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Cesaire A Tempest
Cesaire A Tempest
Aim Csaire
TEMPEST
Based on Shakespeare's The Temest
Adaptation for a Black Thearer
Trans lated,
from
the Fren ch
Richard Miller
F&
sf
I
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1*/ 7
Ubu Repertory Theater Publications
4,rry
OHIO UNIVERSITY
it
rl
r
Dircnr
Set...
Ligh
Costumes
MusicalDirecto'
...
Robbie McCauley
.JaneSablow
. Zebedee Collins
.....CarolAnn Pelletier
...TiyGiraud
MoaementDirector ...
Copyright
Ternpteby
ORDER
.
Rafael Baez
Trinculo/Captain.. .. RonBrice
Caliban
..... LeonAddisonBrown
Stephano
..... LeoV.Finnie,III
Gonzalo
Clebert Ford
Prospno
..... ArthurFrench
Goddess
.....TiyGiraud
Fsrdinand
....BryanHicks
Alonso
. LawrenceJames
Ariel.
Miller.
CAUTION
This play is fully protected by copyright.
All rights are reserved and all
inquiries concerning the rights for professionl
o.
r,ug"
"_ur.rrr
productions should be made ro: Editions du
Seuil, .ep...e't.Ji., the
U.S. by Georges Borchrdt, Inc., 136 East
57th Srreet, New york, N.y.
10022.
CASI IN AI,PIIABETICAL
. MarliesYearby
Miranda
Sebastian
Antonio
Goddess
ISBN: 0-913745-40-5
Price:
gll.9S
92_063019
Produced
.....SharonMcGruder
....PatrickRameau
Kim Sullivan
Marlies Yearby
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TRANSI-ATOR'S NOTE
22,lggl
appendix
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CHARACTERS
:3,:.,,r
own
head, I have r,.".;;::::':racrers ro reflecr. ln my
Ariel's song, for example,
calypso; others nuilllutd
u. uugr.ty
o'.J..'.-l
*
iri,, ;il
i"
:"^,::l
",iy,i;1j,,.
i.
:T ir?l
H;, """":' ffit ;;, :g'. ",.
";'i i i,'have
or o.bscenities
,n.?-ft";:;;:'119
i :i: * i
"." .-p,i"i,
::'#: *
As in Shaheseare
Two
An
alterations:
addition:
Ariel,
a mulatto slave
Caliban, a black slave
fshu,
a black devil_god
F"-_I
II
enter singly' at
The
Ambiance of a psychod'rama'
-actors
at his l'eisure'
mash
a
himself
ra'nd'om, and' ea'ch'chooses for
MASTERoFCEREMONIES:Comegent'lemen,help
his
To each his character' to each character will
;;il.
Ht as reserves of
mask. You, Prospt'oi Wfty "9tl
You want Caliban?
I
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ii
1i
1i
i\
til;;;;;;i;'-41"'o'
ri
i\
I
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I
il
il
ACT I
SCENE
this speed we'll run aground. We've got to turn her around.
Heave tol (Exi.)
ALONSO:
ANTONIO:
C"p-ruirri
cabins of yours.
us.
SCENE 2
MIRANDA: Then how did we come here? And tell me, too,
by what ill fortune did a prince turn into the reclusive
hermit you are now, here, on this desert isle? Was it because
you found the world distasteful, or through the perfidy of
some enemy? Is our island a prison or a hermitage? You've
accompany us.
ARIEL: Mission accomplished.
PROSPERO: (back in the resen, And yet, the trial they said
they were going to hold never took place. Such creatures of
darkness are too much afraid of the light. To be brief:
to maroon
worse
instead of killing me they chose
me here with you on this desert island.
is!
Entn Caliban.
CALIBAN: Uhuru!
PROSPERO: What did You
saY?
PROSPERO:(shouting)Listen,andlistengood!There'sa
task to be performed, and I don't care how it gets done!
ARIEL:You'vepromisedmemyfreedomathousandtimes'
and I'm still waiting.
twisted like
rqui-tit e elegance. The baobab
'onchalant,
bird that
calao
of some monster. Ask the
the soft
"ntruilt
lives a cloistered season in its branches. or the ceiba tree spread out beneath the proud sun' O bird, o green
mansions set in the living earth!
PROSPERO: Stuff it! I don't like talking trees' As for your
freedom, you'll have it when I'm good and ready' In the
meanwhile, see to the ship- I'm going to have a few words
with Master Caliban. I've been keeping my eye on him, and
he's getting a little too emancipated' (Calling) Caliban!
Calibarr! (He sighs.)
l0
waspish'
CALIBAN: Oh, I forgot"' But make that as froggy'
today
Muy
possible'
"hello"
as
orrrtrrlu, and dung-iitt"
and
sky
the
of
birds
the
t;r*" by a decadeltt" duy when all
corpse!
beasts of the earth will feast upon your
How can
PROSPERO: Gracious as always, you ugly ape!
anyone be so uglY?
you're so
CALIBAN: You think I'm ugly"'well, I don't think
iunro-" yourself. With that big hooked nose' you looka
An old vulture with
"rt fif." soe old vulture' (Laughing)
scrawny neck!
could at
PROSPERO: Since you're so fond of invective' you
You'
least thank me for having taught you to speak at all'
1
dumb animal, u b"utt I educated, trained' dragged
up from the bestiality that still clings to you'
savage...a
l1
tr"r
rl
]_
iii
that I could understand your orders: chop the wood, wash
the dishes, fish for food, plant vegetables, all because you're
Loo lazy to do it yourself. And as for your learning, did you
ever impart any of that to me? No, you took care not to. All
your science you keep for yourself alone, shut up in those
big books.
PROSPERO: What would you be without me?
CAIIBAN: Without you? I'd be the king, that's what I'd be,
the King of the Island. The king of the island given me by
my mothe Sycorax.
:]
jPROSPERO: Oh!
il
Sycorax.
Mother.
il
CALIBAN: Do
ti
i
t
il
ii'
il,
1,
$t
$l
.$l
it:
l
t
fT,
il
iT
it
t2
l3
1l
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,{'
CALIBAN:Well,becauseCalibanisn'tmyname'It'sas
company today.
and
CALIBAN: It's the name given me by your hatred'
simple as that'
argue.
Out!
here
to
PROSPERO: I did not summon you
it's mine!
Back to work! Wood, warer, and lots of both! I'm xpecting PROSPERO: Oh, I suppose
CAIIBAN: I've had just about enough. There's already a :everytime it's spoken it's an insult'
pile of wood that high...
ir.
. everythrng
l
EnterArielas a sea-nymph'
callerli:
l.
Caliban any longer.
jj fnOSennO' My dear Ariel, did you see how he looked at
That's something new' Well' let me
PROSPERO: What kind of rot is that? I don't understand' i.X *t' that glint in his eye?
for those people on the
l teff you, aliban is the enemy. As them'
Give them a scare'
I've tl.u"g: my mind about
CALIBAN: Put it this way: I'm tettingyou that from now o'
"" l{,,{
^ii boat,
of
their heads! You'll
hair
a
touch
dott't
but for God's *k"
won't answer to the name Caliban'
CALIBAN: It's this: I've decided I don't want to be
idea?
$
$,
nrunl,
:rl
l',f
II
*
t4
$
.i.
l5
w*'---"'
count
Yes, Master.
Ariel sings:
Sand2 seashore, deep blue sky,
Find contentrnent,
find, rotnance.
Sandy seashore, d,eep blue sky,
Cares uillaanish...so can 1...
ARIEL: (singing)
Waters moue, the ocean flows,
comes and. nothing goes...
Nothing
Nothing
coms
and nothing
goes...
16
77
'-
it be that I
seem sweet.
obey him.
ThE
exi.t.
18
19
il-
ACT
II
SCENE
CALIBAN: (singing)
May he who eats his corn heedless of Shango
Be accursedl May Shango cree beneath
Hi,s naik and eat into his flzsh!
20
ARIEL: Okay. But you know you're not going ro get it out of
him "now", and that he's stronger than you are. I'm in a
good position to know just what he's got in his arsenal.
CALIBAN: The stronger? How do you know that? Weakness
always'has a thousand means and cowardice is all that keeps
21
-E--._
us
perish.
Caliban's way...
brotherhood!
ARIEL: You know very well that that's not what I mean' No
violence, no submission either. Listen to me: Prospero is the
one we've got to change. Destroy his serenity so that he's
frnally forcd to acknowledge his own injustice and Put an
end to
it.
ARIEL: So then what's left? War? And you know that when
it comes to that, Prospero is invincible.
conscience.
21'5 why it's up to us to give fri- o."'j
ARIEL: Exact
I'm not fighting just for nzy freedom , fot our freedom, buti
for Prospero too, so that Prospero can acquire a conscience.
Help me,
Caliban.
'
r
.:
as
flowers.
,.
:t
22
'
23
'_.
:.1
SCENE 2
ANTONIO:
il
X,j
bird-shit.
Yes!
ul',j
24
25
AIONSO:
I'll
Yes,
hunger.
status.
The Elaes
retltrn, bringzng
the
my scruples..
,]
marionettes!
l
I
Ij
thern.
disaear
food with
whole
I
ll
:l::
matter,$r{ food.
Harass them
until they
eat.
and to forget.
as
you do with
GONZAIO:
28
29
il
SCENE 3
beached jellyfish.
is
water.
l
ANTONIO: Don'r insult water. Every time I look at
f{
-yr.ff
S.EBASTIAN: Enough! He's my brother! My scruples
think I'm more handsome, more there. My
won,t
rrr/ rrrrrLr
innerjuices
haveJ,f
J urLs rr4vci$
allow
me to... You rake care of him while I deal wiih
always given me my greatness, my true greatness...not theri.r:
the old
::
Counsellor.
me.
sragnanrwarer.
SEBASTIAN: What are you gerting at? I have a feeling I .unj{ |ry.T!' Sleepers, awake! Awake, I say! your life depends on
it. With rhese fine fellows with iheir'long
teeth and swords
guess.
{.
I'
anyone who sleeps roo sounly risks
,i.;p-i"g
ANTONIO:
Guess, guess!
{i Ji:.:,
th:
30
31
ARIEL: No, you were not dreaming. These fine lords herei
th
divinity...
.
.r-
,$
32
.1.',)
ACT
III
SCENE
MIRANDA: That,
.l
nomentoln
- -' r
CAIIBAN: Poor kid! What would he say if he was Caliba n!l distraction, he whisers her name to Fnd,inand.) Mi_randa |
He works night and da and when he sings, it's
FERDINAND: All right rhen, I shall chrisren you
with
(Sees MirandQ
I
FERDINAND: (singing)
I work
don'
singing.)
J9
]_
s
'
PROSPERO: That's fine, young man! You've managed to' coot like Prospero... One of his cops, probably. Oh, fine!
accomplish a good deal for a beginning! I see I've' Now, I'm for it. Men and the elements both against me.
misjudged you. But you won't be the loser if you serve_IIe ,Well, the hell with it...I'm used to it. Patience! I'll get them
*eli. Listen, myyoung friend, there are three things in life: yet. In the meantime better make myself scarce! Let
Work, Patience, Continence, and the world is yours"' Ht,i .orpero and his storm and his cops go by ..let the seven
Caliban, I'm taking this boy away with me' He's done, *u*sof Maledictionbay!
enough for one day. But since the job is urgent, see that it
gets finished.
CALIBAN:
MC?
for
once!
CALIBAN: I don't
see why
$
t
iiii
sets
to uork, singtng.)
"O
l)t
iil
ii
"ili
36
37
SCENE 2
Enter Tnculo
TRINCULO:
uith Catiban.)
Entn
Stephano.
STEPHANO: (singing)
BIow the man down, hearties,
Blow the man down... (Etc.)
38
have much
I
Trincuto.) Hello! That face reminds me
nose that shines like a lighthouse...
of something! That
to talk?
Yes, by God,
TRINCULO:
(stoing hirn)
seems
to make things
taste
better afterwards...
believer in the republic...you might as well say it: I'm a diedin-the-wool believer in the people first, a republican in my
guts! Down with tyrants!
as
King and the Duke are dead, there's a crown and a throne
up for grabs around here...
mean, really:
is
42
43
trauellzr!
44
45
SCENE 3
Prospero's caue
say
EntnEshu.
ESHU:
Gods and Goddesses enter,
her blessings!
god!
blessing on you.
IRIS:
ESHU: But that's just the point...no one invited me... And
that wasn't very nice! Nobody remembered poor Eshu! So
poor Eshu came anyway. Hihihi! So how about something to
drink? (Wi.thout waiting for a rely, he pours a drinh.) ...Your
liquor's not bad. Howeve I must say I prefer dogst (Looking
at lris) I see that shocks the little lad but ro each his own.
Some prefer chickens, others prefer goats. I'm not too fond
of chickens, myself. But if you're talking about a black
dog...think of poor Eshu!
46
47
CERES: My dear
obscene?
say.
ESHU: (continuing
to sing)
...uith
his d'i'ck
colleagues!
Ah,
he dances
uith
his dick'
God's
and
God'd'esses
exit'
harm is
a relief'! But alas' the
gone"'what
He's
PROSPERO:
urain'is confused' Power!
pertu#:"'Mtotd
am
I
done!
at' like foam' like a
AII
Power! Alasl
if I cannot calm
'nitr'iit*uy
*"i'' what'is'power'
cloud, like atl
hu' go"" cold' (Calting)
'n"
iiy
fo*"t
u"t
fears?
own
my
Ariel!
it'
ARIEL: (runs in)What is
Sire?
SCENE 4
In
VOICE
VOICE: Here!
responsibility!
gaudy clothes...
ARIEL: Masrer...
PROSPERO: You're going to make me angry. There's
nothing to understand. There is a punishmentlo be meted
out. I will not compromise with evil. Hurry! unless you want
to be the next to feel my wrath.
I:
FIY!
VOICE
I: Ant!
VOICE
II:
Here.
VOICE
I:
Vulture!
VOICE
II:
Here.
VOICEI:Soft-shelledcrab,calao,crab,hummingbird!
VOICES: Here. Here. Here'
VOICE
I:
VOICE
II:
VOICE
I:
,piai'-f
VOICES: (singing)
King-ay
King-ay
50
of
Von_aon
Maloto
Woom-uloom!
The sun rises. Ariel,s band, uanishes. Caliban
stand.s
rnoment, rubbing his qes.
for
we go!
STEPHANO:
I don't understand.
you?
The band sets out. Catiban marches
forward. singing his
battlc song:
52
55
CALIBAN: But the best is still the wind and the songs it
sings...its dirty sigh when it rustles through the bushes, or its
triumphant chant when it passes by breaking trees,
remnants of their terror in its beard.
STEPHANO: The savage is delirious, he's raving mad!
Tough luck, Trinculo, our savage is playing without a full
STEPHANO:Comeon,Trinculo,showalittlecourage!
in a mobile ground manoeuvre here' and
you k.tooiwihat that means: rive, initiatives' split-second
\Me're engaged
deck!
decisionstomeetneweventualities,and-aboveall-
STEPHANO:GetuporI'llknockyoudown!(Trinculobegins
usurper of
to walk again.) gut tt me, my good savage' this
to
dangerous
be
might
It
yours seems very well protected'
attack him!
dreamed up.
always
STEPHANO:Nomatter'Trinculo'wemusttake
Here'
precautions. Axiom: never underestimate the enemy'
p.., -. that bottle' I can always use it as a club'
Hight)
hangi'ngom a rope'
55
54
a murderer.
PROSPERO: (aery calrn) T!i,e worse for you. You've lost your
chance. Stupid as a slave! And now, enough of this farce.
(Call;ing) Ariel! (to Ariel) Ariel, take charge of the prisoners!
Caliban, Trinculo and Stephano are tahm risoners.
56
5t
SCENE 5
Prosero's caae.
chess.
ALONSO:
so
tell'
FERDINAND: I'm pleased that you were able to
that
(Laughing) That maks me less worried at the thought
for
kingdom
flowery
.oorl'yorr"*ill be leaving your 'innocent
my less-innocent world of men'
I woulcl
MIRANDA: Oh, you know that, hitched to your sta
brave the demons of hell!
The Nobl'es entex
struck
ALONSO: My son! This marriage! The thrill of it has
joY!
me dumb! The thrill and the
each
My children' give me
tft*ittting
to a most oPPortune
shipwreck!
be
ALONSO: A unique one, indeed, for it can legitimately
described as such.
-g';"
"
are delighted"'delighted
GONZALO: God be praised! We u memrable day! With
and overco*tr rvr'i Jnuppy' ht:
a brother' his brother has
one voyage n"to"J t'tt i"""
has found a husband'
found . rrt"aol rtt"gttter gained a
$auSnf-1'^t"d
Alonso has ,egain r'i' 'o""utd
emotron
the
am
I
e"y*uy'
what else?...
:"]y "1-*hose
f.1".""
sayrng"'
him from knowing what he's
you
that' my fine Gonzalo' is that
PROSPERO: The proof of
to
(Turning
my' loval servant'
are forgettitg'o;'I"o";t i"l'
be fre' Go' my sweet' I hope
Ariet)Yes,Ariel, ;;*;;";ill
you will not be bored'
ARIEL: Bored! I fear that the days will seem all too short!
There, where the Cecropia gloves its impatient hands with
silve
Where the ferns free the stubborn black stumps
from their scored bodies with a green cry
There where the intoxicating berry ripens the visit
of the wild ring-dove
through the throat of that musical bird
I shall let fall
one by one,
each more pleasing than the last
four notes so sweet that the last
will give rise to a yearning
in the heart of the most forgetful slaves
yearning for freedom!
PROSPERO: Come, come. All the same, you are not going
to set my world on fire with your music, I trust!
6' i
STEPHANO: Sire, we were walking in the forest respectable
when we saw some perfectly
was in the fields
in
.lortri"g blowing the wind' We thought it only rlSft -to
rightful
collect it...r un *. were returning them to their
us"'
befell
owner when a frightful adventure
TRINCULO:
.Yes,
we were mistaken
accordinglY'
that
STEPHANO: Yes, Sire, it is the most' dreadful thing
a
erro
ajudicial
could happen to an honest man: victims of
miscarriage ofjustice!
and
PROSPERO: Enough! Today is a day to be benevolent'
state
the
in
you
to
it will do no good-to try to talk sense
raise sail
you're in... Leve us. Go sleep it off, drunkards' We
tomorrow.
6l
60
as You
might
saY'
to the
PROSPERO: Scoundrels! If only life could bring you
safe harbors of Temperance and Sobriety!
regain my freedom'
CALIBAN: To get back my island and
that
GONZALO: You were absolutely right! And more so
tough
real
yor. tftorrght... He's not just a rebel' he's a
you' my
for
worse
the
much
So
.rrr,orn"rf (To Catiban)
to the
you
leave
I
up'
give
friend. I have tried to save you' I
say
upside down"'*,t'Y:
PROSPERO: Well, the world is really
a dialectician! However' rn
seen everything now: Caliban as
Caliban' Come' let's
spite of everything I'm-fond :f y:":
for ten years and worked
make peac.. W"'u lived together
somethin' after all! We've
side by side! Ten ytut' to""1for
uP bY becoming comPatriots!
".rd"d
secular arm!
63
won't
PROSPERO: It's odd...no matter what you do, you
succeed in making me believe that I'm a tyrant!
CALIBAN: Understand what I
For years I bowed mY head
for years I took it, all of ityour insults, your ingratitude-"
say, Prospero:
:""
CALIBAN: (shouting)
Shango marches with strength
along his ath, the skY!
Shango is
fi're-bearer;
hi's stePs shahe the heauens
and the earth
Sh'ango, Shango, ho!
until
effective
with-tle
po...,'io" of them' joining :h"T
has been set tor
"**-
be
You.
of a boundless score:
this isle,
summoning voices, I alone,
and mingling them at mY Pleasure'
arranging out of confusion
one intelligible line.
music from all that?
Without me, who would be able to draw
This isle is mute without me'
Thq exit'
67
being lowered
asses, syrnbolized' by the curtain's
oQtyt.'
Prosro
hatfway and reraised. In serni-darkness
ANNEX
Time
aged,
are
his
In the d'istance,
the
in
Pure Langum
Where the waaes die
And
d,ance.
Blond sand's,
Wat fi.re!
Langumous ua'aes'
Pure exiration.
Hne tiPs li'ck and kck again
Our wounds.
The uaaes make a waterline"'
Nothi,ng is, all is becoming"'
The season is cl'ose and strange
The qe is a f'ne Pearl
The eart of coral the bone of coral'
There, at the waterl;ine
As the sea swelk uithin us'
I bid youfarewell.
WeTe off to Mexico,
Straight into the setting sun.
Loue,
It
cral!
III, Scene 2)
Will
70
be the
first-rate sailors...
71