altAn Elemental Play

Performed with gusto and heart at the June 20th, 2010 Midsummer's Ritual at Gaia's Gardens by:

Tamara - Earth Elemental
Janet - Air Elemental
Heather - Fire Elemental
Diane - Water Elemental
Ricky - Oak King/Holly King
Johnson - Time

Arthur, Jim - Drummers, pressed to service at the last possible moment, and performing with distinction.

Read the full script... 


 Audience participation encouraged with the "Earth, Air, Fire, Water" chant.

Players gather outside circle while this and other things are explained.


All (slow drum): Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Water,
      Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Water

elements and king file in


All (slow drum): Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Water,
      Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Water

Stop drumming for speaking parts, then slow beat drum for chant.


Earth:
I be Earth, and made of dust, stone and strength, my ways are just.
I am the place that you claim home, so please recycle, no Styrofoam.

All (slow drum): Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Water,
      Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Water

Air:
I be Air, and made of wind, I know that all I touch will bend.
I am your breath, your sigh, your sneeze, I think I'm turning Japanese.

All: We think she's turning Japanese.

Air: I really think so. 

All (slow drum): Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Water,
      Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Water

Fire:
I be Fire, and made of flame, my passions seething, less than tame.
I am a fleeting moment gone, don't make me angry, I'll put on.

All (slow drum): Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Water,
      Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Water

Water:
I be Water, and made of rain, I stay mainly in the plains.
I flow to fill, to shape, to move, everything can feel my groove.

All (slow drum): Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Water,
      Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Water

Oak:
I  am the Golden Oak King, reigning, I'll never feel my power waning.
Until the ends of time arrive, I know that I shall here survive!

All (slow drum): Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Water,
      Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Water

Time:
I am Time, I hear your murmur, but golden one, my reign is firmer.
The circle of the year prevails, has no one ever heard the tales?

All (slow drum): Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Water,
      Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Water

Oak:
Oh my, oh my, my spleen, it pains, my blood runs sluggish in my veins.

begin death scene.  overact as much as possible


I fear I'm failing in my scheme, Dr. Chandra, will I dream?

All (slow drum): Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Water,
      Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Water

Oak:  death scene continues
Uhg.  Oh!  Ahhhhhhh.  Oh!

fall to ground, stretch it out


Gunh.  Uhn!  Eeeeeeh.  ................ Uhn!

twitch


All (slow drum): Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Water,
      Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Water

Earth:
I will heal the fallen Oak, I'll just reach down and give a poke.

poke him with a sticka few times. look around, poke him again.


He does not wake, it seems I failed, my poking stick has not prevailed.

All (slow drum): Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Water,
      Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Water

Air:
The lifeless Tree I can restore, I breath new life and he shall soar.

pretend mouth-to-mouth, ham it up, maybe act reluctant, make a face


He does not wake, it seems I failed, the breath of life has not prevailed.

All (slow drum): Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Water,
      Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Water

Fire:
Let me attend the timbered Man, my heat is how it all began.

frantically rub his hands, shake him, lots of frenetic movement


He does not wake, it seems I failed, flames of birth have not prevailed.

All (slow drum): Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Water,
      Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Water

Water:
Stand back, ye fools, I flow with life, it is my job to end this strife.

lay hands on his chest and concentrate, frown, grunt, whatever


He does not wake, it seems I failed, my liquid charms have not prevailed.

All (slow drum): Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Water,
      Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Water

Time:
Your wisdom seems quite incomplete. You've never watched a Sesame Street?

elements pretend talk amongst each other, look confused


Time:
Alone your efforts seem quite thin, perhaps together you will win.
    lots of "ah!" and "oh!" eureka activity

All (slow drum): Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Water,
      Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Water

pause, looking at each other, preparing...


All Elements:
All at once we poke and blow, in unison we burn and flow.

do all of it, a lot, bumbling a bit, then finally getting a rhythm


after a few beats of sync, king awakens, but changes mask/sign/hat


At last it seems we have succeeded, but who is this, a new king seeded?

All (slow drum): Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Water,
      Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Water

Holly:
I am the Darksome Holly King, I'll never feel my strength wane-ing.
Until the ends of time arrive, I know that I shall here survive!

All (slow drum): Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Water,
      Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Water

Time:
I am Time, I hear your murmur, but darksome one, my reign is firmer.
The circle of the year prevails, has no one ever heard the tales?

All (slow drum): Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Water,
      Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Water

Holly:
I draw the power from the day, saving it in my own way.
I give it over to the night, a little more each solar flight.

All (slow drum): Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Water,
      Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Water

Time:
Six months I give you, live it well, for at the end you can't rebel.
The circle turns without a pause, but turns again by endless laws.

All (slow drum): Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Water,
      Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Water

Earth:
I be Earth, and made of dust, stone and strength, my ways are just.
I am the place that you claim home, so please recycle, no Styrofoam.  (bow)

All (slow drum): Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Water,
      Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Water

Air:
I be Air, and made of wind, I know that all I touch will bend.
I am your breath, your sigh, your sneeze, I think I'm turning Japanese.

All: We think she's turning Japanese.

Air: I really think so.  (bow)

All (slow drum): Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Water,
      Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Water

Fire:
I be Fire, and made of flame, my passions seething, less than tame.
I am a fleeting moment gone, don't make me angry, I'll put on. (bow)

All (slow drum): Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Water,
      Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Water

Water:
I be Water, and made of rain, I stay mainly in the plains.
I flow to fill, to shape, to move, everything can feel my groove. (bow)

king and elements begin filing out


All (slow drum): Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Water,
      Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Water

All (drumming faster): Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Water,
      Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Water

Big bang on the drum.
All return and take a bow.  Then take your place in circle.

 

 

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