CATHERINE WHEEL.
A PLAY BY LUCY GOUGH.
© Copyright 2000 Lucy Gough. All Rights
Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,
transcribed in any form or by any means, including, but not limited to electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording, or other means, without prior written permission
of the Author.
FIRST PERFORMED AND TOURED BY SCALLYWAG THEATRE COMPANY.
THIS PLAY IS WRITTEN FOR THEATRE IN EDUCATION PERFORMANCE AND WOULD
BE LINKED WITH A CLASS WORKSHOP. IT IS WRITTEN TO BE RELEVANT FOR SECONDARY
SCHOOL 4TH AND 5TH YEARS STUDYING HISTORY.
CHARACTERS:
HANGMAN:
ACTOR 1:
ACTOR 2:
ACTRESS:
NOTES: A cello is used at certain points to emphasise the action, which
is fast and furious.
SCENE 1: TYBURN FAIR.
AS STUDENTS ENTER SOUNDS AND ATMOSPHERE OF TYBURN FAIR, SELLERS OF GINGERBREAD,
LADDERS AND LAST SPEECHES AND CONFESSIONS. HANGMAN BY GALLOWS DRAWING CROWD
TOWARDS HIM. HE DIRECTS THEM TOWARDS SEATS.
HANGMAN:
There's still some places in Mother Procter's pews ....any that can't see
can hire a ladder ...nothings free in this world.... we pays for every
damn thing. It even costs to die sweetly. I'm Nic the Noose.. I do a nice
clean job not like some I could mention ... Soon I'll show you a
man piss when he cannot whistle, 'e won't be long. The cart don't hurry
and the crowds bad in parts ...but 'es on 'is way ...and I bet 'e wish
'e weren't....till he arrives I'll entertain you with me other 'angings.
Turned off four together once and not one of 'em struggled for more an'
ten minutes ...A master of me trade and this here is the tool of
me trade ..the deadly nevergreen....the triple tree of Tyburn ....I've
studied it like a science ...can hang twenty four men at once on this'un
eight on each side and not ketchup one of 'em ....
(STARTS TO MOVE AMONG STUDENTS)
There's nothing in being hanged but a wrung neck and a wet pair of
breeches..... cause of death is the stretching of the skin on the neck
and then strangulation
(ELABORATE WITH ACTIONS).
Painful... very painful but who's to know on account of the fact the
poor fool can't cry out ...the rope is firmly fixed around his neck
(FINDS THIS FUNNY).
A piece of advice ....eat a hearty breakfast ...take this..
(SELECTS NECK OF STUDENT)
nice, very nice, thin neck heavy body 3 maybe 4 minutes..
(LOOKS AT HIS FACE).
Has a regular Tyburn look about 'im ....
(ANOTHER STUDENT)
You'd thrash around for a long time... thick neck that's the trouble
...its part of me job to assess me clients body weights very important.
(TO SECOND STUDENT)
Of course if you pay me extra I'd pull your legs, help you along a
bit.
(DRUM BEAT AS VICTIM ENTERS WITH COFFIN. AS HANGMAN TALKS VICTIM MOVES
TOWARD SCAFFOLD. THE VICTIM IS INVISIBLE LED BY TWO ACTORS, ACTRESS CARRYING
COFFIN BEHIND.)
I've seen them all ...young, old, rich, poor, the rope ain't
fussy ...the brave, the terrified, some are shaking so much you'd
think they'd dissolve ...
(VICTIM ARRIVES ON SCAFFOLD HANGMAN TALKS REASSURINGLY TO VICTIM AS
NOOSE IS PUT OVER HIS NECK)
Come on then up you come, lets put the Tyburn collar on yu. This 'eres
the Tyburn colour, let me helps you along a bit ....I'll count to three...
1.... there ain't no going back my son its 'eaven or 'ell for you...2....didn't
your mother tell you thieving don't pay......
(DRUM BEAT IS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY LOUDER, ONE LARGE BANG AS
HANGMAN KICKS CHAIR ON COUNT OF 3 TO SYMBOLIZE HANGING AND ALL ACTORS PUT
HEAD ON SIDE. HANGING MUST ACHIEVE A BRIEF CHILLING SILENCE.)
It is nothing it is only a kick.
ACTORS LET OUT A LOUD SCREAM AND RUN FORWARD PULLING THE CLOTH WHICH
THEY WILL USE TO DRAPE OVER SCAFFOLD. ACROBATICS ETC AS PLAYERS INTRODUCE
THEMSELVES.
ACTOR 1:
The Tyburn players!
[REPEATED BY ALL.]
ACTOR 2:
This 'ere is a short play about killing, a tragedy of great weight and
a lesson to us all.
ACTRESS:
The tale of Cat Hayes!
ACTOR 2:
Charcoaled last week with great pain and suffering....
HANGMAN:
Now there's a woman deserved to die, no question about it.
THE ACTRESS MOVES OVER TO ARGUE WITH HANGMAN OTHERS START TO PREPARE
FOR PLAY.
ACTRESS:
'es bin danglin' long enough.....cut 'im down...
HANGMAN:
You a relative?
ACTRESS:
Of that lump of lard!.....You've done you're bit ...now cut 'im down....
HANGMAN:
(TO AUDIENCE)
The ways of the almighty are as ever a mystery to me ...to create women
with the form of a goddess but with the tongue and humour of a shrew...
ACTRESS:
...You're show's over and now ours must begin.
HANGMAN:
What you talking about?
ACTRESS:
We have a play...
A FULL SCRIPT OF THE PLAY CAN BE PURCHASED FROM US AT COST PRICE.
