A Modern Juliet's Excuse

This is the shorter, revised version of my modern one--act-play.






JULIET has an Elizabethan mask on for the moment. She holds her hands behind her back in a playful nature. She wears ecclesiastical clothing.

Props: A small table with a lace doily over it. A box of jewels. Other circumstantial property to Juliet set on the table.

NURSE CONCH is dressed in a white tunic, what one might call a moo-moo

Line from Shakespeare is recited from a hidden part of the stage by two or three people of cast speaking in unison to make it loud,then they say:
'Tis Shakespeare here. And, also, Nurse Conch dear. It did, it did. Alas, the day she did.

As Nurse Conch fusses with Juliet's smiling nature, there is a cue for her to walk out to Center Stage with her as Juliet {a ghost of Shakespeare’s real heroine} stands in front of a chair. Leviticus puzzles over the forgiveness of suicide in the FR.

LEVITICUS: Now, tell us about how you greeted the Soldier of Fortune.

THOMAS THE TWIN (Leviticus' mocking ghost or jesting spirit): No, no grisly bear had ever mauled me and no fires were started in my bed so hard was my head. So I was at peace.

A FIGURE OF AUTHORITY: (enters and walks over to Juliet) You! Filthy selfish modern woman! You must go!
You are not yet released from this dungeon! (He takes off Juliet's mask. She laughs, then playfully admits her presence.)

Two people stroll by, cross stage as they hold hands and embrace once and leave.

LA-LA: Great people as with children, often brood. Come here, Lancelot. In this play we show what we've got.

THE LANCE-LOT: Will she ever be safe? La, la, la, la, la.

Now Juliet is alone on stage as Nurse Conch disappears too.

From the far right, Leviticus and Thomas The Twin, very amicable with each other enter again.

LEVITICUS: Shall we greet her again?

THOMAS THE TWIN: Yes, she seems to be our friend. Always giving us time to lend.

LEVITICUS: To lend what?

THE TWIN: An ear, of course.

A FIGURE OF AUTHORITY: Ears hear filthy lies.

Anyway, what is there to offer those who maim the grand illusion of modern society's salvation.
Juliet, ponderable and lazy as a cut-rose, is a flower that has enticed the spices and herbs in the phantasy that splits infinity, yet returns to earth, somehow eternal.

Muse on. Yes, on the precious notions of rigorous illegitimate fanfare is only in the course of things. For me? There is no fee, no price.

Featuring your manish request to be at ease with rest and forget sins while I am a sentry sent here to account for them let me be never off guard and always on duty to worry of a demise of a modern day Juliet. I must confess I am always in service to help finish this game of wilyness and ulterior motives. sit down, Juliet, so that we may be hard with the Bard. So, too, harden your heart and pray, if you beg to swoon.

JULIET: When am I to be gone from this place of trial? (Juliet is fretting.)

FIGURE OF AUTHORITY: Soon.

QUEEN MELLOW: (overweight and magical, in green shimmer-dress, sequins or long, wide butterfly sleeves) My dear Juliet. All the fairies have been with you. It is frightening, amusing and stirring. It causes me to see the antidote of this play. What we need is a 'Mercutio' to warn of each stone's fake. My calendar lists them, each birthday too, and other things gemstones me has with the holidays. (She fondles jewels on table).

JULIET:{sits in a chair} Fairie! You'll delight me only if you speak of my prince. Now, tell me, what is it I must think on, besides rumor about what say you of Romeo?

QUEEN MELLOW: How long and with how many happy larks did she sing the tune of the nightingale? The imps of her ideas were aft' all, the doom of her phantasy. The great god in the sky will tell it. She met him, or perhaps if she did not, then . . .where is her idol. Even the neighbor's children saw the light of race and kindness in the foreign city of Paris. Love in Paris. Love in Rome. All's the same, it's history. In the city of Paris it is the late new style to be in Paris , coquette, and be acquiesing to celebrative talk about how the gods who live do take it all in in one sweet breath. All in all, it is the worser of two evils --to complain about the unfortunate circumstances of dying spirits in sick beds, praying that your own blemishes have been small mercies in the course of a strong life, or to complain about the illess that comes from a short, snuffed out life.


JULIET: (standing) Where are the fairies, can't they arise and speak with me? They don't tell lies.

QUEEN MELLOW: (She walks over to table and sits Juliet down again.) Be still my child.

*FR

FIGURE OF AUTHORITY: (He speaks out arrogantly): Wars of fame? Of love's glamour? What complacency in the drift of so many exciting moments! The instant Juliet was given the reward of good living, she took the spoils for a ruse. Just as jewels, her cheeks were as rewarding in colour and substance. For her, frail thing, the truth to all lies would only be throwing meat to the dogs. Fickle honesty will be the death-trap to her story. Her eyes live in the clouds, and it is the fire that escapes within them, which makes her a restless creature.

All exit but Juliet. Nurse Conch enters.

NURSE CONCH: If there be a jug of water and a tree and a window, there be a Juliet. In every dangling faint sigh you have an apron-stringed moan. So I see. A young maiden with jewels to blush for? In the first place, the day unrolls like the sun existing on a beautiful day.If she be inside, and waiting to come out to see the light, her direction causes her to lose a clear course and the underbrush catchs her struggling. Where is the vision of reality? It is calling out, from above, pledging that order will return. Now, the minute she runs streaking into the dazzling sun's rays, the view becomes grand and overpowering. She forgets about the tea she had with me, in the mornings.


Ah, society! I should have clenched my fist at the dark monster who sailed the sky the day she did it! She seeks him in the morning and she's stuck for luck.

JULIET: Is it time for me to be pardoned?


SICARIOUS THE SAILOR: (Is dressed in a sailor's outfit). The sins of premature passion, will fly like the raven, and the flowers, breathing-dust wither. This: that I fear the mad-woman's cock-eye that will feast on her own inocent chastity. Her inventions which claim the drunken daze of many nights all come before Juliet's Topaz--the reflecting beauty in her eyes. The unfortunate happening of racing through the wreckage of other's private goodbyes was inevitable. Her ill-fate gave her reason to claim secrets that are destined to be only her own. Always in the midst of thinking of Romeo, the thought comes to me that a woman wronged is a woman caged by all the incidents which make her accountable to her Maker. W have caused you to travel her in time to realize that you will say constant penance. Stand up, stand up, Juliet.

JULIET is still on stage (a ghost of Shakespeare’s real heroine.)( She has her head down and her hands in prayer,
tears streaming from her face.) Alas, my Romeo had been dead. I wished the same for myself, but now want to be pardoned
for my upsetting actions. I am to accept that he is never returning to me. I know that.

SICARIOUS THE SAILOR: I say to forgive.(Picks out Topaz stone from jewel box and shines it up and then holds it to the light, and finally pockets it, chuckling.)

Thus, Queen Mellow, Nurse Conch and other smaller cast members make an entrance to say "We forgive you, Juliet. You are free to go." They all hug her and display their sweet emotions for her as she details them on where she will be next.

END