Behind The Face

This is a play without words and is meant to be performed to music. In previous performances, Cello and accordion were used to great effect.

Behind every face there is a story to tell. That warm, welcome, greeting smile and happy-go-lucky demeanour. But it might hide a troubled existence. So it is in this story except that we see behind the face before it is hidden by the mask of a smile.

STAGE LAYOUT

PICTURE OF A LEADING MAN

MANNEQUIN BED

DOOR

DRESSING TABLE

CHARACTER: This person is a professional clown. He is a fastidious

loner. He is an enigma.

There is a silent room: a dressing room. Suddenly the door opens. Circus music floods in, followed by a figure in black pants and tee shirt. Around his neck is tied a red neckerchief. He closes the door and there is silence.

In one corner of the room is a bed covered by a bright, multi-coloured rug. On the rug rests a pair of neatly folded, baggy pants and on top of the pants a pair of shiny clown shoes. Nestling snugly in the pillow is the complete works of Shakespeare.

A mannequin stands on castors in an opposite corner. It is dressed in a bright yellow clown coat, spotted bow tied and a silver wig. Leaning against the mannequin is a walking stick. On the wall behind the mannequin a large portrait of a Shakespearian actor looks down in a grand, domineering pose.

The black figure goes over to the mannequin, picks up the walking stick and rehearses a short dance routine. It includes twirling the walking stick above his head, flicking it upright and balancing it on his chin. But his movements are with heavy limbs; his heart is not in his routine. He drops the walking stick. He picks it up, throws it on the bed and goes over to a neat dressing table with mirror and stool.

On the dressing table are all the makeup requirements of a clown and a solitary carnation in a glass vase. The black figure stares into the mirror as he picks up a red lipstick. He sinks onto the stool and begins to paint a smile, but he keeps painting until he is gouging the lipstick into his face, the bright red colour spreading like blood. He drops the remains of the lipstick, sneers at his reflection, takes a handful of tissues and wipes his face clean.

The black figure rises from the stool, goes to the picture of the leading man, adopts the same theatrical pose as that in the picture, then acts out a small dramatic scene. He is a king commanding his army. Then he flips into a contrasting comic routine, swinging his walking stick and walking in circles, penguin like, with the skill of the great clown that he is.