ARIADACAPO

APLAYINONEACT

Copyright,1920

ByEdnaSt.VincentMillay

PrintedintheU.S.A.

PERSONS

Pierrot

Columbine

Cothurnus,MasqueofTragedy

Thyrsis\
Shepherds
Corydon/

[Scene:Astage]

[ThecurtainrisesonastagesetforaHarlequinade,a
merry
blackandwhiteinterior.Directlybehindthefootlights,
and
runningparallelwiththem,isalongtable,coveredwith
agay
blackandwhitecloth,onwhichisspreadabanquet.At
the
oppositeendsofthistable,seatedondelicatethin
legged
chairswithhighbacks,arePierrotandColumbine,
dressed
accordingtothetradition,exceptingthatPierrotisin
lilac,
andColumbineinpink.Theyaredining.]

COLUMBINE:Pierrot,amacaroon!Icannot_live_withouta
macaroon!

PIERROT:Myonlylove,
Youare_so_intense!...IsitTuesday,Columbine?
IllkissyouifitsTuesday.

COLUMBINE:ItisWednesday,
Ifyoumustknow....Isthismyartichoke,
Oryours?

PIERROT:Ah,Columbine,asifitmattered!
Wednesday....WillitbeTuesday,then,tomorrow,
Byanychance?

COLUMBINE:TomorrowwillbePierrot,
Thatisntfunny!

PIERROT:Ithoughtitrathernice.
Well,letusdrinksomewineandloseourheads
Andloveeachother.

COLUMBINE:Pierrot,dontyoulove
Menow?

PIERROT:La,whatawoman!howshouldIknow?
Pourmesomewine:Illtellyoupresently.

COLUMBINE:Pierrot,doyouknow,Ithinkyoudrinktoomuch.

PIERROT:Yes,IdaresayIdo....Orelsetoolittle.
Itshardtotell.Yousee,Iamalwayswanting
AlittlemorethanwhatIhave,orelse
Alittleless.Theressomethingwrong.Mydear,
Howmanyfingershaveyou?

COLUMBINE:La,indeed,
HowshouldIknow?Italwaystakesmeonehand
Tocounttheotherwith.Itstooconfusing.
Why?

PIERROT:Why?Iamastudent,Columbine;
Andsearchintoallmatters.

COLUMBINE:La,indeed?
Countthemyourself,then!

PIERROT:No.Or,rather,nay.
Tisofnoconsequence....Iambecome
Apainter,suddenly,andyouimpressme
Ah,yes!sixorangebullseyes,fourgreenpinwheels,
Andonemagentajellyroll,thetitle
Asfollows:WomanTakinginCheesefromFireEscape.

COLUMBINE:Well,Ilikethat!SothatisallIvemeant
Toyou!

PIERROT:Hush!AllatonceIambecome
Apianist.Iwillimageyouinsound....
Onanewscale...,Withouttonality...
Vivacesenzatemposenzatutto....
Title:UptownExpressatSixOClock.
Pourmeadrink.

COLUMBINE:Pierrot,youworktoohard.
Youneedarest.Comeonoutintothegarden,
Andsingmesomethingsad.

PIERROT:Dontstandsonearme!
Iambecomeasocialist.Ilove
Humanity;butIhatepeople.Columbine,
Putonyourmittens,child;yourhandsarecold.

COLUMBINE:Myhandsare_not_cold!

PIERROT:Oh,Iamsuretheyare.
Andyoumusthaveashawltowrapaboutyou,
Andsitbythefire.

COLUMBINE:Why,Illdonosuchthing!
Imhotasaspooninateacup!

PIERROT:Columbine,
Imaphilanthropist.IknowIam,
BecauseIfeelsorestless.Donotscream,
Oritwillbetheworseforyou!

COLUMBINE:Pierrot,
Myvinaigrette!Icannot_live_without
Myvinaigrette!

PIERROT:Myonlylove,youare
_So_fundamental!...Howwouldyouliketobe
Anactress,Columbine?Iambecome
Yourmanager.

COLUMBINE:Why,Pierrot,_I_cantact.

PIERROT:Cantact!Cantact!La,listentothewoman!
Whatsthattodowiththepriceoffurs?Youreblonde,
Areyounot?youhavenoeducation,haveyou?
Cantact!Youunderrateyourself,mydear!

COLUMBINE:Yes,IsupposeIdo.

PIERROT:Asfortherest,
Illteachyouhowtocry,andhowtodie,
Andotherlittletricks;andthehousewillloveyou.
Youllbeastarbyfiveoclock...thatis,
Ifyouwillletmepayforyourapartment.

COLUMBINE:_Let_you?well,thatsagoodone!
Ha!Ha!Ha!
Butwhy?

PIERROT:Butwhy?well,astothat,mydear,
Icannotsay.Itsjustamatterofform.

COLUMBINE:Pierrot,Imgettingtiredofcaviar
Andpeacockslivers.Isnttheresomethingelse
Thatpeopleeat?somehumblevegetable,
Thatgrowsintheground?

PIERROT:Well,therearemushrooms.

COLUMBINE:Mushrooms!
Thatsso!Ihadforgotten...mushrooms...
mushrooms....
Icannot_live_with...Howdoyoulikethisgown?

PIERROT:Notmuch.Imtiredofgownsthathavethewaist
line
Aboutthewaist,andthehemaroundthebottom,
Andwomenwiththeirbreastsinfrontofthem!
Zutandeh!Wheredoesonegofromhere!

COLUMBINE:Heresapersimmon,love.Youalwayslikedthem.

PIERROT:Iambecomeacritic;thereisnothing
Icanenjoy....However,setitaside;
Illeatitbetweenmeals.

COLUMBINE:Pierrot,doyouknow,
SometimesIthinkyouremakingfunofme.

PIERROT:Mylove,byyonblackmoon,youwrongusboth.

COLUMBINE:Thereisntasignofamoon,Pierrot.

PIERROT:Ofcoursenot.
Thereneverwas.Moonsjustawordtoswearby.
Mutton!now_theres_athingyoucanlaythehandson,
Andsetthetoothin!Listen,Columbine:
Ialwaysliedaboutthemoonandyou.
Foodismyonlylust.

COLUMBINE:Well,eatit,then,
ForHeavenssake,andstopyoursillynoise!
Ihaventheardtheclocktickforanhour.

PIERROT:Itstickingallthesame.Ifyouwereafly,
Youwouldbedeadbynow.AndifIwereaparrot,
Icouldbetalkingforathousandyears!

[EnterCOTHURNUS.]

PIERROT:Hello,whatsthis,forGodssake?
Whatsthematter?
Say,whaddayoumean?getoffthestage,myfriend,
Andpinchyourself,yourewalkinginyoursleep!

COTHURNUS:Ineversleep.

PIERROT:Well,anyhow,clearout.
Youdontbelongonhere.Waitforyourownscene!
Whaddayouthinkthisis,adressrehearsal?

COTHURNUS:Sir,Iamtiredofwaiting.Iwillwait
Nolonger.

PIERROT:Well,butwhaddayougoingtodo?
Thesceneissetforme!

COTHURNUS:True,sir;yetI
Canplaythescene.

PIERROT:Yoursceneisdownforlater!

COTHURNUS:That,too,istrue,sir;butIplayitnow.

PIERROT:Oh,verywell!Anyway,Iamtired
Ofblackandwhite.Atleast,IthinkIam.

[ExitCOLUMBINE.]

Yes,IamsureIam.IknowwhatIlldo!
Illgoandstrumthemoon,thatswhatIlldo....
Unless,perhaps...younevercantell...Imaybe,
Youknow,tiredofthemoon.Well,anyway,
IllgofindColumbine....AndwhenIfindher,
Iwilladdressherthus:Eh,Pierrette!
Theressomethinginthat.
[ExitPIERROT.]

COTHURNUS:You,Thyrsis!Corydon!
Whereareyou?

THYRSIS:[Offstage.]Sir,weareinourdressingroom!

COTHURNUS:Comeoutanddothescene.

CORYDON:[Offstage.]Youaremockingus!
Thesceneisdownforlater.

COTHURNUS:Thatistrue;
Butwewillplayitnow.Iamthescene.
[Seatshimselfonhighplaceinbackofstage.]

[EnterCORYDONandTHYRSIS.]

CORYDON:Sir,wearecountingonthislittlehour.
Wesaid,Hereisanhour,inwhichtothink
Amightythought,andsingatriflingsong,
Andlookatnothing.And,behold!thehour,
Evenaswespoke,wasover,andtheactbegun,
Underourfeet!

THYRSIS:Sir,wearenotinthefancy
Toplaytheplay.Wehadthoughttoplayitlater.

CORYDON:Besides,thisisthesettingforafarce.
Ourscenerequiresawall;wecannotbuild
Awalloftissuepaper!

THYRSIS:Wecannotact
Atragedywithcomicproperties!

COTHURNUS:Tryitandsee.Ithinkyoullfindyoucan.
Onewallislikeanother.Andregarding
Thematterofyourinsufficientmood,
Theimportantthingisthatyouspeakthelines,
Andmakethegestures.WhereforeIshallremain
Throughout,andholdthepromptbook.Areyouready?
CORYDONTHYRSIS:[Sorrowfully.]Sir,wearealwaysready.

COTHURNUS:Playtheplay!

[CORYDONandTHYRSISmovethetableandchairstoone
sideout
oftheway,andseatthemselvesinahalfreclining
position
onthefloor.]

THYRSIS:Howgentlyinthesilence,Corydon,
Oursheepgoupthebank.Theycropagrass
Thatsyellowwherethesunisout,andblack
Wherethecloudsdragtheirshadows.Haveyounoticed
Howsteadily,yetwithwhataslantingeye
Theygraze?

CORYDON:Asiftheythoughtofotherthings.
Whatsayyou,Thyrsis,dotheyonlyquestion
Wherenexttopull?Ordotheirfarmindsdrawthem
Thusvaguelynorthofwestandsouthofeast?

THYRSIS:Onecannotsay....Theblacklambwearsits
burdocks
Asiftheywereagarland,haveyounoticed?
Purpleandwhiteanddrinksthebittengrass
Asifitwereawine.

CORYDON:Ivenoticedthat.
Whatsayyou,Thyrsis,shallwemakeasong
Aboutalambthatthoughthimselfashepherd?

THYRSIS:Why,yes!thatis,why,no.(Ihaveforgottenmy
line.)

COTHURNUS:[Prompting.]Iknowagameworthtwoofthat!

THYRSIS:Oh,yes....Iknowagameworthtwoofthat!
Letsgatherrocks,andbuildawallbetweenus;
Andsaythatovertherebelongstome,
Andoverheretoyou!

CORYDON:Why,verywell.
Andsayyoumaynotcomeuponmyside
UnlessIsayyoumay!

THYRSIS:Noryouonmine!
Andifyoushould,twouldbetheworseforyou!

[Theyweaveawallofcoloredcrpepaperribbonsfrom
the
centrefronttothecentrebackofthestage,fastening
the
endstoCOLUMBINESchairinfrontandtoPIERROTS
chairin
theback.]

CORYDON:Nowtheresawallamanmayseeacross,
Butnotattempttoscale.

THYRSIS:Anexcellentwall.

CORYDON:Come,letusseparate,andsitalone
Alittlewhile,andlayaplotwhereby
Wemayoutdoeachother.
[Theyseatthemselvesonoppositesidesofthewall.]

PIERROT:[Offstage.]Eh,Pierrette!

COLUMBINE:[Offstage.]MynameisColumbine!
Leavemealone!

THYRSIS:[Cominguptothewall.]
Corydon,afterall,andinspiteofthefact
Istarteditmyself,Idonotlikethis
Soverymuch.Whatisthesenseofsaying
Idonotwantyouonmysidethewall?
Itisasillygame.Idmuchprefer
Makingthelittlesongyouspokeofmaking,
Aboutthelamb,youknow,thatthoughthimself
Ashepherd!whatdoyousay?
[Pause.]

CORYDON:[Atwall.](Ihaveforgottentheline.)

COTHURNUS:[Prompting.]HowdoIknowthisisntatrick?

CORYDON:Oh,yes....HowdoIknowthisisntatrick
Togetuponmyland?

THYRSIS:Oh,Corydon,
You_know_itsnotatrick.Idonotlike
Thegame,thatsall.Comeoverhere,orletme
Comeoverthere.

CORYDON:Itisaclevertrick
Togetuponmyland.[Seatshimselfasbefore.]

THYRSIS:Oh,verywell![Seatshimselfasbefore.]
[Tohimself.]IthinkIneverknewasilliergame.

CORYDON:[Comingtowall.]
Oh,Thyrsis,justaminute!allthewater
Isonyoursidethewall,andthesheeparethirsty.
Ihadntthoughtofthat.

THYRSIS:Oh,hadntyou?

CORYDON:Why,whatdoyoumean?

THYRSIS:WhatdoImean?Imean
ThatIcanplayagameaswellasyoucan.
Andifthepoolisonmyside,itson
Myside,thatsall.

CORYDON:Youmeanyoudletthesheep
Gothirsty?

THYRSIS:Well,theyrenotmysheep.Mysheep
Havewaterenough.
CORYDON:_Your_sheep!Youaremad,tocallthem
Yoursminetheyarealloneflock!Thyrsis,youcantmean
Tokeepthewaterfromthem,justbecause
Theyhappenedtobegrazingoverhere
Insteadofoverthere,whenwesetthewallup?

THYRSIS:Oh,cantI?waitandsee!andifyoutry
Toleadthemoverhere,youllwishyouhadnt!

CORYDON:Iwonderhowithappensallthewater
Isonyourside....Illsayyouhadaneyeout
Forlotsoflittlethings,myinnocentfriend,
WhenIsaid,Letusmakeasong,andyousaid,
Iknowagameworthtwoofthat!

COLUMBINE:[Offstage.]Pierrot,
Dyouknow,Ithinkyoumustbegettingold,
Orfat,orsomething,stupid,anyway!
Cantyouputonsomeotherkindofcollar?

THYRSIS:YouknowaswellasIdo,Corydon,
Ineverthoughtanythingofthekind.
_Dont_you?

CORYDON:I_do_not.

THYRSIS:Dontyou?

CORYDON:Oh,Isupposeso.
Thyrsis,letsdropthis,whatdoyousay?itsonly
Agame,youknow...weseemtobeforgetting
Itsonlyagame...aprettyseriousgame
Itsgettingtobe,whenoneofusiswilling
Toletthesheepgothirstyforthesakeofit.

THYRSIS:Iknowit,Corydon.

[Theyreachouttheirarmstoeachotheracrossthe
wall.]

COTHURNUS:[Prompting.]ButhowdoIknow
THYRSIS:Oh,yes....ButhowdoIknowthisisntatrick
Towateryoursheep,andgetthelaughonme?

CORYDON:Youcantknow,thatsthedifficultthingabout
it,
Ofcourse,youcantbesure.Youhavetotake
Mywordforit.AndIknowjusthowyoufeel.
Butoneofushastotakearisk,orelse,
Why,dontyousee?thegamegoesonforever!...
Itsterrible,whenyoustoptothinkofit....
Oh,Thyrsis,nowforthefirsttimeIfeel
Thiswallisactuallyawall,athing
Comeupbetweenus,shuttingyouaway
Fromme....Idonotknowyouanymore!

THYRSIS:No,dontsaythat!Oh,Corydon,Imwilling
Todropitall,ifyouwill!Comeonover
Andwateryoursheep!Itisanuglygame.
Ihateditfromthefirst....Howdiditstart?

CORYDON:Idonotknow...Idonotknow...Ithink
Iamafraidofyou!youareastranger!
Ineverseteyesonyoubefore!Comeover
Andwatermysheep,indeed!Theyllbemorethirsty
ThantheyarenowbeforeIbringthemover
Intoyourland,andhaveyoumixingthemup
Withyours,andcallingthemyours,andtryingto
keepthem!

[EnterCOLUMBINE]

COLUMBINE:[ToCOTHURNUS.]Glummy,Iwantmyhat.

THYRSIS:Takeit,andgo.

COLUMBINE:Takeitandgo,indeed.Isitmyhat,
Orisntit?Isthismyscene,ornot?
Takeitandgo!Really,youknow,youtwo
Areawfullyfunny!
[ExitCOLUMBINE]

THYRSIS:Corydon,myfriend,
Imgoingtoleaveyounow,andwhittleme
Apipe,orsingasong,orgotosleep.
Whenyouhavecometoyoursenses,letmeknow.
[Goesbacktowherehehasbeensitting,liesdownand
sleeps.]

[CORYDON,ingoingbacktowherehehasbeensitting,
stumbles
overbowlofcoloredconfettiandcoloredpaper
ribbons.]

CORYDON:Why,whatisthis?Redstonesandpurplestones
Andstonesstuckfullofgold!Thegroundisfull
Ofgoldandcoloredstones!...Imgladthewall
WasupbeforeIfoundthem!Otherwise,
Ishouldhavehadtosharethem.Asitis,
Theyallbelongtome....Unless

[Hegoestowallanddigsupanddownthelengthofit,
toseeiftherearejewelsontheotherside.]

Nonehere
NoneherenonehereTheyallbelongtome!
[Sits.]

THYRSIS:[Awakening.]Howcurious!Ithoughtthelittle
blacklamb
Cameupandlickedmyhair;Isawthewool
Aboutitsneckasplainasanything!
Itmusthavebeenadream.Thelittleblacklamb
Isontheothersideofthewall,Imsure.

[Goestowallandlooksover.CORYDONisseatedonthe
ground,
tossingtheconfettiupintotheairandcatchingit.]

Hello,whatsthatyouvegotthere,Corydon?
CORYDON:Jewels.

THYRSIS:Jewels?Andwheredidyouevergetthem?

CORYDON:Oh,overhere.

THYRSIS:Youmeantosayyoufoundthem,
Bydiggingaroundinthegroundforthem?

CORYDON:[Unpleasantly.]No,Thyrsis,
Bydiggingdownforwaterformysheep.

THYRSIS:Corydon,cometothewallaminute,willyou?
Iwanttotalktoyou.

CORYDON:Ihaventtime.
Immakingmeanecklaceofredstones.

THYRSIS:Illgiveyouallthewaterthatyouwant,
Foroneofthoseredstones,ifitsagoodone.

CORYDON:Water?whatfor?whatdoIwantofwater?

THYRSIS:Why,foryoursheep!

CORYDON:Mysheep?Imnotashepherd!

THYRSIS:Yoursheeparedyingofthirst.

CORYDON:Man,haventItoldyou
Icantbebotheredwithafewuntidy
Brownsheepallfullofburdocks?Imamerchant.
ThatswhatIam!AndifIsetmymindtoit
IdaresayIcouldbeanemperor!
[Tohimself.]WouldntIbeafooltospendmytime
Watchingaflockofsheepgoupahill,
WhenIhavethesetoplaywith?whenIhavethese
Tothinkabout?Icantmakeupmymind
Whethertobuyacity,andhaveathousand
Beautifulgirlstobatheme,andbehappy
UntilIdie,orbuildabridge,andnameit
TheBridgeofCorydon,andberemembered
AfterImdead.

THYRSIS:Corydon,cometothewall,
Wontyou?Iwanttotellyousomething.

CORYDON:Hush!
Beoff!Beoff!Gofinishyournap,Itellyou!

THYRSIS:Corydon,listen:ifyoudontwantyoursheep,
Givethemtome.

CORYDON:Beoff!Gofinishyournap.
Aredoneandablueoneandaredone
Andapurpleonegiveyoumysheep,didyousay?
Come,come!Whatdoyoutakemefor,afool?
Ivealotofthinkingtodo,andwhileImthinking,
Thesheepmightjustaswellbeoverhere
Asoverthere....Ablueoneandaredone

THYRSIS:Buttheywilldie!

CORYDON:Andagreenoneandacouple
Ofwhiteones,forachange.

THYRSIS:MaybeIhave
Somejewelsonmyside.

CORYDON:Andanothergreenone
Maybe,butIdontthinkso.Yousee,thisrock
Isntsoverywide.Itstopsbefore
Itgetstothewall.Itseemstogoquitedeep,
However.

THYRSIS:[Withhatred.]Isee.

COLUMBINE:[Offstage.]Look,Pierrot,theresthemoon.

PIERROT:[Offstage.]Nonsense!

THYRSIS:Isee.
COLUMBINE:[Offstage.]Singmeanoldsong,Pierrot,
SomethingIcanremember.

PIERROT:[Offstage.]Columbine.
Yourmindismadeofcrumbs,likeanescallop
Ofoysters,firstalayerofcrumbs,andthen
Anoysterytaste,andthenalayerofcrumbs.

THYRSIS:[Searching.]Ifindnojewels...butIwonder
what
Therootofthisblackweedwoulddotoaman
Ifheshouldtasteit....Ihaveseenasheepdie,
Withhalfthestalkstilldroolingfromitsmouth.
Twouldbeaspeedyremedy,Ishouldthink,
Forafesteredprideandafeverishambition.
Ithasacuriousroot.IthinkIllhackit
Inlittlepieces....FirstIllgetmeadrink;
AndthenIllhackthatrootinlittlepieces
Assmallasdust,andseewhatthecoloris
Inside.[Goestobowlonfloor.]

Thepoolisveryclear.Isee
Ashepherdstandingonthebrink,witharedcloak
Abouthim,andablackweedinhishand....
TisI.[Kneelsanddrinks.]

CORYDON:[Comingtowall.]Hello,whatareyoudoing,
Thyrsis?

THYRSIS:Diggingforgold.

CORYDON:Illgiveyouallthegold
Youwant,ifyoullgivemeabowlofwater.
Ifyoudontwanttoomuch,thatistosay.

THYRSIS:Ho,soyouvechangedyourmind?Itsdifferent,
Isntit,whenyouwantadrinkyourself?

CORYDON:Ofcourseitis.
THYRSIS:Well,letmesee...abowl
Ofwater,comebackinanhour,Corydon.
Imbusynow.

CORYDON:Oh,Thyrsis,givemeabowl
Ofwater!andIllfillthebowlwithjewels,
Andbringitback!

THYRSIS:Beoff,Imbusynow.

[Hecatchessightoftheweed,picksitupandlooks
atit,unseenbyCORYDON.]

Wait!Pickmeoutthefineststonesyouhave...
Illbringyouadrinkofwaterpresently.

CORYDON:[Goesbackandsitsdown,withthejewelsbefore
him.]
Abowlofjewelsisalotofjewels.

THYRSIS:[Choppinguptheweed.]Iwonderifithasabitter
taste.

CORYDON:Theressuretobeastoneortwoamongthem
Ihavegrownfondof,pouringthemfromonehand
Intotheother.

THYRSIS:Ihopeitdoesnttaste
Toobitter,justatfirst.

CORYDON:Abowlofjewels
Isfartoomanyjewelstogiveaway
Andnotgetbackagain.

THYRSIS:Idontbelieve
Hellnotice.Hestoothirsty.Hellgulpitdown
Andnevernotice.

CORYDON:Thereoughttobesomeway
Togetthembackagain....Icouldgivehimanecklace,
Andsnatchitback,afterIddrunkthewater,
Isuppose....Why,asforthat,ofcoursea_necklace_..
..

[Heputstwoorthreeofthecoloredtapestogetherand
tries
theirstrengthbypullingthem,afterwhichheputsthem
around
hisneckandpullsthem,gently,noddingtohimself.He
getsup
andgoestothewall,withthecoloredtapesinhis
hands.]

[THYRSISinthemeantimehaspouredthepowderedroot
black
confettiintothepotwhichcontainedtheflowerand
filled
itupwithwinefromthepunchbowlonthefloor.He
comes
tothewallatthesametime,holdingthebowlof
poison.]

THYRSIS:Come,getyourbowlofwater,Corydon.

CORYDON:Ah,verygood!andforsuchagiftasthat
Illgiveyoumorethanabowlofunsetstones.
Illgiveyouthreelongnecklaces,myfriend.
Comecloser.Heretheyare.[Putstheribbons
aboutTHYRSISneck.]

THYRSIS:[PuttingbowltoCORYDONSmouth.]
Illholdthebowl
Untilyouvedrunkitall.

CORYDON:Thenholditsteady.
ForeverydropyouspillIllhaveastoneback
Outofthischain.

THYRSIS:Ishallnotspilladrop.

[CORYDONdrinks,meanwhilebeginningtostrangle
THYRSIS.]
THYRSIS:Dontpullthestringsotight.

CORYDON:Yourespillingthewater.

THYRSIS:Youvehadenoughyouvehadenoughstoppulling
Thestringsotight!

CORYDON:Why,thatsnottightatall...
Howsthis?

THYRSIS:[Dropsbowl.]Yourestranglingme!Oh,Corydon!
Itsonlyagame!andyouarestranglingme!

CORYDON:Itsonlyagame,isit?YetIbelieve
Youvepoisonedmeinearnest![Writhesand
pullsthestringstighter,windingthemabout
THYRSISneck.]

THYRSIS:Corydon![Dies.]

CORYDON:Youvepoisonedmeinearnest....Ifeelso
cold....
Socold...thisisaverysillygame....
Whydoweplayit?letsnotplaythisgame
Aminutemore...letsmakealittlesong
Aboutalamb....Imcomingoverthewall,
Nomatterwhatyousay,Iwanttobenearyou....

[Gropinghisway,witharmswidebeforehim,hestrides
through
thefrailpapersofthewallwithoutknowingit,and
continues
seekingforthewallstraightacrossthestage.]

Whereisthewall?

[Gropeshiswayback,andstandsverynearTHYRSIS
without
seeinghim;hespeaksslowly.]
Thereisntanywall,
Ithink.

[Takesastepforward,hisfoottouchesTHYRSISbody,
andhe
fallsdownbesidehim.]

Thyrsis,whereisyourcloak?justgiveme
Alittlebitofyourcloak!...

[DrawscornerofTHYRSIScloakoverhisshoulders,
falls
acrossTHYRSISbody,anddies.]

[COTHURNUSclosesthepromptbookwithabang,arises
matteroffactly,comesdownstage,andplacesthetable
over
thetwobodies,drawingdownthecoversothattheyare
hidden
fromanyactorsonthestage,butvisibletothe
audience,
pushingintheirfeetandhandswithhisboot.Hethen
turns
hisbacktotheaudience,andclapshishandstwice.]

COTHURNUS:Strikethescene![ExitCOTHURNUS.]

[EnterPIERROTandCOLUMBINE.]

PIERROT:Dontpuffso,Columbine!

COLUMBINE:Lord,whatamess
Thissetisin!IftheresonethingIhate
Aboveeverythingelse,evenmorethangettingmyfeetwet
Itsclutter!Hemightatleasthaveleftthescene
Thewayhefoundit...dontyousayso,Pierrot?

[Shepicksuppunchbowl.Theyarrangechairsasbefore
atends
oftable.]
PIERROT:Well,Idontknow.Ithinkitratherdiverting
Thewayitis.

[Yawns,picksupconfettibowl.]

Shallwebegin?

COLUMBINE:[Screams.]MyGod!
Whatsthatthereunderthetable?

PIERROT:Itisthebodies
Ofthetwoshepherdsfromtheotherplay.

COLUMBINE:[Slowly.]Howcurioustostranglehimlikethat,
Withcoloredpaperribbons.

PIERROT:Yes,andyet
Idaresayheisjustasdead.[Pauses.Calls.]
Cothurnus!
Comedragthesebodiesoutofhere!Wecant
Sitdownandeatwithtwodeadbodieslying
Underthetable!...Theaudiencewouldntstandforit!

COTHURNUS:(Offstage.)Whatmakesyouthinkso?
Pulldownthetablecloth
Ontheotherside,andhidethemfromthehouse,
Andplaythefarce.Theaudiencewillforget.

PIERROT:Thatsso.Givemeahandthere,
Columbine.

[PIERROTandCOLUMBINEpulldownthetablecoverinsuch
away
thatthetwobodiesarehiddenfromthehouse,then
merrilyset
theirbowlsbackonthetable,drawuptheirchairs,and
begin
theplayexactlyasbefore.]

COLUMBINE:Pierrot,amacaroon,Icannot_live_withouta
macaroon!
PIERROT:Myonlylove,
Youare_so_intense!...IsitTuesday,Columbine?
IllkissyouifitsTuesday.

[Curtainsbegintocloseslowly.]

COLUMBINE:ItisWednesday,
Ifyoumustknow....Isthismyartichoke
Oryours?

PIERROT:Ah,Columbine,asifitmattered!
Wednesday....WillitbeTuesday,then,tomorrow,
Byanychance?...

[CURTAIN.]

AUTHORSNOTE

ONTHEPLAYINGPO

ARIADACAPO

ORIGINALCAST

ASPLAYEDBYTHEPROVINCETOWNPLAYERS,NEWYORKCITY

PIERROTHARRISONDOWD

COLUMBINENORMAMILLAY

COTHURNUSHUGHFERRISS

CORYDONCHARLESELLIS

THYRSISJAMESLIGHT
AUTHORSNOTE

Sogreatismyvexationalways,whenreadingaplay,tofind
its
progressconstantlybeinghaltedanditsstructureloosened
by
elaborateexplanatoryparentheses,thatIresolvedwhenI
should
publishAriadaCapotoincorporateintoitstextonlythose
explanationstheomissionofwhichmightconfusethereader
orlend
awronginterpretationtothelines.Since,however,Aria
daCapo
waswrittennotonlytobereadbutalsotobeacted,and
being
consciousthattheexclusionoftheusualdirections,while
clarifyingtheplaytothereader,maymakeitbareof
suggestions
andsomewhatbafflingtotheproducer,Iamaddingheresome
remarks
whichhavebeenfoundofvalueinpreparingitfor
presentationon
thestage.

SincetheproductionofAriadaCapobytheProvincetown
Players,I
havereceivedagreatmanylettersfromthedirectorsof
little
theatres,askingforcopiesofitwithaviewtoproducing
it.Very
often,afterIsendtheplay,Ireceivealetterinreply
askingfor
somesuggestionsforitspresentation,andenclosingdirect
questionsonpointsthathavebeendifficult.Itoccurred
tome
finallythatitwouldbereasonabletomakeupasortof
informal
promptbooktosendaboutwiththeplay;anditisthat
whichis
printedbelow.Itwillbefoundincompleteanduneven,in
some
instancesunnecessarilydetailed,inothersnotsufficiently
so;all
ofwhichisduetothefactthatitwasputtogether
loosely,from
answerstochancequestions,ratherthanlogically,asan
entityin
itself.

SUGGESTIONSFORTHEPRODUCTIONOFARIADACAPO

SETTING:

Thesettingrequiredissimple:agreycurtain,alongblack
table,
twoslenderblackhighbackedchairs,andaraisedplatform.

InsteadofwingsandbackdroptheProvincetownPlayers
cleverly
utilizedpaintedscreens,theheightsvaryingfrom6to10
feet,
thesebeingsetrightandleftofthestageinsuchmanner
asto
givetheeffectofdepthanddistance.

Thetable,sixfeetlongandtwofeetwide,hasthinlegs
andis
paintedblack.

WhenPierrotandColumbineenterinthefinalscene,itis
not
necessarythatthetablewhichCothurnushasreplacedshall
entirely
concealthebodiesofThyrsisandCorydon.Pierrotand
Columbine
mustignorethemuntilthelinesindicatetheirdiscovery,
nomatter
howtheymayhavefallen.

Particularattentionmustbegiventothechairsinthis
set.They
areusedtoconstructthetissuepaperwall,and,although
delicate,shouldbeheavyenoughtoremainsolidandsteady,
upand
downstage,withoutthepossibilityofanupsetwhenCorydon
strides
throughthewall.

Nearthefootlights(actorsleft)aretwosofapillows,
usedto
representtherocksagainstwhichtheshepherdslean.Onthe
leftof
thestagehaveanotherpillow,whichThyrsisplacesunder
hishead
whenheliesdowntosleep.Useclothorcrpepaperfor
these
pillows,andhavethemofspottedblackandwhitematerial,
orof
anygaycolorexceptredorblue.

Cothurnusoccupiesachairuponaplatform,upstage,
centre,with
twoorthreestepssurroundingitonthreesides.Drapethis
with
plainheavyblackcloth.

Thetablecoveringisimportant.Itswidthisequaltothat
ofthe
addedheightandwidthofthetable.Asitmustbemovedto
cover
thebodiesofThyrsisandCorydon,itshouldbeof
sufficientweight
topreventslipping.Itwillbewelltoexperimentwith
this,to
ensureproperperformance.

Thecovershouldhaveblackandwhitespotsandstriped
ends.

Thetableissetasfollows:twolargewoodenbowls(at
leastseven
incheshighandfourteeninchesindiameter).Oneisplaced
ateach
endofthetable.ThatatColumbinesendshouldcontain
persimmons,pomegranates,grapesandotherbrightexotic
fruits.
Pierrotsbowlhasconfettiandcoloredpaperribbons,the
latter
showingplainlyovertheedge.(IfColumbineusespractical
macaroons,putthemintothisbowl.)

NearColumbine,placeapracticaluncookedartichoke;have
thisof
goodsize,andnailittoawoodenstandard,paintedblack.
Atboth
placestherearetallwhitewoodengoblets.

Inthecentreofthetablethereshouldbeacurious,
grotesque,but
verygayflower,standinguprightinapotofwoodorheavy
paper,
whichwillnotbreakwhenThyrsisdropsit.Concealedatthe
rootof
thisplantthereshouldbeasmallsackofblackconfetti,
tobe
usedinthepoisonscene.

Thetableshouldbesetwithnothingbutthesearticles,and
yet
givetheappearanceofbountyandelegance.

Placethetableparallelwiththefootlights,thelongside
toward
theaudience.

Columbineschairisattheactorsright,andPierrots
oppositeColumbineshathangsfromherchairtop.Both
chairsare
festoonedwithtissuepaperribbons,atleasttenfeetlong,
tobe
usedlaterbytheshepherdstorepresenttheirwall.These
mustbe
ofsuchatextureastobreakreadilywhenCorydonwalks
through,
andaprearrangedtransversetearortwowillassistinthe
prompt
breakagewhenhedoesso.

PROPERTIES:

Twowhitewoodenbowls,onefilledwithfruitsandtheother
with
confettiandpaperribbons,oneribbontobeofcottonor
silk,in
ordertobenottooeasilybrokenbyCorydonwhenstrangling
Thyrsis

Twotallwhitewoodengoblets

Oneartichokenailedtoastandard

Oneflowerinpaperorwoodenpot,therootwrappedwith
blackcrpe
paper(oruseconfetti)

Blackandwhitetablecloth

Macaroons

BootsandpromptbookforCothurnus(largeflatblackbook)

Also,ifdesired,maskofTragedyforCothurnus

Crpeortissuestreamersofdifferentcolors,includingno
redor
blue,forwall.

COSTUMES:
PIERROT:Lavenderorlilacsatin,preferablyablue
lavender.Care
shouldbetakenthatthelavenderdoesnotturnpinkunder
thestage
lights.Pierrotscostumeistheconventionalsmockwith
wide
trousers,withblackcrpepaperrosettesonthesmock,wide
white
tarletonruff.Blackeveningpumpswithblackrosettesmay
beworn.
Blacksilkskullcap.

COLUMBINE:Tightblacksatinbodicecutverylow,with
strapsover
theshoulders,quitelikethemoderneveninggown;veryfull
tarletonskirtsofdifferentshadesofpinkandcerise,
reachingto
theknees;ruffledbloomersofapplegreentarleton,the
ruffles
showingbelowtheskirts;blacksilkstockingsandblack
ballet
slippers,lacedwithgreen.Hatoflavendercrpepaper,
with
streamersofgaycolorsincluding,however,noclearredor
blue.
Hatshouldbesmallandverysmartnota_shepherdess_hat.
Columbine
shouldbemadeuptosuggestadoll.Asoriginally
interpretedshe
hadshortlighthair,standingoutbushilyalloverher
head.Long
hairshouldberolledundertogivea_bobbed_effect,or
couldbe
arrangedinobviouscaricatureofsomeextrememodernstyle,
but
mustlookattractive,andmustbeblonde.

COTHURNUS:Plaintogaofdullpurpleinsomeheavy,
unreflecting
materialwhichwillfallintolargefolds,linedwithsombre
flamecolor;agarmentwithlargepurplesleeves,ofwhich
onlythe
sleeveswerevisible,waswornunderthetoga,butthe
effectshould
beclassical;heavybootsshouldbeworn,asnearlyas
possiblelike
thetragicRomanbuskin;oneendofthegreattogaistied
intoa
roughhoodwhichcoverstheactorshead;amaskmaybe
worn,butit
isoftendifficulttospeakthrough,and,ifdesired,the
actors
facemaybemadeuptorepresentamaskofTragedy.

THYRSISandCORYDON:Thesecostumes,instrikingcontrastto
the
eleganceofthoseofPierrotandColumbine,shouldbevery
simple,
andveryroughlymade;shorttunicsofoutingflannelor
somesuch
materialfastenedlooselyoveroneshoulder,oneshoulder,
aswell
asmostofthebackandbreast,exposed.Legsbare,or
swathedfrom
thekneetotheankleinroughstripsofthesamematerial.
Sandals.
Cloaksofheavier,cheapmaterialfastenedtothetunicsin
sucha
waythattheywillappeartobesimplyflungoverthe
shoulder,but
actuallyfastenedverycleverlyinordertoavoidtripping
the
shepherds,whoarecontinuallysittingdownonthefloorand
getting
upagain.

Thyrsiswearsadarkgreytunicandcloakofrawbrightred,
butnot
aturkeyred,asthiscolorwillkilltheblueofCorydons
cloak.
Corydonwearstunicoflightgreyandcloakofbrilliant
blue.There
mustbenoredorblueusedanywhereintheentireplay
exceptingin
theblueandredofthesetwocloaks.Thetwoshepherds
mustbeso
strongandvividineverywaythatwhenColumbinecomesin
andsays,
Isthismysceneornot?itwillseemtotheaudiencethat
itis
she,nottheshepherds,whoishopelesslyoutofthescene.

CHARACTERS:

PIERROT:Pierrotseesclearlyintoexistingevilsandis
rendered
gailycynicalbythem;heisbothtooindolentandtoo
indifferent
todoanythingaboutit.Yetinseverallinesoftheplay
hisactual
unhappinessisseen,forinstance,Moonsjustawordto
swear
by,inwhichheexpresseshisconvictionthatallbeauty
and
romancearefledfromtheworld.Attheendoftheplaythe
line,
Yes,andyetIdaresayheisjustasdead,mustnotbe
said
flippantlyorcynically,butslowlyandwithmuch
philosophic
concentrationonthethought.FromthemomentwhenColumbine
cries,
Whatsthatthereunderthetable?untilPierrotcalls,
Cothurnus,comedragthesebodiesoutofhere!theyboth
stand
staringatthetwobodies,withoutmovinginanyway,or
even
liftingtheireyes.(Thissame_holding_oftheplayisused
several
timesalsobytheshepherds,forinstance,alwaysduringthe
offstageinterpolations,theystandeitherstaringateach
otheracross
thewall,ormaintainingwhateverotherpositiontheymay
havehad
whentheoffstagevoicebeginsspeaking,untilthe
interruptionis
over,whentheyresumetheirdramaquiteasifnobodyhad
spoken.)
ColumbinesHowcurioustostranglehimlikethatis
spoken
extremelyslowly,inavoiceofawe,curiosity,andhorror.
Fora
momentthetwocharactersseemalmosttofeelandbesubdued
bythe
tragedythathastakenplace.Theyremainstandingvery
quietly
whileCothurnusspeakshisfinallinesoffstage,andfora
moment
afterhehassaid,Theaudiencewillforget;thenvery
slowly
raisetheireyesandexchangeglances,Pierrotnodshishead
curtly
andsays,Thatsso;theysettheirbowlsgailybackon
thetable,
andtheplaybeginsagain.

PierrotinsuchlinesasAh,Columbine,asifitmattered!
speaks
withmocksaccharinetenderness;butinsuchlinesasIf
youwerea
flyyouwouldbedeadbynow!althoughhespeaksverygaily
his
malicemustbeapparentalmosteventoher;Columbinebores
himto
death.Whenhesays,Illgoandstrumthemoon!heisfor
the
instantgenuinelyexcitedandinterested;heisforthis
momentlike
achild,andishappy.

COLUMBINE:Prettyandcharming,butstupid;sheneverknows
what
Pierrotistalkingabout,andissoaccustomedtohimthat
sheno
longerpretendstounderstandhim;butsheisveryproudof
him,and
whenhespeaksshelistenswithtrustfuladmiration.Her
expression,Icannotlivewithoutthisorthat,isa
phraseshe
usesinordertomakeherselfmoreattractive,becauseshe
believes
menpreferwomentobeuselessandextravagant;ifleftto
herself
shewouldbeadomesticandcapableperson.

COTHURNUS:Thischaractershouldbeplayedbyatalland
imposing
figurewithatremendousvoice.ThevoiceofCothurnusis
oneof
themostimportantthingsintheactingplay.Heshouldhave
avoice
deeperthanthevoiceusedbyanyoftheotherpersons,
shouldspeak
weightilyandwithgreatdignity,butalmostwithout
intonation,and
quitewithoutfeeling,asifhehadsaidthesamewordsmany
times
before.Onlyinhislastspeechmayhebepermitteda
commenton
thesituation.Thisspeechshouldbespokenquiteas
impressivelyas
theothersandfullyasslowly.

CORYDONandTHYRSIS:Thesetwocharactersareyoung,very
simple,
andchildlike;theyareacteduponbytheforcethatsitson
the
backofthestagebehindthem.Moreandmoreastheir
quarrel
advancestheybegintoseethatsomethingiswrong,butthey
haveno
ideawhattodoaboutit,andtheyscarcelyrealizewhatis
happening,thequarrelgrowssofromlittlethingsintobig
things.
CorydonsfirstvisionofthetragedyisinItsterrible
whenyou
stoptothinkofit.Thyrsisfirstvisioncomeswhenhe
looksinto
thepool;inseeingthefamiliarreflectionheisstruckby
the
unfamiliarityofoneaspectofit,thepoisonousroot;for
thefirst
timeherealizesthatthismanwhoisabouttokillwith
poisoned
waterhismostbelovedfriend,isnoneotherthanThyrsis
_himself_,TisI!ThepersonalitiesofThyrsisand
Corydonare
notessentiallydifferent.Theydevelopsomewhat
differently,
becauseofthedifferingcircumstances.

WhenColumbinegoesoutforthefirsttimeshetakeswith
herher
artichokeandherwineglass,alsoacoupleofmacaroons,
whichshe
nibbles,goingout.Thishelpstogetthetablecleared.
Theother
articlesareremovedbytheshepherdswhentheypreparethe
stage
fortheirscene,inthismanner:atthecueSir,weare
always
ready....Playtheplay!,CorydonandThyrsiscomedown
stage,
CorydontoPierrotsendofthetable,Thyrsisto
Columbias;
simultaneously,first,theysetbackthechairsagainstthe
wall,
Pierrotsleftfront,Columbinesrightfront;nextthey
removethe
twobigbowlsandsettheminsymmetricalpositionsonthe
floor,
leftfrontandrightfront,insuchawaythatthebowlof
confetti
maybethemineofjewelsforCorydon,andthebowlof
fruits,the
punchbowl,mayrepresentthepoolofwaterforThyrsis;
then,
takingthetablebythetwoends,theysetitbackagainst
thewall,
right;next,whileCorydonplacesthetwopillowsfromthe
leftwall
onthefloortorepresentrocksintheirpasture,Thyrsis
removes
fromthetableeverythingthatisleftonitexceptthe
tablecloth,thisshouldbeonlyPierrotswinegobletand
theflower
initspot.(Thefloweristorepresentlaterthepoisonous
weed
whichThyrsisfinds,thewinegobletadrinkingcupbeside
thepool,
theflowerpotabowlinwhichtomixthepoisonandbring
itto
Corydon.)Thetwoshepherdsdothissettingoftheirstage
swiftly
andsilently,thenseatthemselvesatonce,ineasybut
beautiful
postures,andremainforamomentlookingoffasifattheir
sheep
whileacompletesilencesettlesoverthestageandhouse,a
_pastoral_silence,ifitispossibletosuggestitbefore
they
begintospeak.

WhenColumbinecomesin,lookingforherhat,shepicksup
thehat
fromherchair,nowinthecentreofthestagenearthe
footlights,
inadirectlinewithPierrots,whichiscentreback,just
infront
ofCothurnus,theshepherdshavingsettheminthese
positions,back
toback,inordertohavetheiraidinweavingthewall.
After
takingherhat,Columbinestandslookingattheshepherdsto
see
whatisgoingon.Theydonotlookather.Afteramoment
Thyrsis,
slowly,withhiseyessteadfastlyonCorydons,says,Take
it,and
go.WhenColumbinecomesininthefinalscene,sheis
wearingthe
hat.Shetakesitoff,however,asshesitsdownagainat
thetable,
sothatthesecondbeginningoftheplaymayrecallas
vividlyas
possibletotheaudiencethefirstbeginning.