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**PRINT: MIXTAPE: THE2NDHAND’s 29th issue builds on a concept we introduced to the Chicago reading/performance scene in July 2007 -- the Mixtape reading, wherein several writers cast short-short stories inspired by pop songs. The concept evolved after several incarnations of its live component to include a published series here at the2ndhand.com and, now, a broadsheet. This latest includes 2008 Birmingham Artwalk contest winners Nadria Tucker and Emily Self, both past contributors to THE2NDHAND and both writing from Birmingham, and a story by Zach Plague, author of the art-school satire/adventure novel Boring boring boring... **WEB: MIXTAPE: WARSAW Michael Tesney
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WARSAW
after Joy Division
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Michael Tesney
This piece, a cutup of Joy Division lyrics and part of our MIXTAPE series, was performed on a Birmingham streetcorner Sept. 5, 2008. Tesney lives in Birmingham and comanages Greencup Books.
Setting: an empty stage. There is a single white wash lighting center, on the outskirts of the light are two bodies torn in half ( four pieces, that run lengthwise). In the background there are a pair of asylum doors opened wide. A recording of the word isolation is to be played (very softly) on a loop until after final lights. Throughout the scene the pieces flop around , much like dying fish. The characters' genders are irrelevant.
The loop starts (5 second rise), slow fade in on lights.
10 second delay once lights are up. During the day, the characters should flop around trying to find a comfortable position.
A: You'll see the horrors of a faraway place, meet the architects of law face to face!
B: See mass murder on a scale you've never seen and all the ones who try hard to succeed.
A: A cry for help, a hint of anesthesia? We used to always meet here (pause)
This makes me feel uneasy.
B: His wisdom made you understand. It's getting faster, moving faster now, I'm watching you, I'm watching her. I'll take no pity from your friends.
A: Stretch all true realities. Where figures from the past stand tall.
B: Mocking voices ring the halls!
A: They keep calling me! B: (coming into clarity) Ha! He no longer denies all the failures of the Modern Man.
A: The story of our history, sense and reason make it all too much with a strange fatality.
B: He was a total man, taken from Caesar's side, kept in silence just to prove who's wrong.
A: No, no, no, he can't pick sides! In fear every day, every evening.
B: Mother I tried, please believe me, I'm doing the best that I can. I'm ashamed of the things I've been put through, I'm ashamed of the person I am. These pleasures a wayward distraction, this is my one lucky prize. Everything is by design.
A: Pure frustration face to face, a point of view creates more waves. Lose some sleep and say you tried.
B: (faster) I was moving through the silence without motion, waiting for you.
In a room with a window in the corner I found truth. The assassins all grouped in four lines, dancing on the floor, and with cold steel, odor on their bodies, made a move to connect, but I could only stare in disbelief as the crowds all left.
A: I did everything, everything I wanted to. I let them use you for their own ends. I could only stare in disbelief as the crowds all left. I did everything, everything I wanted to.
B: Just a minor operation, to force a final ultimatum, infiltrate imagination.
A: A nightmare situation. Just a strange infatuation. To twist the internees of hate. Self-induced manipulation will tear us apart…
A&B: Again!
The characters flop toward the doors as they begin to close and lights start a slow fade to black,
Rest, MORE MIXTAPE: ONE MORE SATURDAY NIGHT
091708
They keep calling me!
Keep on calling me!
They keep calling me!
They keep calling me!
Keep calling me!
Keep caaaalling meeeeeeeee!
slow fade (5 seconds) on SFX
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