The Mime

Actors: 3 Reference: Romans 12:1-2 Notes: If there is a fourth actor available, they could be inserted as a second spectator - the first spectator beats up the head Mime, and the second spectator is entralled by the student. Alternatively, both could be beligerent members of the Society Against Land Mimes

Synopsis

Romans 12:1-2 Be ye not conformed to the pattern of this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…

Benny, an old and experienced mime, has taken Marty, a new graduate from the college of Mime, under his wing. Today, the two are at the street corner where Benny typically performs, having a little teaching session before they jump in.
Benny begins by emphasizing to Marty that the "bread and butter" of mime is the famous box routine. This is the only routine Benny does, and he does it day in and day out regardless of the audience. Marty is surprised: in Mime College they were encouraged to break away from The Box and branch out into more daring but meaningful performances. “Oh, that’s just the Mime College,” says Benny. “They told me that too, but they’ve spent so much time cloistered in academia that they don’t really know what it’s like out here in the real world. In the real world, we do The Box – whether the audience likes it or not!” Marty argues that at college they’d been taught that they should try to appeal more to today’s audience – reach out and build bridges - and perhaps begin to make Mime something that people enjoyed again. Bobby will have none of this. Mime is not supposed to be something you do to gain friends in the audience. You do it for the art! It doesn’t matter if the audience like it or not. Mime has never been popular – and in fact, Bobby’s been beat up three times this week already. But, he’s willing to put up with it for the art. Marty is shocked – they never said anything like this at school. Of course, now that she thinks of it, nothing much at all was ever said at Mime school. (badoom-chink!)

However, the conversation is cut short as a spectator approaches and Bobby decides it’s time to demonstrate. The observer watches no more than 20 seconds of the box routine before she shouts “The Box again! I hate the box! It just doesn’t apply to my life!” She then proceeds to punch Bobby in the stomach, pull his hair, and lay him out with a kick in the ribs. Marty gasps in astonishment. The spectator glances between Marty and Bobby and states “I’ve just never liked land mimes.” Then she turns on Marty, “OK, let’s see what you’ve got!”

Marty gulps, but gathers her courage and launches into the ladder climbing routine. This meets with much more approval. The spectator laughs and provides a commentary as Marty climbs, looks around, reaches the top, and discovers she’s placed the ladder against the wrong building. “Wow! I’ve felt like that before” she exclaims as she applauds, “that really touches me!” Then she notices that Marty has begun to imitate her. “Oh, I see, you’re imitating me! But you’re not making fun of me, you’re trying to connect with who I am – build a bridge between me and you. “ She leans in a bit and lowers her voice. “Am I overdoing it?” “Just a little,” Marty answers with a gesture. The spectator offers to buy Marty a coffee, and they head off stage – the spectator stopping long enough to deliver a parting kick in the ribs to the still prostrate Bobby. As the two leave, Bobby pulls himself up, groaning, but discovers he is still stuck in his box! He yells for help, but to no avail.




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