The following piece is being developed as part of "The Beer Show" by 91 Days Theatre Company.
"The Beer Show" is intended for performance in a pub. Specifics of performance would depend on the configuration of the pub, but the best configuration would be a thrust performance space, with a section of the bar acting as the back wall (preferably a section with beer taps). Various props would be stored behind the bar.
The audience should be able to drink and order beer throughout the show without entering or interfering with the performance space. The actors must also be able to order from the bar during the performance.
This first rendition of the Prologue assumes some sort of controllable lights, sound system, and outlets for practical lights.
There is a round bar table CS and should be taller than any tables close to the performance area. There is no formal indication that the show has begun - it just happens.
MARY, the bartender, polishes a nonic pint glass with a bar rag behind the bar.
THE PRIEST, dressed in a robe, emerges from the busy pub crowd into the playing space and approaches the bar. With a nod he indicates his order to Mary and she begins to pour a dark ale.
The lights of the pub begin to dim as the pint is poured. The top 40 bar rock fades into a powerful classical ambiance.
The Priest turns, pint now in hand and walks to the bar table, placing it gently in the centre. He removes tea candles from his pocket, placing them in a circle around the pint. Mary removes tea candles from behind the bar and lines them along the section of bar that make up the playing area. They strike matches and light their candles in a coordinated ritual.
The music fades as the Priest takes up the glass.
PRIEST. Please join me in an eight thousand year old tradition (indicates to drink and then does so). Bring forth THE TABLETS.
Mary removes two stone tablets and places them on the bar. The Priest takes them as if preparing to deliver the ten commandments.
PRIEST. Behold, the Code of Hammurabi. Delivered to ancient Babylon to bring about the rule of righteousness to the land. 282 laws written in stone, symbolizing that not even a King can change the fundamental laws that govern a society. LAW #108: If a tavern-keeper does not accept corn according to gross weight in payment of drink, but takes money, and the price of the drink is less than that of the corn, she shall be convicted and thrown into the water. In plainspeak, if a tavern-keeper waters down their beer, they are drowned - quite possibly in their own watery beer.
Mary looks alarmed. The Priest drinks.
PRIEST. Do not fret my dear tavern keeper, your brew passes.(He drinks again) Before that, the Sumerians shouted hymns at the sky to Ninkasi, their matron goddess of beer, drunkenness and all-around good times:
When you pour out the filtered beer
of the collector vat,
It is like the onrush of
Tigris and Euphrates.
Ninkasi, you are the one who pours out the
filtered beer of the collector vat,
It is like the onrush of
Tigris and Euphrates.
PRIEST. The Sumerians were brewing beer and writing recipes into hymns in 6th millennium B.C. So for the "Young Earth Creationist type", this means God created beer before man - a pre-emptive manoeuvre in preparation for inevitably depressing human experience.
The Priest takes a bible from his pocket. Opens to page 1: Genesis.
PRIEST (reading) The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kind. And God saw that it was good. And then he had himself a beer. And there was evening, and God went with his friends to the Universal Bar & Grill, and then there was morning. And God said "Ow, my fucking head".
PRIEST The vast history of beer making has let to contentious debate among scholars. The possibility of beer preceding bread seems downright offensive to some: "How can Western Civilization be shaped by malnourished drunkards!?" they say! Well I say: why not? This whole thing seems so fucking crazy anyways. (A quick glance upwards)
PRIEST Beer-making is a world-wide tradition. Not just a tradition of getting drunk, but a tradition of building, of welcoming, of friendship, of wisdom. Each region with its own variances on each. And what about us? What is our tradition of building, welcoming, friendship and wisdom?He removes the robe, jeans and t-shirt underneath - a regular Joe. He places the robe and the bible on the bar. Mary takes them hesitantly and places them underneath the bar.
