a conceptual multimedia performance

Written and directed by

Harry Gamboa Jr.

Performed by:

Harry Gamboa Jr.

Juanita Soto

Cornelio Aguilera

Gladys Reyes

Artemio Rodriguez

Video projection unit, numerous VHS cassettes, slide projector, multiple slide trays, amplifier with speakers, audio tape player, and several audio cassettes are placed on various steps of elevated platform situated center stage.  Two piano benches are placed at left and right stage.  All additional props secured behind platform area.  One microphone on stand at front center stage.  Apple PowerBook G3 sits atop a small table with lamp and microphone at right stage (all on-stage media equipment to be operated by HG).

1

LIGHTS:  Position #1.  Fade in from black.

VCR/MONITOR plays continuously throughout performance.

2

HG enters scattering shredded newspaper in dual swirl patterns on the floor as performers A & B walk down theatre aisles distributing flyers to audience and walk onto stage to sit at their respective benches.

3

Apple PowerBook G3 voice speaks:

The news that isn't fit to read is what is left best unsaid or even overlooked because so many words cannot be pronounced without the fear of reprisal.

Bombs that are measured in dollars instead of as bodies
that are torn away from their place on earth.

Riots over beliefs that don't measure up to human standards.

Sometimes the secrets are on page one or they might be in the funny pages. Who can laugh when the newspaper is printed in blood?

My vocabulary weighs against the lack of meaningful definition for any story that begins with

"and"

only to end with

"the":

And the universe will erase itself via anti matter because it
doesn't matter what the

And civilization has been confronted with the challenge that
undetectable levels of radiation has been brought to the

And the psychological effects were obvious when the physical defects dominated
the playing field that is normally occupied by the

And major investors have halted production due to unforeseen
forces that could topple the

And you can refuse to obey when they pull the

And it is not relative to what is absolute unless compared to the

AUDIO CASSETTE # 1: 

Play (approximately 2 minutes).

4

HG drapes and tapes performers A & B.  He moves to microphone and reads from notebook:

HG:

I used to call him/her Mono-Tony because everything was always unmistakably unremarkable.  

He/she would never change anything because it was always easier to recognize the familiar objects and rituals of everyday life.  

One day I burned all of the permanent elements of his/her environment and attempted to explain how the ephemeral qualities of memory were doomed to be forgotten because repetitive destruction is a natural occurrence. 

Mono-Tony didn't appreciate the gesture of mutual annihilation as an act of terminal elation and disappeared into the shadows of a blackening depression.  

He/she should have been happy that I took away the meaning of unmentionable desire and the urge to be a liar.

5

Performers A & B produce umbrellas which are held opened and inverted above their heads.  HG tosses candies to rain/reign terror on them.

HG:

Neutron, napalm, hydrogen, fission, nerve gas, jelly beans, kisses.

6

Performers A& B drop umbrellas to floor.  They each remove their shrouds and stand on their respective benches.  Performers improvise as they argue with each other.

7

HG empties pockets causing pennies fall to the floor.  HG produces a dollar and rips it to shreds.  Performers A & B become silent.

8

HG reads from notebook as performers A & B blow balloons as they jump to floor and play hopscotch.

HG:

I've never been able to tell the difference between fortune and disaster.

No one knows where to point when gunfire erupts from all sides.

I read from the tattered trail that serves as the introduction to the BOOK OF BLAME:

It's your fault no one can breathe freely.
You caused toxins to fill our lungs.
I won't hold my breath because of your idle thoughts.
No need for everyone to suffer.
I can't breathe and we all blame you!

9

HG breaks the balloons of performer A.  He sits on bench and ties the length both shrouds together.

10

Performer A reads from sheet of paper:

PA:

They have been trying to eliminate me since before I was born.
I understand the unwritten rules of engagement.
Play dead when everyone else is sleeping.
Never rest until it is unnecessary.
Bite your lip, scratch your face, pull your hair.
Don't lose sight of what isn't there.
Every reaction causes panic.

11

Performer A releases the balloon of Performer B.  Performer A sits on bench.

12

Performer B reads from a sheet of paper:

PB:

Dear anonymous,

I don't know how to say this to you and I don't expect that you would be able to comprehend the deep emotions that I've lost over the last few days.  It hurts to be in love but it hurts more to feel absolutely nothing towards someone who should be hated for all that they have not done. You mean nothing to me and I am sorry that you won't believe me.

Sincerely,

an Anti-fan.

13

Performer B grabs hold of one end of shroud and he/she engages in tug-o-war with HG. Performer A joins in on side of Performer A.  They struggle dragging HG until he releases it.

14

AUDIO CASSETTE #2:  

Play (approximately 4 minutes).

15

LIGHTS: 

Position # 2.

16

SLIDE PROJECTOR A:  

Slides #1-#6

17

Stop audio cassette #1.

18

Performer A reads:

PA:

I believe.  I believe.  I believe.

19

VIDEO CASSETTE # 1: 

Play (approximately 4 minutes).

20

AUDIO CASSETTE #3:  

Play (approximately 4 minutes).

21

SLIDES PROJECTOR B: 

Slides #1-#6

22

AUDIO CASSETTE #4:  

Play (approximately 2 minutes)

23

Performer B reads:

PB:

There is nothing elegant about denying your identity.
Sometimes it is impossible to explain why I don't have any ID.
You do not need to know.

24

VIDEO CASSETTE # 2:  Play (approximately 3 minutes)

25

Performer A stands stage left. Performer B stands stage right.  HG gathers flashlights and tapes them onto both performers.  Performers A & B walk about like zombies.

26

SLIDE PROJECTOR A & B:  

Project slides #7-15

27

VIDEO CASSETTE # 3:  

Play (approximately 4 minutes).

28

HG reads from notebook:

HG:

Survivor syndrome is easily remedied.

Fate takes its toll.

Hate rakes the soul.

Not everyone is fortunate enough to count their blessings;

it takes time and a capacity for complex equations that culminate in the understanding that vast populations are worse off than yourselves.

29

VIDEO CASSETTE # 4:  Play (approximately 6 minutes).

30

Apple PowerBook G3 voice speaks:

Workers unite
Work at night
Work it tight
War is all right
Worms in my face
Worry without trace
Weary not tyranny
Weapons on fire
Words to delete
Warriors without feet
Wiggle not fight
Whimper on cue
Work, war, worm, worry, weary, weapons, words,
War, worm, worry, weary, weapons, words, work,
Worm, worry, weary, weapons, words, work, war,
Worry, weary, weapons, words, war, worm,
Weary, weapons, words, work, war, worm, worry.
Work, war, worm, worry, weary, weapons, words,
War, worm, worry, weary, weapons, words, work,
Worm, worry, weary, weapons, words, work, war,
Worry, weary, weapons, words, war, worm,
Weary, weapons, words, work, war, worm, worry.
Work, war, worm, worry, weary, weapons, words,
War, worm, worry, weary, weapons, words, work,
Worm, worry, weary, weapons, words, work, war,
Worry, weary, weapons, words, war, worm,
Weary, weapons, words, work, war, worm, worry.
Work, war, worm, worry, weary, weapons, words,
War, worm, worry, weary, weapons, words, work,
Worm, worry, weary, weapons, words, work, war,
Worry, weary, weapons, words, war, worm,
Weary, weapons, words, work, war, worm, worry.
Work, war, worm, worry, weary, weapons, words,
War, worm, worry, weary, weapons, words, work,
Worm, worry, weary, weapons, words, work, war,
Worry, weary, weapons, words, war, worm,
Weary, weapons, words, work, war, worm, worry.
Work, war, worm, worry, weary, weapons, words,
War, worm, worry, weary, weapons, words, work,
Worm, worry, weary, weapons, words, work, war,
Worry, weary, weapons, words, war, worm,
Weary, weapons, words, work, war, worm, worry.
Work, war, worm, worry, weary, weapons, words,
War, worm, worry, weary, weapons, words, work,
Worm, worry, weary, weapons, words, work, war,
Worry, weary, weapons, words, war, worm,
Weary, weapons, words, work, war, worm, worry.
Work, war, worm, worry, weary, weapons, words,
War, worm, worry, weary, weapons, words, work,
Worm, worry, weary, weapons, words, work, war,
Worry, weary, weapons, words, war, worm,
Weary, weapons, words, work, war, worm, worry.
Whimper on cue
Wiggle not fight
Warriors without feet
Words to delete
Weapons on fire
Weary not tyranny
Worry without trace
Worms in my face
War is all right
Work it tight
Work at night
Workers unite!

31

HG drags plastic bags onto stage .

32

VIDEO CASSETTE # 5: 

Play (approximately 3 minutes).

33

AUDIO CASSETTE #5: 

Play (approximately 2 minutes).

34

SLIDE PROJECTORS A & B: 

Slides # 16-30

35

LIGHTS: Position # 3

36

Performers A & B laugh loudly as HG removes flashlights.  HG crawls on his hands hands and knees. HG motions to microphone. Performers become silent.

37

HG reads from note book:

HG:

The following is a true story documented by various news groups and verified by experts in the field:

A man/woman was walking along the sidewalk of an unidentified street in a generic
urban/suburban/rural setting.  

He/she walked quickly expecting to arrive at a predetermined destination at a specific time that allowed for being late or early.

Along the way, he/she became overly concerned with the manner in which each step moved closer and closer towards the unknown. 

He/she stopped and remained quite still for nearly three days until he/she was rescued by the authorities.  

The man/woman was dehydrated and was given an ample supply of nutrients via intravenous injection.

After several weeks of rest he/she was allowed to return to the streets.  

He/she immediately returned to the same spot where fear had presented itself as an impenetrable barrier.  

The element of fear was gone and so was any concern for the present or the future.

He/she walked diagonally and was struck by a fast moving truck that was being driven by someone who had forgotten the purpose of his/her meaning in life.

38

Performers A & B extract plastic sheet from bag and unfold it.  HG lies flat on his back and he is sealed shut.  Performers A & B drag him violently and persistently across stage in random zigzag patterns.  He is forced to cut his way free with a knife and emerges unscathed. Performers A & B go to back wall and lean against it with their hands up in "frisk" position.

39

HG reads fragmented sentences from randomly selected newspaper scraps.

40

HG places both benches together utilizing the surface as a bed and falls asleep.

41

Performers A & B stand at microphone and read from book in unison:

PA and PB:

He never dreams.  There is a black hole in his memory where nothing can escape.  No images or ideas to disturb the emptiness.  But don't get too close because he might explode.

42

Performer A walks over and removes knife from HG's grasp and places it atop VCR then goes to back wall and resumes position.

43

Performer B reads from book:

PB:

The distinction between organic and inorganic is an elitist concept.
Conscious awareness is a mirage.

44

Performer B walks over and removes HG's boots and slides them both across floor towards back wall.  Performer B freezes in place.

45

HG gets up quickly and looks around unable to recognize anyone.  He wraps himself in plastic bag as though he were a homeless man.  He picks up scraps of paper as though they they were valuable objects.  He reads from book:

HG:

I saw a man who was drowning on the pavement. 

He believed that he had melted into the asphalt and insisted that everyone should step on him and ignore him as they went on with their busy lives. 

He stared intently at the sun because he enjoyed the burning sensation in his color cones and the sting in his retinas. 

Eventually he was integrated into the landscape and was transformed into a tar-like substance. 

He wanted to be appreciated for his function regardless of his form. 

Before he melted away completely, I was fortunate to have a final conversation with him. 

He told me a story about his childhood and its miraculous effects. 

He said:  

When I was a young boy there were millions of flies that filled the skies, I thought they were angels so I would pray to them every time they landed on my body.  

I prayed for salvation from starvation and they answered my prayers by providing me with loaves of bread and wine that were in the many trash cans in the labyrinth of alleys and side streets.  

I prospered and was blessed by riot batons that bashed their way into the hidden secrets of youthful innocence.  

I had visions that showed me the way towards enlightenment.

46

HG drops book onto floor and discards plastic sheet. He crawls under a bench.

47

Performers A & B sit on the other bench.  They tie themselves together with rope.

48

HG goes over and attaches himself to both performers by tying himself with rope. They all get up in awkward manner attempting to carry stools, walking backwards in utter panic, fear, and rage as they exit stage.

49

BLACKOUT.

Performance premiere:

Friday, April 9, 1999
7:00 p.m.
University of Wisconsin, Madison  

Special thanks:

Dionne Espinoza, Ph.D.
Chicano Studies Department
University of Wisconsin, Madison