Halloween Memories: Drag, Neo-Futurists, Ravens & Gods

It was three years ago that I was working on “Drag,”  the show I co-wrote with the Neo-Futurists as part of their prime-time series.

Today, as a way of celebrating rememberance, I am posting the portion of the script that includes my homage to Siouxsie Sioux, some literary influences, and also celebrates the Irish goddess the Morrigan, which has a few connections to the world of the Sidhe, and in turn, Halloween. For more about these connections between fairies, music and writing, see my earlier post this week.

In 2006 I did not go out for Halloween and I did not make a costume, because I did the show “Drag” in full drag, as well as a series of another 5 to 6 costumes, including a giant raven puppet.

Drag

2006

Written by Dean Evans, Gabrielle Schaffer, Jessica Hudson, Dylan Reiff and Cesar Torres

LETTERS/THE MORRIGAN

Cesar Torres

Lights go up, and one of the ensemble places a large headshot-type photograph of the following three figures on stage: Clive Barker, Siouxsie Sioux, and “The Little Mermaid”‘s Ursula.

Letter to CLIVE BARKER

Cesar flips up a copy of the book “Imajica” and begins reading.

I discovered the writer Clive Barker in high school. His novels and short stories were about about hidden fantastical worlds existing next to ours. In his books I read for the first time stories that contained gay characters. In his stories, gods and goddeses and magical creatures sometimes intersected with the human world.  I went to his book signings down at Kroch’s and Brentano’s bookstore, and once I ditched half a day of class just to go to the signing for his novel Imajica. That day I wanted to tell him his writing spoke to something deep and secret inside of me. But when I had my chance to talk to him, I didn’t say shit. Nothing. Instead, I ended up asking him some trivial question about doing  research on alchemy. He signed my book, smiled and shook my hand. He was kind and friendly. He wrote in my book, “Best Wishes, Clive Barker.” I went home and read the whole 800-page book in one weekend. That was 15 years ago.

[Sound of pages turning and then a loud thump like a book dropping]

[Cesar hands letter to Jessica, and she walks with it across the runway and takes it offstage]

Dear Mr. Barker, my name is Cesar Torres. Your books inspired me write my own fiction and tell my own stories. You made me feel it was okay to weave my passion for mythology, language and the fantastical eroticism into a single tapestry. When I read your novels, I felt that I was not fat, unathletic, or awkward, that I was not a person full of shame or sin, that I was not a freak. You and your books showed me places, both real and fictional, that I deserved to be in. When you came out of the closet in 1993 it didn’t change any of my enjoyment of your novels. I simply love the stories you tell. I want to thank you for your words.

At around that time, I saw “The Little Mermaid” at Ford City Cinema with my family, and I found myself being moved to the point of tears. I know, that sounds really gay. It is. A lot gay boys cry when Ariel sings about wanting to be ‘where the people are’. But my favorite character was Ursula the sea witch — half woman half octopus — who sang what was to me, the best song of the whole movie. Poor Unfortunate Souls.  As a teenager, I don’t remember feeling sad about not going on dates. I never went on a single date in high school. In fact, I didn’t go on dates until after college. I don’t think I complained to anyone about it either. But I did love movies.

“Come on you poor unfortunate soul
Go ahead!
Make your choice!
I’m a very busy woman and I haven’t got all day
It won’t cost much
Just your voice!

My first proper movie date happened when I was 28 years old. I had met this this guy Greg through a friend, and I surprised myself. The first night we met I said: “You know what? You and I need to go out on dates together.” And just as easily as I spoke those words, it happened. We saw X-men 2 on opening weekend and we saw a lot of movies together after that. Paying 8 bucks for admission and buying overpriced candy was a dream come true. Maybe for other people going to the movies with a boyfriend or girlfriend seems trivial. To me it does not.

Jessica enters, as Ursula

Jessica:You poor unfortunate soul
It’s sad but true
If you want to cross the bridge, my sweet
You’ve got the pay the toll
Take a gulp and take a breath
And go ahead and sign the scroll
Flotsam, Jetsam, now I’ve got her, boys
The boss is on a roll
This poor unfortunate soul”

Jessica imediately drops character and takes letter from Cesar, walks off. Cesar stands in the aisle.
Dear Ms. Ursula! My name is Cesar Torres.  In my opinion, you did not sing enough songs in your movie. You were robbed. I loved your sass and of course, your magic. You even turned yourself into a pretty lady, but I prefer your black tentacles. I want to thank you very much.

LETTER TO SIOUXSIE SIOUX

[We hear the first bars of "Dazzle"]

Cesar: High school was a lonely time for me. What’s funny is that I don’t resent the loneliness anymore. I just don’t wish it upon any kids who came after me. Even back then, I was outspoken kid, full of opinions and ideas, a real teacher’s pet. My friends and family never thought of me as shy and quiet. But despite all the things I could say, I still wanted to speak up and explain who I was. On that topic I remained pretty silent.

Jessica enters dancing as Siouxsie.

I used to go to Medusa’s a lot, a club for the under-21 set where you could hang out with punkers and kids in with black lipstick and combat boots. to Skinny Puppy, The Smiths and the Cure. Siouxsie Sioux, the lead singer of the band Siouxsie and the Banshees, became an icon to me. Her music was about stories and not sappy, contrived love songs. I mean, who else was singing about the lost city of Pompeii, Dia de los Muertos, or Jayne Mansfield being decapitated? Siouxsie looked amazing, like a a mix between an a butterfly and Cleopatra. She sang awesome, too. Like a bird. She was not afraid to look different, or to be different.

Cesar hands letter to Jessica. They both dance off toward the stage as Siouxsie.

Dear Siouxsie Sioux. My name is Cesar Torres. In many ways I was able to make it through adolescence because of you. You made your singing voice, your unique fashion style, even your makeup, something all your own. And to me it looked strong, beautfiul, and confident. And I wanted to be those things too. I made it, you see. In one piece! I would like to thank you. My eyebrows thank you too.

++++++++++++

The Morrigan

CHARACTERS
Romulus — Dean
Druid Priestess — Gabrielle
Badbh– Cesar
Macha — Jessica
Nemain — Dylan

Cesar: The following story is all my own and an homage to those artists.

Prologue

Lights are down. As the narrator’s voice hits several key passages in narration, very brief tableaus are shown in small bursts as the lights go up for each one. The tableaus move from the front of the room to the back to show chronology, but also movement through the land.

Narrator: As Chrisitanity moved into the British Isles, missionaries and roman warriors slayed many Celts. Those that remained were converted.
[Tableau of Celts being slayed]
The Druids were the priests, healers and lawmakers of the Celts. The Celtic society held them in high regard for their abilities in storytelling and speech. Skillful use of the spoken word was regarded as sorcery.
[Tableau of Druid speaking or mouthing words]
It was the year 462 AD. In a forest near Tara walked Romulus a warrior who had slain thousands of Celts in the name of the Church. Ahead of him, a Druid priestess walked in the woods as his guide.

Druidess: This is the exact spot we spoke of. I may show you the ritual by which we can speak to the ravens.
There is another realm beneath our very feet and in these hills. Cities underground.

Romulus: I thank you for showing me this most sacred of places. The church is interested in mapping the land accurately.

Druidess: We don’t ever bring outsiders to this hill. It takes a lifetime to learn its location. It’s rare for foreigners to take interest in our ways.

Romulus: Yes, you have much lore to teach and I am eager to learn.

Druidess: And so I will show you how we may communicate with the Morrigan, goddess of war and prophecy…

Romulus: But I thought it was ravens we were to speak to.

Druidess: She whom we speak of is one and the same.

Romulus speaks again to himself as he prepares to betray the priestess.

Romulus: Druidess, please believe me when I say that this is in the name of the true and only God. [Slays the priestess in one sword stroke] To destroy rites of wrongful doctrine, we can only begin with those who teach them.
Flapping wings are heard. Then odd knocking footsteps.

Who goes there? Show yourself, savages. I will not hesitate to kill. Ah, a woman. Are you from these parts?

Disembodied voices of the Morrigan are then heard in opposite parts of the space.

Badbh: I

Macha: Am

Nemain: She.

Badbh: I

Macha: We

Nemain: The I, the we –

All: Are the Morrigan.

Romulus: We? Who are you, woman? Show yourself!

Lights go up a bit Footsteps/beating wings can be heard. Each of the three incarnations of the goddess enters. They do an extremely erotic and almost burlesque dance around Romulus to Siouxsie and the Banshees’ ‘Israel”

Romulus: Are you a demon of the trees? The power of God compels you.

Nemain: Demon? We have never heard of this word, demon.

All: I see all in these woods.

Macha: And I

All: We

Badbh: Are not tree spirits. We are much bigger

Nemain: Much wider

Macha: Much older

All: Than the trees in these woods.

Badbh: We gods and goddesses are dying. We face extinction nowadays.

Badbh: 3

Nemain: 2

ALL: 1

Romulus: How can you be three, and one at the same time?

Macha: We are ancient, what you humans may call Faerie. We live under the ground.

Nemain: We speak to the Druids, and they to us.

All: To she.

Romulus: There are no Druids left. The last priestess of Tara is dead. I have slain her myself.

Macha: That priestess was our last human proxy. We foretold this in prophecy. Her heart is still now.

Romulus: I bring you the word of God.

ALL: Of God! [The women croak]

Badb: We are a God.

Nemain: I am gods.

Macha: We are Gods.

ALL: I am God.

Laughter in unison

Romulus: Women, you are all heretics! Die!

Romulus raises his sword to strike. Ominous music builds. He holds his sword in mid-air, and drops it in fear. The women move through the dark space, while the light focuses on Romulus.

ALL: We, the Morrigan will forever retire to our kingdom beneath the ground. Human, we ask you now to give us a gift. Give us a kiss.

Romulus: This cannot be, you change your shape—

The women form into a giant raven, and the raven eats Romulus tongue out. Music builds to chaos. Lights go down. Lights go up onto a picture of a monastery next to a picture of a raven or crow. AS the raven shape vanishes the two cast members of the Morrigan holding the wings release the fabric and come together. The central Morrigan holds up Romulus’ severed tongue in her hands. Romulus holds his hand over his mouth, drops his sword and runs out of the room.

Lights go up, and Dean is at the top of the stage. He draws a bird on a piece of paper on the wall.

Narrator voiceover: The Morrigan was never seen again, but she remained in the legends and stories told around the fire. Villagers spoke of an mute hermit who lived at the monastery near the hill of Tara. The monk was known to draw beautiful pictures of black birds for all the children that came to visit. And he would point with his finger at the picture of the bird, setting his eyes on the far woods and the hills as if to remember days gone past.