since neither can read, the cue cards that I saw held by Penrose were somewhat useless. Beezer had memorized the first line after it had been repeated to him, but Barkevious, being a contrary Scottie, ad libbed immediately.

“That ain’t what you wuz s’posed to say, pillock.”

Scene Two

Gwen was still fascinated by John’s rubbery form to pay attention. I had to smack her on the hand after she had pulled a good section of his knee out for examination, therefore she had missed her cue.

“Oh, sorry,” she said. “Wow, what a special night.”

“Goddammit, that is three pages from now,” I said.

“Am I supposed to say anything?” John, who had been drinking since part three asked.

“Well, now that you did, I guess so.” I deleted the script from my phone, knowing that it was useless.

Scene three

A trio of delinquent Lambs, members of “ASH” (Award Show Hooligans), by name Tam, Meena and Boaby, were on the hill behind the stage, planning a disruption.

“Catapult torque?”

“Check.”

“Sheep shit payload?”

“Check.”

“Chorus of Evil Lamb laughter?”

“Heeheebuwahaha!”

End Part Eleven

8 thoughts on “The Oz Exception: Part Eleven

  1. Dale Williams W Barrigar's avatar Dale Williams W Barrigar says:

    Leila!

    The Belle of Amherst blurted out a single line that still reverberates through the hills and hollows and halls and labyrinths and mountains and valleys of World Literature:

    “Tell all the truth but tell it slant” (she did that many times). I sense that kind of power here!

    D.W.B.

    Like

  2. Dale Williams W Barrigar's avatar Dale Williams W Barrigar says:

    Leila!

    This reminds me of furry paws that look like Dr. Seuss animals, soft ears that stand straight up and big, bushy, wagging brush tails! Boo says, “Woofs!”

    The “real feel” temp in Chicago right now = 5 below 0 F.

    Tennessee Williams says:

    “When a play employs unconventional techniques, it is not, or certainly shouldn’t be, trying to escape its responsibility of dealing with reality, or interpreting experience, but is actually or should be attempting to find a closer approach, a more penetrating and vivid expression of things as they are.” I see that here…

    dale williams barrigar

    Liked by 1 person

    • Thank you Dale!
      I think I might be behind on my replies, a regrettable situation I shall repair tonight.
      Williams was wise about everything but his health. Still, his work holds up decades later. I think he would have killed Capote for the hatchet job he gave Tennessee in Answered Prayers.
      All the best,
      Leila

      Like

Leave a comment