|
[The scene opens on
a 1940's home. Scrims again conceal secondary sets. It's Autumn
and Father is seated at the table in a kitchen of gleaming white
late-1940s appliances -- all enamel and chrome. And there's the
faithful audio-animatronic dog at his feet.] |
| Father: |
Well, it's Autumn again and the
kids are back in school. Thank goodness. Now we're in the "Frantic
Forties" and its amazing how today's household appliances
are helping to take over the hard work. Like our new electric
washing machine. It does about everything but hang up the clothes!
And electric ranges are a big improvement over those early models
of the 1920s.
And refrigerators are bigger and
better than ever.[Refrigerator
door automatically swings open and various compartments pop open
to show off the conveniences.]
It keeps vegetables "garden fresh" for days. There's
a meat compartment. And it makes lots more ice cubes. Dish washing
has gone electric too. And that's real progress, believe me!
[The dog growls
at someone in the audience.] Sport!
Stop pickin' on 'im!
Yes sir. Kitchens are now places
to relax in. I spend lots of time here. Have to. Grandma and
Grandpa have taken over my den. [Lights come up in scrimmed side theater
at stage-right to reveal Grandma and Grandpa listening to a console
stereo/radio.] Radios and automatic
record players are now combined in one unit. And Grandma has
a new hearing aid.
|
| Grandma: |
Hmmmm? |
| Father: |
Nothing, Grandma. |
| Grandma: |
Oh. I thought you said I had a new
hearing aid. [Lights
fade on stage-right scene.] |
| Father: |
[Chuckling] Well, our...
[Sport growls at
someone in the audience again.] Sport!
[Lights come up
in scrimmed side theater at stage-left to reveal Mother on a
ladder putting up wallpaper. An electric mixer sits running on
an old bureau, nearby.] Well,
our whole family is caught up in the new "do-it-yourself"
craze. Mother's remodeling my basement workshop into something
called a "Rumpus Room." Be careful now, Mother.
|
| Mother: |
Don't worry about me, dear. |
| Father: |
Mother's pretty ingenious ... like
using her coke mixer for stirring ... paint?? Well, that's my
wife Sarah. You know, I remember when... |
| Mother: |
[As lights dim on stage-left
scene, there's a loud crash -- Mother's fallen from the
ladder.] Ohhhh! Darn! |
| Father: |
Is there a doctor in the audience? |
| Mother: |
Never mind. I'm all right dear. |
| Father: |
Good. Now, where was I? Oh yes. Remember
back in the twenties when young people got their exercise dancing
the Charleston? Well today our daughter Jane keeps in
shape with electricity. [Lights
come up in scrimmed side theater at stage-right to reveal Jane
jiggling with an electric "belt" exerciser machine
while talking on the telephone to her friend, Babs; her voice
barely understood because of her shaking.] |
| Jane: |
Babs, did you know that Toni's going
steady with LeRoy? Imagine. |
| Babs: |
Jane, are you going to the dance? |
| Jane: |
Yes. And I'm not going to the dance
with that jerk, Wilson! |
| Babs: |
I don't blame you one bit. |
| Jane: |
Besides, I wouldn't be seen in his
old jalopy! Makes me bounce and shake like a bowl of jelly. Oh,
and listen Babs... [Lights
fade on stage-right scene.] |
| Father: |
I'm having another phone put in
next week.
[Sport growls at
someone in the audience again.] Now stop that. He may be a good customer
of General Electric!
Well, thanks to
progress, Mother and I can spend more time together. We got the
new electronic baby sitter. [Lights
come up in stage-left side theater to a scene of kids watching
"Cowboys & Indians" on a Television set.] Television is here and,
no doubt, will improve. I'll bet there'll always be the "good
guy" shootin' it out with the "bad guy."
Electronic baby-sitter
Concept model
 |
|
| Father: |
[...as lights fade
on stage-left scene.] Yes sir.
It seems like these are the best years of our lives. Or does
that sound like an echo from the past?
Well, I guess it's about time to
move on. All of us should know the song by now. Let's sing it
together:
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. . . . He follows his dream
Click to rotate to the Act
IV Theater