Amanda Davidson !!!

Invocations for New Years: A Poetry Script

OBJECT

            Cue card with large letter “O” printed or painted on it

PERSONS

            Performer

            Audience

PERFORMER

Mmmmmmwwwwwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaudienccceee

Ppppppppfffffftttttttttt

(In small voice.)

           
I’m doing vocal warm ups.

            (In regular voice.)

Dear Audience,

I made you a cue card.

When I hold this up, please utter,

in loud and approximate unison,

the syllable you see before you.

I will demonstrate, and then we can practice together.

(Holds up cue card.)

O!

(Lowers cue card.)

Now together.

(Holds up cue card.)

AUDIENCE + PEFORMER

            O!

PERFORMER

            Good. Again. Louder.

(Holds up cue card.)

AUDIENCE + PEFORMER

            O!

PERFORMER

            Good! Okay. Here we go.

            Invocations for New Years.

            O, kernel.

            O, nubbly buns.

            O through which time vanishes.

(Holds up cue card.)

AUDIENCE + PEFORMER

            O!

PERFORMER

            O untrimmed mons.

            O electronic book purchased through the website of

an independent bookstore.

(Holds up cue card.)

AUDIENCE + PEFORMER

            O!

PERFORMER

            I was blindfolded with a sleep mask stolen from the bathroom

of the first class cabin, and you laid your hands upon my hands.

(Holds up cue card.)

AUDIENCE + PEFORMER

            O!

PERFORMER

            I won’t read any book titled with the name of a famous man,

            or of a profession, and then an apostrophe S,

            and then the word “wife” or “daughter” after it.

(Holds up cue card.)

AUDIENCE + PEFORMER

            O!

PERFORMER

            The remaining breast hung at half-mast.

            My hair bunched out over the ears in stiff, grey puffs.

(Holds up cue card.)

AUDIENCE + PEFORMER

            O!

PERFORMER

            In case you can’t save money, she said,

            you can sell me your baby.

            I’m ready for a lonely, animal undertaking.

(Holds up cue card.)

AUDIENCE + PEFORMER

            O!

PERFORMER

            I hid the medication in her cat food and she gobbled it right down.

(Holds up cue card.)

AUDIENCE + PEFORMER

            O!

PERFORMER

(Holds up cue card.)

AUDIENCE + PEFORMER

            O!

PERFORMER

            She said.

(Holds up cue card.)

AUDIENCE + PEFORMER

            O!

PERFORMER

            Yeah! she said.

            Reorganize the spice rack on New Years Day.

(Holds up cue card.)

AUDIENCE + PEFORMER

            O!

PERFORMER

            The people in the balcony look like creeps.

            I wish I were up there with them.