Denial of Self - Recently Updated Pages

Denial of Self

Smittened — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 01:07:12 CST

Welcome to the site for the Denial of Self Project. This show has closed but we might reopen it. We also perform pieces of it around so sign up on our mailing list. https://lists.resist.ca/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/321clubhouse-l or email us for more information. You can also go to our website to see what else we are up to. http://thecog.vox.com

For more videos from the show go to: http://vimeo.com/smitty

CoG Presents a Commedia Noir about narcissism.

December 4th -28th at the IFCC in Portland, Oregon!

Want to Donate? Click here.

For tax deductible donations: Click here.

Welcome to the Wiki page for Denial of Self. This is a project of the Collective of Geniuses (CoG).

Cog’s mission is to create art that challenges the notions on which class, gender, privilege, etc. are based. Furthermore, we empower minority artists, especially those who identify as trans, queer and/or womyn, and help them create sustainable economic stability through educational programs and creative opportunities.

CoG presents, Denial of Self, a play for you, about you, made by you via this wiki. Only you can prevent narcissism! This project is negotiating the intersections of shadows (puppetry), line (aerial/acrobatic performance) and color (visual projections), and humanity (theatre). It also borders the ideas of right and wrong, good and bad, light and dark, seriousness and humor, public and private.The play will explore Narcissistic Personality Disorder and the devastating effects of cultural narcissism as well as the interrelation of narcissism, war, corporations, bigotry, and consumerism, while dancing through with the joy and possibility of Clowns and Puppets. This work is being created publicly via this online wiki, where CoG will also be accepting contributions to the work through Activities which will be used in the formation of the content, masks, and puppets. Cog's Goal is to create theatre for the people by the people!

Our theme in progress: Reality is based on an individual's perspective. Right and wrong are based on this same perspective. We can look at someone and call them a narcissist, but who are we to judge? Doesn't that make us the narcissist? Where do the lines of us and other people meet? Why? What is reality? Why? What is right and wrong? Why? When does white turn into grey and grey turn into black? Do questions only create more questions? The Moral (or theme): is that we can change the world by changing ourselves. They just don’t want us to believe in ourselves. That is why people who are working on this project are working so hard to become the best people they can be.

Like any non-profit performing arts company we need your support. You can help us out by
1. Looking at our list of items we need.
2. Look at our list of volunteers we need.
3. Sign up on our mailing list.
4. Donate funds (we have fiscal sponsorship and are able to offer tax letters). Please email us at CoG (at) Riseup (dot) net for more information.

We know there is a lot of information on this site. We have tried to make it as fun as possible. If you have any suggestions feel free to let us know. The bar on the left has a list of pages on the site. Feel free to browse our Work Samples, participate in one of our Activities, or check out the Team Members page to find out who we are. The Organizational hoopla is the guts of our work but it can be pretty overwelming unless you are involved in the process. This said if you feel like being overwelmed, jump right in.

Ambition is good. Vagueness is not.

Smittened — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 01:05:51 CST

Anonymous
Dec 1 2008, 8:38 PM EST
It's really tough to make art that covers everything you just described. And, in my experience, the more specific you get with your art, the more likely it is to cover what you've said you want to.

So ... what is this about?

Smittened
1 minute ago
I am glad that you comment here on our site. I am NOT glad that you left no way to have a conversation but instead criticize a project anonymously. If you wanted you could have easily sent a message to someone instead of posting it. Maybe this will be less vague for you... this show is about you.

I am sorry you missed the point which was to allow the project enough room to become its own beast. I think of art much like a child if you tell it who and what it will be when it grows up then it will probably be those things but if you give it room to grow then it will become its own unique being and THAT is the most precious thing in the world. We had a quote up for a long time on this site which said something like art is no longer anything but a mirror held up to reflect the face of the narcissist, If you want to see specific art then maybe you should join the site and make it specific; now that would be interesting. At least more interesting then some vague ridicule meant to increase conformity with culture. We make art to change the world not to fit within some box of cultural acceptability. I dare you to reply!

Work Samples

Smittened — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 04:16:03 CST

From the Show...
http://s225.photobucket.com/albums/dd85/cog-gear/?albumview=slideshow

Scroll down for videos!

Keep in Touch

Smittened — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 04:12:29 CST

This here is a listserve that serves the queer and minority arts community of the Pacific Northwest:
https://lists.resist.ca/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/321clubhouse-l

Find our main projects update blog here:
http://thecog.vox.com

To join our mailing list please email CoG (at) Riseup (dot) net or
go to the CoG site
http://queer.tripod.com

Lack of Empathy :s) 10/4

jack_books — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 02:28:45 CST

Lack of Empathy- Empathy
Current View as a Clown Lazzi, possibly with one of the characters as a puppet (will know shortly)

( Clown 1 enters pulling a pull-toy stacked with shoes and socksm hat and scarf. Clown 1 sets items down in the "right" order and looks at all the items. Tells about going to the Space Museum. Gets HAPPY! So happy Clown 1 begins to dance.

(A bright light shines from SR.)

Clown 2 (speaks offstage, possibly only a dog barking.): HEY What are you doing?! Aren't you ready to go? HUH... That's a pretty dumb dance, now get ready...

(light snaps off. Clown 1 is very upset. Goes towards items, grumbling. picks up socks to put them on, but they get involved to the grumbling. sock 1 tells off sock 2 and they get in a wrestling match. sock one is winning when the light snaps on again.

Clown 2 (possibly only a dog barking): HEY! Why aren't you ready yet! do I have to dress you?! does this mean I have to leave you here. This is you telling me you don't want to go. Now Finish up! OR I will have to leave you here.

Clown 1: I uh I have my socks on... (clown 2 leaves)

(Clown 1 angry/sad/dejected. and mad.)

Clown 1: Well I... uh...grrrr. I hate name calling!

(Clown 1 moves towards items and starts to put them back on to the pull-toy, while grumbling. picks up hat and starts tlaking ot it. Tells it its sad story.)

(Clown 1 picks up hat and starts to put it on.)

Clown 1: I hate name calling, Whimpers to hat. strokes cheek with hat. starts to put hat on head and... )

(clown 1's heart (a toy heart in its chest) hurts.)

(light snaps on)

Clown 2 (possibly dog barking): HEY! What is taking so long!

Clown 1: well umm... don't yell...

Clown 2 (possibly dog barking): Well Get ready. Are you having problems! You are being a pain in the ass. I can't stand going places with you, it takes forever... you are soo stupid....

(Clown 1's heart hurts a lot. Clown 2 yells really loud and clown 1's heart drops out of its chest. It stares at it on the floor. Clown 2 pauses for an instant in the tirade. then continues, then leaves. Clown 1 runs off to the side for a dust pan and sweeper. Clown 1 runs back in with the dustpan and begins sweeping up the area around the heart, then sweeps up the heart. pauses, then crawls forward.

Clown 1 (to audience): ooouuuwwweee.

(Clown 1 carefully dusts off heart and puts it back into its chest. it still hurts.)

Clown 1: I think I am going to go live at the space museum. yeah I will go live at the space museum. I will get my toothbrush.

Clown 1 runs off stage for toothbrush, puts on-stage items back on to pull toy. walks off with pull-toy and toothbrush. Gets a little taller, and sure of self as it exits.

(sound ideas: mean clown, childlike clown. something quiet, silent like.)

I see this scene being something really dramatic and over the top with one clown being so cruel to the other like beating the other or just real cruel words. The other's heart breaks and falls from its chest onto the floor and the first clown walks right over and then leaves. The other clown then OCDs out on cleaning up the mess while muttering stuff like "I hate you! My emotions DO deserve to be treated with respect!I AM a valuable person!I deserve to be treated better than this!" Then after a drawn out very uncomfortable scene of the other rocking back and forth and ocding on the floor, the first clown comes back. Upon seeing the other on the floor says something like; "What's wrong with you, why are you on the floor like that?" To which the other replies, "You don't have to be so mean to me. I have feelings to you know." Then the first clown says "What are you talking about, I haven't been mean to you. Are you making things up again?" and continues to lull the other back into submission. Then when the viewer is thinking how pitiful or what the fuck are you doing? or something then the other will turn to the audience in an aside and say "What the fuck am I doing?" Take off the puppet (that maybe was all beaten-in in the other scene) and then walk off stage and leave the first puppet stairing at the broken puppet until the lights go down.

(I feel like this may be too literal but I took the idea from something I was reading that struck me too the core. It reminded me about what the core disfunction was when interacting with narcissist. I feel like empathy is the biggest key to the whole thing so this scene needs to be big and over the top. I really want to have a scene so uncomfortable that people want to leave but make it just long enough so they don't then bring it back in with something warming like more fabric.)

Items we need

Smittened — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 21:11:07 CST

Aerial equipment:
Rescue-8 $40
Steel Carabiners
Swivel
Tissu
or here
Robe

Some more stuff:
*Muslin or other semi-transparent material to project on
*wood for building screens, i.e. 2x2s and 2x4s at least 3 feet long preferably six plus feet.
*Fabric for costumes (take Jack with you to Fabrics for Less)
*a dvd burner for the multimedia portion of the show
*$$Bling to pay for the space, our performers and hopefully some of our tech volunteers
*any food donations for our awesome crew of volunteers

Volunteers Needed:
* House assistants
*Stage Hands
*light board operator
*assistance with sewing costumes
*video technician

three shadows

jack_books — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:09:41 CST

(the light is brackish and deep.
a muddy lake)

Three of the smallest shadows in the far off
begin to move

They scuttle closer to peer at me

and I crouch to look deeper
it is so dark I can only almost see the shadows look at me
then back to each other.

I watch them

though they are all small there is even a smallest one
and it moves with the most precision.

I can see them thinking

The little one moves
fluttering hands swaying as the trees do
with crinkled eyes
(they must be laughing at me)

A SUDDEN SOUND!

we all crouch
(for I am new to this brackish place and do not know
what to be afraid of)

I watch the little shadows

they scuttle now solemn and quick

making preparations between themselves
sad and bending low
to each other
they touch each the face
of the others

They come near to me
as they hesitantly reach for my face
I bow as I had seen them do
And that seems right to them
they touch my face and I see with their eyes
what that horrid cracking sounds had been

I see the smashing of their mother's faces
beneath the giant steamroller steps of a beast
I could only liken to a giant man
an angry Gladiator
spilling all blood in his path

We retreat together
the little shadows and I
to the deepest parts of the brackish lake

And I think to myself
where have I seen such a beast

in an instant an image jumps back to me
of my own people
sending forth mechanical emissaries
of discovery
to find new lands
yet untapped
un-mined
un-manned
and my mind jumps back further
to my own hands turning the dials on such a creature
I frighten myself with the vividness of memory
of test run after test run
where the machine went awry
and where they did not
my past had finally come to hunt me down.

(Sound ideas: scuttling, subtly industry sounds,, frightened almost nature, shadowy. Plus one VERY loud sound.)

Echo: I miss you

jack_books — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:23:53 CST

Echo:
I miss you
I find myself
searching next to me with my hands in the dark
trying to guess how
you might be sleeping
if you were next to me

it never woks
you do not appear
I lose my sense of touch when it doesn’t work
I lose my sense of sight when it doesn’t work

Sometimes I cry alone
Sometimes I DO NOT cry alone

it doesn’t matter to you which I do
you are not there
you are not here either

Where are you?
where are you.

I cannot draw you out
I’ve tried laughing
I’ve tried loving
I’ve tried following you like a sleuth
like a thief
and still nothing

You also most do not exist
yet I am on the hunt
I am stalking you
ready to flush you out
if I catch the sense that you might be inside

I see a glimmer and rush in
immediate and swift
like an arrow
but you are fast and vaporous
and dodge without revealing you position

Sometimes I hate you
for chaining us together
and for pulling us apart
for tossing me aside
like dirt
as you built a new house for yourself
a new you for yourself
tossing dirt over me until I was buried
like garbage
hidden

you have tried to squash me
but I am like a cockroach
I watch for flaws in your walls
I watch for clues
left on the counter
(so your weakness is ice cream…
(and you cannot figure out how to stop cleaning the kitchen too much

Nevermind!
I can find you secrets elsewhere too…
I know where you sleep.

(sound ideas: kitchen sounds, sleeping sounds "rhythms of daily life" constant whirr. something super map~map)

Opening Sequence

jack_books — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:22:09 CST

(House lights out. Dim stage light. Echo asends into the fabric. Video Begins. Dance on Fabric Begins. Through this video and dance we watch Echo split into two:Narcissus and Echo. We watch Narcissus stuff Echo away inside, and become the worst of what he can be. The video mirrors this shift and moves into industrial today. The section ends with a drop which leaves Narcissus now on stage and Echo nowhere to be seen.)

>Jack descends in fabric and wraps up in it (cocoon) "Drops" (some crystalis analogy of the shedding) Echo costume on ground. Stage hand stuffs it with puppet. Narcissist (Still wrapped in fabric) moves away to exit off stage.

(Sound ideas: calm, natural transitioning into harsh, industrial, and aggrivating)

The Professor Meditates

jack_books — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:20:08 CST

(text will be added shortly)

(sounds ideas: "New Age" sounds interupted by a battle.)

Emotions dance

jack_books — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:16:51 CST

Dance of emotional signifiyers.

(sound ideas: wawa, bipolar (simultaniously, heightend state, extremes married)

Unplaced material

jack_books — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:12:51 CST

There is no abstract available for this page revision.

Struggle at the Grocery Store

jack_books — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:11:52 CST

Struggle at the Grocery Store

( Video Isles and Isles of grocery store bounty)

(Silhouette of a person shopping)

I find myself back in my home land after my travels
It is hard to return to a place you used to know, after living another life. a reverse culture shock.

Returning to my habits of before
the paths I used to walk and the way I used to go.
this way to the grocery store:
up past the bank and the bookshop.

I walk the isles and I see things very differently
the glowing packages
and the piles of fruit

everything looks so beautiful.

But when I look closer I see the cracks
I see the machines that slave and wrestle the food into it's tiny boxes
I see the people that slave and prepare the food for the tiny boxes.

I see the lands that used to be forest but are now brightly colored cardboard packages
and I see the sad people with no trees to sit under.

I think back to my tiny friends by the lake
I wonder what they would see here

If they touched the boxes would they suddenly know the origin of every ingredient?
how would they shop, knowing what they know.
What would they buy?

(sound ideas: grocery store sounds, factories, sad people, hip people. Reminder sounds from the three shadows piece.)

Meaning and Purpose

jack_books — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:10:27 CST

I am totally a productive narcissist

The results of the recognizing personalities test from the productive narcissist by Michael Maccoby.

The type of person who impresses us as a personality, who disrupts the status quo and brings about change.

Narcissists have very little or no physic demands that they have to do the right thing. Freed from these internal constraints, they are forced to answer, for themselves, what is right, to decide what they value, what, in effect, gives them a sense of meaning. They create their own vision, a sense of purpose that not only engages them but also inspires others to follow them.

Narcissists train themselves from an early age to block out other voices, other opinions, so one of the few voices they trust is their own. They are accustomed to listening to themselves talk, debating different sides of the same issue, finally reaching a decision about what to do and the best way to do it.

Without the support of others, it's easy to see how narcissists have a highly developed “me against the world” way of looking at things. This often comes out as paranoia, a heightened awareness of danger that may be realistic, given narcissistic ambition, competitiveness, and unbridled aggressive energy. There is not a lot of gray area in the narcissistic view of the world -you are either a friend or a foe, for or against the vision.

Strengths of the productive narcissistic
*visioning to change the world and create meaning
*independent thinking and risk taking
*passion
*charisma
*voracious learning
*perseverance
*alertness to threats
*sense of humor

(cut the rest, use as concept material.)

This was what I tested as. I have known for sometime because of my upbringing I struggle with narcissism. I feel that I have done leaps and bounds to become a more caring compassionate person. I have my good friends to thank for it. The ones who stood by my side even while screaming at me about acting like an idiot then giving me a hug and saying that they love me, unconditionally. I took this in and knew it felt good and I wanted to be more like my good friends. To be able to love unconditionally. I know my heart is way more open now. I am still head strong. I still use my own judgment to decide for myself what is right and wrong. I believe everyone should do this.

I was listening to this recording of the Dali Lama and he was saying that for most of human history we have had religion to tell us what is right and wrong but in the world today because there are so many religions and such a world culture that it is not so predominate as a method for people to decide what is righteous and as a species we are trying to learn the skill of finding our own morality. In Buddhism (not just Tibetan but most that I have studied) there is the underlying idea that our purpose in life is to be happy. Not just superficial happiness that comes from consumerism but the kind of happiness that hits you to the core. The Dali Lama says that that fulfillment comes from helping other beings; from being a “good person”. I think especially western culture is realizing that consumerism, greed, envy, power (all the seven deadly sins) lead to unhappiness. Once you have some you just want more.

It is like this empty hole, let's call it a soul. Some Buddhist traditions might call it the hungry soul. It meaning a being of energy needs to eat. It can eat things that are good for the metaphysical equivalent of fresh fruit, veggies, beans and grains. (Helping others, growing things, smiling and loving unconditionally.) Or it can eat junk food. I think of consumerism, power and privilege as the potato chips, cola and fried food of the metaphysical realm.

So really when it comes down to it we are all narcissist in one way or another. We all want love. We all want people to like us and think we are unique and special. We all want to be respected and admired. This can be healthy narcissism just like in the description above thinking for yourself can be a healthy thing. When it becomes unhealthy, when our ego is not in check, we feel bad inside. We feel empty and search for that drug to fix it. (And by drug I also mean drink, product, tv sitcom, video game, carnival ride, etc.)

My biggest obstacle is to love myself unconditionally. And i think this is true for most people whether they can admit it or not. It seems like the more boosting, confident a person is; the more inside they are empty and looking to be filled by other people telling them they are okay. When this facade breaks down there is nothing left to hold them up and they fall into drink and drugs or power trips and consumerism. This is the bad face of the narcissist. But if a narcissist can learn to love themselves, they can learn to love those around them. They can think for themselves, find their own moral ground and also see other people as valuable source of information for better decision making. Because they have the focus, drive, passion, perseverance, charisma and vision; they can make great revolutionary leaders as long as they don't let their paranoia, sensitivity to criticism, competitiveness and angry rule them.

In conclusion, I think I will work on loving the narcissist in side of me and other people. Seeing the positive traits that come along with being a narcissist instead of just focusing on the negative one. I think if I can accomplish this, the next time I met a narcissist; instead of butting heads on who is going to be dominate, I will try to see what positive narcissist traits they have and how we can utilize our different positive aspects to benefits us both in the best way.

(sound ideas: something presidential.)

Study of certain transference

jack_books — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:09:25 CST

Study of certain transference

(Record this text for remix with printer.) Study of certain transference or transference like phenomena in the pschoanalsis of narcissistic personalities, and of the analyst's reaction to them including his <sic> countertransference.
Paranoid suspiciousness,
delusional body sensations,
profound shifts in self-perception
if judged in isolation, would indeed justify the apprehension that serious break with reality is imminent.

Headache

actor on stage from prior scene.
A lo hum starts in the background.
As the music/sound gets louder.
(I hear Marcus's remix of the printer.)
the actor starts to be collapsed by invisible hands crushing their body to the ground.
A set of invisible hands also slowly move the actors hands as the actor resists, until the actor is covering their own ears.

(sound ideas: copy machine sounds, "headache sounds")

The Professor is an Expert

jack_books — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:08:03 CST

The professor is an expert
(definitely)
HE knows quite a bit
in fact a lot
in fact Everything
The professor is indeed VERY smart
HE knows
(too much sometimes)
that the world is
indeed quite round, in this dimension
(He watches people)
and HE knows of the possibility of other dimensions
(see he knows too much)
(already he knows too much)
(I will touch his neck)
(I will squeeze his neck)
HE knows that love is a chemical reaction
(I will tighten around his neck. gently.)
And that thoughts are mere electricity
(with his neck half squeezed and his air half gone he will begin to writhe)
(I will squeeze more)
Quantum-possibility Electricity
Where one photon can become another
Instantly
(I will make him spit up all his secrets)
(one by one I will swallow them myself)
Electric Quantum thoughts
In two places at once!
(See! See!)
(I will just touch his neck)
These photon thoughts can pass through barriers!
(I will just squeeze enough so I can grab the secrets.)
(contain them)
(make them mine)
These Quantum thoughts can co-locate and respond across great distances
If born in reference to each other!
(I do not like him)
(he makes it difficult for me to be nice.)
(I want to squeeze him all the way out)
(squeeze all drops out and lick them up)
(then I will break him apart)
(and eat him)
(morsel by morsel)
Electron thoughts moving in reference through barriers
Passing and marking, or not!, their passage with notes and sparks
Head to Head to Head!
(then I will digest him)
(yes. Digest him slowly draining all knowledge from every bit)
Quantum thoughts passing brain to brain
(I will consume and wait)
Ideas born in reference moving brain to brain
Wrecking Havoc!
(drink in all his essence and wait)
Or Sprouting Beauty!
(digest all and wait for the discovery to work inside me)
(wait for him to be mine completely absorbed)
(then I will swallow again)
(and consume those he has infected)
Un-owned thoughts working together in dreams and Creation
Transferring and creating!
(swallow all he has touched)
(make it mine too)
Every moment drawing more connections
Amassing and drawing together. GRAVITY!
(All of it will be mine)
The possibilities of the world!
(to use)
(to keep)
In electrical impulse!
(to contain)
Dreaming isn’t futile!
(to contain the possibilities)
The future is being created today!
(to own the results)

(sound ideas: sounds of the lecture hall, sounds of science, one of the voices (the deamon, most likely))

Puppets Talk Current Events

jack_books — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:04:07 CST

Puppets Talk Current Events

Financial Annalist Puppet (F): Yes?

Doggy (D): So what is this bailout thing?

F: Oh well the financial institutions made too many risky loans (with bad terms for the borrowers, which made things worse) and so they are collapsing due to a low loan re-payment rate. On top of that insurance companies that insured the loans are having problems because of the high default rate.

D: So what does the bailout plan do?

F: Well, they are still ironing it out, but it seems that the institutions want the government to buy their bad debts, and take the risk from them, so that they can keep their businesses operating.

D: But what about the people who have mortgages they can’t pay?

F: In the government’s (and the big business’s) theory by saving these institutions they can save the economy from collapsing, and keep people from losing their jobs. This doesn’t solve the bad mortgages problem though. It still means that people have ridiculous mortgages at outrageous terms. I think that if the government, instead of bailing out the huge companies that caused this mess, went in and regulated the mortgages better, and created new, fixed terms for people it would actually allow more people to keep their homes. Especially if the government also put more public money and effort into public works projects that would benefit everybody. You know… hospitals, schools, roads, affordable higher education, green energy, and the arts: things that actually create jobs.

D: That sounds like a much better use of 700 billion dollars. A long-term use!
F: Wouldn’t that be nice.

(sounds ideas: News sounds, bus sounds, animal sounds, something unsettling, but hopeful.)

Attention seeking clowns

jack_books — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:02:22 CST

~Clown stage left spotlight.
~Stage Right person with can that says philathropy.
~Spotlight on clown fades ~clown runs over and puts money in can.
~Spotlight comes back up for a moment
~clown posses
~person with can holds up sign that says clap
~person with can puts down sign
~spotlight fades
~clown runs over puts more $ in can
*repeat
*when clown fails to clap or gets bored with piece clown will follow description on page 25 of a book on narcissism that I don't have in front of me

(sound ideas: well the circus, applause, wearyness. desperation.)

Big Man

jack_books — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:00:54 CST

Big Man

I am a big man!
I am important!
You should listen to me!
The market is going to collapse unless you give me a lot of money.
I mean like an amount equal to 1/3 the national budget.
I mean like it is only 1/10 of the national debt.
It is equal to the increase in the national debt.
It is equal to my paycheck.
It is equal to the amount of money it would take to create a society without
starving people,
poverty, homelessness.
It is equal to the amount of money it would take to create a society with
arts,
culture,
community,
social service.

You should listen to me, I know what is going to happen.
It would be the end of the world as we know it.
It will be the end of my comfortable life.
uh, I mean your comfortable life.
I mean it won't affect me, it will affect the everyday man.
I know about money!
I know about markets!
What do you know?
You know nothing.
Listen to me!
Give me your money.

Clowns from prior scene sadly give up their can.

(sound ideas: something percussive, but unrhythmic or a jaring rhythm. also swooping sounds.)

Puppet

jack_books — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 14:55:09 CST

Echo is the broken doll.
The child's puppet disposed of, used,
sitting in the corner.
The velveteen rabbit that has been forgotten.
Écho's voice has faded to nothing as ze calls out for love and affection.
"Please tell me I am worthy."
"Please tell me I am okay."
"Please come play with me like you use to."
"Please come and tell me how much you love me and think I am great."
"Please stop looking at yourself in the mirror, admiring your muscles."
"Please stop expecting me to be your servant."
"Please think of me as an equal."
"Please, don't let me fade away."

(sound ideas: Kid's pull-string toy. Sounds of the toy isle? )