music by Larry & Shirley
http://www.youtube.com/whatisee7
A Theatrical Production!
E-mail: colourwhirl@cs.com
Coming In 2007!
Phillis Wheatley Class of "1957"
presents
"Echoes Of The Past!"
(a comedy about Phillis Wheatley back in the day)
by
playwright, Larry Hunter
Wheatley script
REHEARSAL TIME AT FINIGAN PARK!
Playwright, Larry Hunter directing this scene
MEMORIZING LINES OF THE PLAY
DISCUSSING THEIR CHARACTERS
READING OVER SCRIPT SERIOUSLY!
Exerpts from "ECHOES OF THE PAST"
"A Phillis Wheatley comedy play"
by
playwright, Larry Hunter
LIGHTS FADES
MUSIC# 4.....Wilson.....Whispers.......CD #1...#4.....Dancers#4
SCENE 5
LIGHTS UP......R. STAGE.
SHIRLEY is reading an old informer paper. Shirley is a 1957 graduate of Phillis Wheatley. She closes the paper as she sits down on a bench. She is at Finnegan Park. Shirley takes a walk through the park every evening before the sun goes down.
SHIRLEY
(looks up at the sky)
Sure hope it doesn’t rain today. I take this walk through Finnegan Park every evening when I think the bad boys are gone. I just like to come here and take in some of the memories. Finnegan Park is historical and there is Phillis Wheatley right across the street, my school, 1957....I’ll just sit here and imagine I’m that young again.......Ain’t nothing wrong with that as long as I don’t act it out.......
(She laughs)
Now Phillis Wheatley, back in 1957 was like a salvation for most of us young children because that white man was hell........Everything was segregated.....But somehow and someway, we survived the storm.......Behind Phillis Wheatley walls we were strong individuals.......Our teachers were so rapped to us, I guess it was their salvation too away from so much hate. We had the Pie House,
CONTD 6
Simpson Barbecue up the street, the Snack Bar and the Bean House. And we had Yates and Wheatley Turkey Day Classic. We loved staying in our little space. Then integration came that broke Wheatley’s dynasty........Can’t cry over spilled milk, but at least I can keep them good old time memories, right here in my heart.....And physically , my last year was 1957, but my mind never left this park or school. They are all connected. I met my first boyfriend at the canteen.
(Another older lady named Barbara walks up)
BARBARA
(sits down)
I thought you said you were going to wait on me, Shirley.....Anyway, why are you talking to yourself?......That’s not healthy........
SHIRLEY
(laughs)
Wasn’t talking to myself, just thinking out loud, that’s all.........
BARBARA
(curious)
Now I hope you’re not answering yourself out loud too, because I will call 911 in a heartbeat.
(They both look at each other and burst out laughing and pointing )
SHIRLEY
(laughing)
I’m not ready for that yet-----now maybe fifty years from now!
BARBARA
(laughs)
You haven’t changed a bit since the time we were in that old building over there.....I got to admit though, Phillis Wheatley had it going on........I’m going to always remember it that way.......Have you seen Joyce? She told me that she was going to meet us out here.
SHIRLEY
(in disbelief )
Now Barbara, you know darn well that Joyce was just talking......She doesn’t even want to walk outside to water her own lawn.....And to walk out to the park? Please! Give me a break! It’s not gonna happen......
(Joyce walks up behind the bench)
JOYCE
(curious)
What’s not gonna happen? Are ya’ll gossiping behind my back again?........
BARBARA
(funny look on face)
Oh, no! We were just talking about our 1957 class reunion coming up.......
SHIRLEY
That’s a lie!......We were saying that you don’t even like to walk out the house and water your own lawn more less than trying to walk to the park........
JOYCE
(smiles)
Well, Shirley, at least you’re honest. Not like some folks I know..........But what can I expect. It was like that when we were going to school......I guess some folks never change......
BARBARA
Well! I know you didn’t go there!
SHIRLEY
Please! Don’t bring that part of our school days up.....Jesus Christ!.....Let’s just reflect on the good times........
BARBARA
(calm)
Yeah.....You’re right, Shirley.........
JOYCE
(smiles)
You know. We’ve been friends for many years. I’ve never understood why Barbara and I disagreed so much......I mean, right until this day......
BARBARA
(jokes)
That’s easy to figure, Joyce......We both have always been stubborn and bull- headed.......Always have to have the last word.........
SHIRLEY
(comments)
Amen! On that!........
JOYCE
(observe)
They really have fixed Finnegan Park up.......It was really going down several years ago........The canteen was right over there......That place used to be so crowded on Friday nights, you could hardly see between the crowd......
BARBARA
(laughs)
What was the name of that real slow song they played and every boy would rush to dance with the girls........
SHIRLEY
(laughs)
Oh! You remember that song?! That was ‘The Clock’ by Johnny Ace.
JOYCE
That song seemed like it played forever...........The boy would have you in a back break and sweat would just be dripping from his face.......
BARBARA
(laughs)
I had to really like a boy for me to slow drag off “The Clock.” It ‘tic-tock’ too long for me and them boys just squeezed a little bit too tight.......
SHIRLEY
(sentiment)
Yeah......Old Johnny Ace just blew himself away right before our second year at
at Wheatley.......It was a sad day for all of us.......1954, December 25, playing Russian & Roulette.........What a waste.......
BARBARA
(gets up)
Let’s walk over by the baseball field.......I really did liked baseball. I remembered a left handed pitcher Wheatley had .......They won City Co-Championship in baseball, tied with Yates in 1955......He played basketball too........He used to pitch for Bros Henry’s summer league team at this park. It was a lot going on at Wheatley and Finnegan Park back then. You remember how we used to stand by the pool and watch Harry Torry and other swimmers do their swan and jack knife dives off the high and low boards? They were just as good as the Olympians.......How can we mention Phillis Wheatley without remembering Finnegan Park?..........It was a blessing away from home and school......How can we mention either without giving Fifth Ward it’s Props? They are all connected.
Most all of Wheatley basketball players played in the Park’s gym......
SHIRLEY
(gets up and folds her paper)
Listen......Are we going to walk over to the baseball field or we just going to sit here talking about Phyllis Wheatley?.......Now I love Phyllis Wheatley, but we going to have to move and talk at the same time........Anyway, why didn’t ya’ll wear your walking shoes?.........I came over here for exercise too...........
JOYCE
I just came because Barbara insisted that we get together-----now walking for exercise---well----
BARBARA
(impatient)
Just come on, Joyce......And Shirley, my shoes are fine for walking........Wait! I just remembered a song, but I recites it as poetry.......
JOYCE & SHIRLEY
I guess you ’re a poet now! Come on here, woman......
BARBARA
No! Listen! You just might remember........
(Barbara begins the poem)
Our Alma Mater stands today, a beacon light to guide the way------
JOYCE & SHIRLEY
Of those whose path will lead someday, to the goals of their ideals, the lesson given her youth of knowledge, loyalty and truth.
SHIRLEY
Inspire us all, we need the call, Wheatley makes to one and all.
BARBARA
(smiles)
Her stately walls ring out with cheer, she calls to all from far and near to join her ranks , we need not fear.
JOYCE
She welcomes them so heartily, her royal purple, matched with white, an emblem blazing forth with might.
SHIRLEY
Will ever lead to great deeds, Wheatley, how we honor thee!
EVERYBODY
Our Alma Mater, we strive to be, faithful, true, and ever loyal to the dreams inspired by thee...........Yes! Yes!
LIGHTS FADES
MUSIC: Doo-Wop.....You Cheated.....CD#1.....#5
SCENE 7
LIGHTS UP.......CENTER STAGE.......
Eight 1957 classmates are sitting and playing Bid-Wisk cards at Lil’s house. The others are named Pearlie Marie, Janice, Clara, Raymond, David, Leroy and Jimmy. They are playing at separate tables.
LIL 10
(bids)
Four-low-no!
RAYMOND
(looks up from cards)
You sure about that partner?.......
LIL
(confident)
Does a monkey have a tail?.......Sure he does.....Did I graduate from the best high school in the world in 1957! Sure I did! Now play!
CLARA
(looks at her hand)
Girl! You haven’t change since you wore bobby socks......Ya’ll know she bluffed her way all through high school......If she got a four-low-no hand, my last name is Moore......
DAVID
Now why in the hell did you have to mention his name? That man stole my thunder a many of days......I can see him now walking down the hall twirling his gold watch chain around and around. And those big white teeth between his thick lips.....Man he ate everyone of my pies one day as I was slipping back on the campus from the Pie House.
(Everybody laughs as they continues to play cards)
PEARLIE MARIE
(plays a card)
Yeah! He was something else----and the thing about it, he took them pies with a smile. Now that old saying about ‘ice water in your veins,’......well he was a good example.......
LEROY
Then sometimes he would have nerves to say, “thank you, you just made my breakfast, I must say.” Man! I would spend my last penny on them pies.......
JANICE
(plays card)
And old Pie Lady could bake up some pies now......My favorite one was the banana pie. The pie used to be so hot that I had to wiggle it around in my hand when 1 was eating it..........I just be blowing and biting and trying to slip back on campus........Them pies got me into a lot of trouble......
