Halcyon Days E-Book

Deirdre Kinahan

• Herausgeber: Nick Hern Books
• Kategorie: Poesie und Drama
• Serie: NHB Modern Plays
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 52

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2016

Beschreibung

An uplifting, bittersweet drama set in a nursing home, celebrating friendship and the human spirit. A nursing-home conservatory. Sean sits alone, abandoned to his memories. In storms Patricia, a feisty woman with a zest for life and for handsome men in wheelchairs. A wary intimacy develops between the two, an unforeseen relationship, by turns charming and combative, tender and funny. Infused with wry humour and humanity, Deirdre Kinahan's play Halcyon Days is a celebration of our quest for meaning in even the most seemingly hopeless of circumstances. It was first performed in preview at the Solstice Arts Centre, Co. Meath, Ireland, in October 2012. The production received its Irish premiere at Smock Alley Theatre as part of the Dublin Theatre Festival, also in October 2012. The production was revived under a new title, These Halcyon Days, at Assembly Hall, Edinburgh, in August 2013 as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where it won a Fringe First Award. Halcyon Days was developed and expanded from Kinahan's earlier short play, Salad Day, which received a reading at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, in 2009.

Leseprobe

Deirdre Kinahan

HALCYON DAYS

NICK HERN BOOKSLondonwww.nickhernbooks.co.uk

Contents

Title Page

Original Production

Dedication

Characters

Halcyon Days

About the Author

Copyright and Performing Rights Information

Halcyon Days was first performed at Solstice Arts Centre, Co. Meath, on 4 October 2012. It received its Irish premiere at Smock Alley Theatre as part of the Dublin Theatre Festival on 10 October 2012. The cast was as follows:

PATRICIA WHELAN

Anita Reeves

SEAN CEABHRUILL

Stephen Brennan

Director

David Horan

Script Mentor

Graham Whybrow

Set and Costume Designer

Maree Kearns

Lighting Designer

Kevin Smith

Sound Designer

Trevor Knight

Choreographer

Muirne Bloomer

Producer

Rob Furey

Stage Manager

Stephanie Ryan

For Uncle Sean

Characters

SEAN CEABHRUILL, seventy-twoPATRICIA WHELAN, sixty-seven

Set

We are in the conservatory of a nursing home in Dublin.There are three areas: The Home, The Conservatory and The Garden.Most of the action takes place in the conservatory which is somewhere in-between, a kind of holding area, where everything is essentialised.When they move into the garden, the sunshine becomes almost like a third character, everthing shifts.I imagine something like a bell jar.I have the notion of a shifting set? Whilst they are static through illness and age, their dynamic is constantly shifting, unearthing.They are in the sameroom but we see it from different perspectives – perhaps it revolves?

D.K.

Scene One

SEANis alone in an armchair in the conservatory of a North County Dublin Nursing Home. There is a cake box on the table in front of him– also a lady’s handbag and car keys.PATRICIAenters from the garden – she struggles with the sliding door.

PATRICIA. Jesus, but does anything do what it’s supposed to do in this place?

There is no response fromSEAN.

No doubt this seat will collapse as soon as I sit in it!

Still no response.

She makes a big affair of sitting down. Rocks the chair to be sure it will hold her, etc.

I said it to the matron.

‘This place is a disgrace,’ I said. ‘Falling apart,’ I said.

‘I can’t see where you spend the exhorbitant fees!’

Not a word from her, of course. Just a smile – and that taut it looked like it might crack her face.

Pause. She looks atSEAN.

Hello!

There is no response.

Hello, hello!

Still no response.

Dear God help me…

There is the sound of a tea trolley.SEANlooks around.

Well, that got your attention!

He looks atPATRICIAas if she has just entered– as if he has awoken. He attempts to stand.

SEAN. Good day.

PATRICIAlooks around. He sits again.

PATRICIA. Good day yourself.

SEAN. Tea?

PATRICIA. It’s not here yet.

SEAN. Would you like some tea?

PATRICIA. No, it’s not here yet… she’s in the TV room.

SEAN. Ahhhh…

Apologies.

PATRICIA. No problem. She’ll surely be here in a minute.

SEAN. Yes.

PATRICIA. Though the tea will no doubt be cold.

SEAN. Yes.

PATRICIA. And stewed!

SEAN. Lovely.

Pause.

PATRICIA. It’s quiet in here at any rate.

No response.

I said it’s quiet in here!

SEAN. Oh, it is. It is.

PATRICIA. Peaceful.

SEAN. Very peaceful.

Pause.

PATRICIA. Not like that day room.

Her look demands a response.

SEAN.  …  no

PATRICIA. A zoo!

SEAN. Oh yes.

PATRICIA. Can you believe there’s a one in there doing yoga?

SEAN. Yogurt…?

PATRICIA. For the infirm!

Ridiculous.

She claims it’s good for the bones.

SEAN. Yogurt?

PATRICIA. She was in an unnatural twist at any rate, when I left… and the sight of the four in train!

I mean, there’s few enough can walk in this place, let alone yoga!

You could see it was a struggle for them just to keep the porridge down.

SEANlaughs.

PATRICIAis pleased.

Slight pause.

I am Patricia Whelan.

Again he tries to stand.

No, no, don’t stir yourself.

He puts out his hand.

SEAN. Sean.

PATRICIA. Hello, Sean.

SEAN. Sean Ceabhruill.

PATRICIA. Sean Ceabhruill?

SEAN. Yes.

PATRICIA. I know that name.

SEAN. Do you?

PATRICIA. I know I know that name…

SEAN. Marvellous.

PATRICIA. Are you from Dublin?

SEAN. No.

PATRICIA. Rathfarnham?

SEAN. No.

PATRICIA. Do you have relatives there?

SEAN. No.

PATRICIA. But I know that name?

SEAN. Rathmines…

PATRICIA. You’re from Rathmines?

SEAN. No.

PATRICIA. I taught some Flynns from Rathmines.

SEAN. Quinns?

PATRICIA. Do you know the Flynns?

Alicia, Bernard, Florence –

Ludicrous names like that.

SEAN. Flynns?

PATRICIA. Do you know them?

SEAN. Eh… no.

PATRICIA. And there were the Collins twins…

Did you know the Collins twins?

SEAN. I… I’m afraid not.

PATRICIA. And are you sure you’re from Rathmines?

SEAN. No… no. Tipperary!

PATRICIA. Tipperary?!

SEAN. Yes.

N… N… Nenagh.

PATRICIA. But I don’t know anyone from Nenagh!

SEAN. Oh… I’m sorry.

PATRICIA. You said… RATHMINES.

SEAN. Rathmines.

Stumbling.

Rathmines is my home…

PATRICIA. Oh. I see.

SEAN. Yes.

PATRICIA (like a teacher).Very good – very good, Sean.

He smiles, relieved.

Another pause.

And whereabouts in Rathmines?

SEAN. Oh…

PATRICIA. Lenister road?

SEAN. No.

PATRICIA. Grove Park?

SEAN (rushes in).12 Grosvenor Square Dublin 6W.

PATRICIA. Oh! very nice.

And do you rent in Rathmines?

SEAN. No. It’s my… it’s my… it’s my… (Has lost the word.)

PATRICIA. Home?

SEAN. Yes.

PATRICIA. Very good.

SEAN. Thank you.

She pauses. She smiles. He smiles.

PATRICIA. So what are you in for?

SEAN. Sorry?

PATRICIA. I said what are you in for?

He looks perplexed.

Why are you here?

SEAN. Oh!

I like the sunshine.

He lifts his hand up into a sunbeam. She looks at him like he is mad, then smiles.

PATRICIA. The sunshine!

We hear the tea trolley again.

SEAN. Will you have tea?

PATRICIA. It’s not actually here yet, Sean.

SEAN. Or cake? Dee brought cake.

PATRICIA. Did she?

SEAN. Yes.

PATRICIA. And who is Dee?

SEAN. Dee is my niece.

She’s like her mother.

PATRICIA. Her mother?

SEAN. My sister, Pat.

Pat.

Short pause. Then confidentially.

I believe she’s passed!

PATRICIA. Passed?

SEAN. Passed on!

PATRICIA. Oh… Dead… is it?

SEAN. Ahh yes.

PATRICIA. Well, isn’t it well for Pat.

Not washed up in this place… or some hole like it.

SEAN. No. Indeed.

Slight pause.

Pat was always on the dot.

PATRICIA. Was she?

SEAN. I like that.

On the dot, and lovely.

PATRICIA. Good for Pat.

SEAN. Yes. Good for Pat.

Slight pause.