Go to the Museum
From Create Your Own Story
Scene 3c) Museum (First) Post-library scene
Perhaps start with a museum tour? Grab 3 or so audience memebers and have them join the action onstage? Exhibits could be incidental, but sound interactive? Who knows, we’ll play with it. If so, museum clerk (Middle aged Japanese woman) leads tour. Ad lib information regarding various “exhibits” placed around the stage. Emily enters.
Sonya: Good afternoon and welcome to The Military Museums of Calgary. Here we are dedicated to educating the modern world on the history of Canada’s navy, army, and air force, as well as honoring the local men and women who served our country. My name is Sonya. Are you interested in a tour?
Emily: Thank you, but no. My great uncle served in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War two and I was wondering if you might have some time to help me.
Sonya: I’d be happy to do what I can to assist you.
(At this time, Sonya would “end” the tour and encourage the audience to return to their seats. OR! the audience continues to fiddle with the exhibits on stage, creating and underlying soundscape for the scene)
Emily: I was just at the local library and a woman named Libby told me to come here.
Sonya: Libby, yes, she’s quite a character. We were roommates in college. I couldn’t close the door without her wetting herself. Poor kid. But! that’s not what you came here for. How can I help?
Emily: My great uncle recently passed away and I found this bracelet amongst this belongings. I was wondering if you happen to know anything about it.
Sonya: What a pretty trinket! I only really know pertinent information for the exhibits we have, but our museum director is in. Maybe she would know more. I think she’s on the phone with her husband. Silly man brings her lunch and leaves behind his briefcase! It’s amazing that he still has a job working at the National Archives. He would probably lose his head if it weren’t attached to his shoulders! One moment. (As she exits) Cheryl!
While Emily is alone onstage, she plays with the exhibits and creates resonating sound throughout the space. Enter Cheryl followed by Sonya.
Cheryl: Hello, my name is Cheryl Hu. I’m the director and curator of this museum. Sonya tells me you have an artifact that you have questions about. Please, step into my office.
The women move to the office. The briefcase is in plain sight.
Cheryl: May I see the item in question?
Emily hands her the bracelet.
Cheryl: A fine piece. Not perfectly preserved, but it gives it the honest vintage image. This would fit perfectly in our exhibit on women in World War Two.
Emily: Are you sure it belongs to a woman?
Cheryl: The size is indicative of a small, feminine wrist, and he ‘W’ before the numbers indicates the Women’s Division of the air force. [INSERT RESEARCH FROM ELINOR FLORENCE] A very common job was parachute packing.
Emily: Interesting, I would have never considered…..
Text message sound.
Cheryl: Pardon me. It’s just my husband. He’s on his way to visit his mother at the nursing home and left a few things behind. I’m just waiting for him to call.
Emily: No worries.
Cheryl: As I was saying, this bracelet would be ideal for our exhibit. Would you consider selling it?
Emily: Well I’m kind of looking for it’s original owner. I don’t think I’d feel comfortable giving it away without knowing to whom it belonged.
Cheryl: Understandable. Well, if you say you found it with your uncle’s personal affects there is a very good chance that you’ll find a piece of paper with the relevant information of the owner. It’s very easy to overlook. It’s a 4 x 6 sheet of parchment that is stamped with the date of enlistment, name, age, birthday, etc. If your uncle kept things of importance, I can almost guarentee that you’ll find that paper.
Emily: Thats wonderful, I ---
Enter Sonya, excited
Sonya: Cheryl, a kid from today’s third grade field trip got stuck in the fighter pilot replica again.
Cheryl: (Exiting) I’ll get the ladder. (To Emily) Excuse me just a moment.
Light Change Projection: What should Emily do?
