Numbers and Dark Shadows By Richard Callahan 11/17/2008 9:47:09 AM Anniversary. th are a fictitious re-enactment of Charles Whitman Whitman Charles are a fictitious re-enactment of Dark Shadows NOTES then his mother, after killing Whitman, Charles 1, 1966, August On campus Texas University of walked onto the the night before, his wife proceeded to the guns and ammunition. He then with an arsenal of 33 others. killed 16 people and injured where he shot and Tower, UT Officers stormed Austin Police three later, Over an hour-and-a-half ending his senseless ultimately, Whitman, and killing Tower, the UT shootings marked the worst Tower the time, the UT At rampage. stunned The impact of this tragedy forced history. mass murder in US and Weapons across the nation to develop Special police departments In teams. simply as SWAT which today are known Teams, Tactics and women who poems, we pay tribute to the men the following two and we still try to understand what pushes lost their lives that day, should be entered in Poetry These two poems someone over the edge. serve as a suggestion The drama mask icons simply Interpreation. The italicized stanzas the page. to show the performer where to turn in These lines should be performed with speaking from the tower. The two poems intensity. emotional levels and, at times, understated program, or Dark Shadows may may be performed together as a poetic this tragic incident is a part Remember, be performed independently. people lost their lives that day in 1966; and many American history, of with honesty and respect. therefore, please perform these poems Numbers August 1, 1966. 1 man, Dozens of guns, And countless rounds of ammunition. 1 tower. 1 tower celebrating its 13 1 tower, Standing 307 feet tall. 96 minutes. It took 96 minutes end the lives of 16 innocent victims To And wound 33 others.

, Prissy (Intensely (Smiling.) Stephen Petersen’s dad is Stephen Petersen’s (Whispering.) Hello, my name is Thomas, and I’m six-years-old. My Hello, my name is Thomas in order to cope with an unforeseen tragedy. with an unforeseen tragedy. Thomas in order to cope , a six-year-old child , a six-year-old as is a short, dramatic play; therefore, it should be entered in be entered therefore, it should dramatic play; is a short, , the mother Realistic pantomime—not charades—has the ability to add a touch of Realistic pantomime—not charades—has There are to your performance. sophistication and technical difficulty this play; therefore, make these shifts in time and location throughout tour-de-force This is a wonderful transitions clear to the audience. are visible to show the The drama mask icons for the right actress. placed, if so desired. performer where a teaser could be Prissy/Thomas should be portrayed as a small child—with childlike be portrayed as a small child—with Prissy/Thomas should that accompanies when appropriate, the comic timing expressions and, and she is mother, Peggy is a compassionate childhood innocence. Peggy should be portrayed Prissy. fiercely protective of her daughter, Principal Cox is an older man, and if maturely—not matronly. Play the moments for desired, he may be portrayed overly-stodgy. are a few places where pantomime might be used—i.e. There honesty. adding when phone. Remember, driving the car and talking on the clenched fist A always go for realism. pantomime to any performance, can a closed fist hold a telephone. can not hold a steering wheel, nor NOTES psyche. on one’s often play tricks experiences can Traumatic Thomas there While and performed by a female. Dramatic Interpretation only three there are, in fact, listed in the play, are four characters to child that appears is a six-year-old characters. Prissy/Thomas it of the play, at the end however, Thomas; be a little boy named named Prissy character is actually a little girl is revealed that the who speaks

You wanna hear? Ok. You Prissy/Thomas Peggy Principal Cox Prissy/Thomas: this boy at school. His There’s She hates it. name is Prissy. best friend’s just gross! He That’s name is Stephen Petersen. He smells like a pickle. be makes fun of us for being friends. He says that “boys should never just tell him to keep We friends with girls, especially ones named Prissy.” his big fat mouth shut or we’re gonna tell everyone his secret. Characters:

By Sarie Fischer Norval Fischer Sarie By Prissy Thomas Prissy OrangeBook_LAYOUT DB.indd 13 OrangeBook_LAYOUT DB.indd 14 Numbers and Dark Shadows By Richard Callahan To the Tower. No oneevennoticed. Noticed himashecarriedhistwooverstuffed suitcases And again,madehimlooklarger thanlife.Noone His darkshadowfollowedhimdownthesidewalk The nextmorning,hewalkedontotheUT campus. No wifeshouldhavetolivetherestofherlifein shame. He tookthegun,caressedhertemple,andpulled thetrigger. His loveforherfaroutweighedthedutyhehadtoperform. He wouldgiveher. Though ithadnomonetaryvalue, She lookedsopeaceful. This wouldbethelastgift He drovehometohiswife,Kathy. Sleeping, Making himlooklarger thanlifeitself. Cast adarkshadowontheoppositebedroomwall And noticedhowthelampbehindhim He placedthenoteonbedsideshelf, He lookeddownathismother, Margaret. Howstillshelay. Dark Shadows Why? At theforefrontof American minds. 1 questionwillremain Charles Joseph Whitman. Will foreverberemembered. 1 namealone The namesofthosekilled. But mostwon’t remember That stunnedanationofmillions, Ended thetragedy 3 Austin PoliceOfficers Raymond Happier, suit monogrammedwithacapital‘H.’ Alfred willhavetomakeanewcrime-fightingsuitoneday, afterall. A Hannah—home-made chocolatechipcookies! Who knows?Maybe told methataprettygirlcamebyandleftpackageforme.Itwasfrom time atall,I’llbeasgoodnew! When Igothome,Mrs.Gonzales gave meaprescriptionforsomeanti-depressants,andhesaidthatinno I’ll beouttheresomedaykeepingthestreetsfreefromcrime. who caresabouthersomuch. Then hesaidfeelsbetterknowingthat The doctor

11/17/2008 9:47:09 AM

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