OilPaint Doesn't Wash Out
Hendrickje poured cold water ove0r Rembrandt's art. Or was it the other way around?
OilPaint Doesn't Wash Out
First performance at Etcetera Theatre, London, April 1997.
|
Hendrickje (Rembrandt’s
Woman Bathing) |
Danusia Iwaszko Stephen Wilson Alice Benson Marc Sausset Roberto Trippini Mike Murphy Chesca & Friends Valerie Lucas Dominic Burnham |
…
Stage: Art Gallery cafeteria. - tables and chairs.
The "Paintings" and "Self-Portraits" tables are lit separately, never simultaneously.
Leonardo is preset, sitting at back tableMusic cue: Pachelbel Canon, fade down as Angel speaks. Cut at Madonna entry.
Angel:
Enter. ...........................................................(Improvised artcritic-speak language).
Madonna: Enters. Sits at front table.
Angel: ...........................................................
.........(cue word) Derida.
Hendrickje: Enters, holding her slip up, thigh level. Her legs are
dripping wet. Staggering slightly.
Thank god that’s over for
another day. All those people staring at me, having to keep still, trying
not to shiver. I don’t think I could have stood in that bath another
minute.
Angel:
Standing.
Let me give you a hand.
Takes her
hand and helps her to a seat at his table.
You sit down here and I’ll
get you something hot to drink.
Puts two cups down on table.
Tea or
coffee?
Hendrickje:..........................................................
Can I be awkward and ask for chocolate,
please.
Sits down, rubs legs with chemise to dry them.
Angel:
Looks at cup, clasps hands in prayer, smiles.
Hendrickje: ...........................................................
There’s nothing like a nice cup of chocolate when
the gallery closes.
Shivering. Picks up cup, warms hands around
it
Thanks. You’re an angel.
Rembrandt:
Enters. As he approaches, Leonardo picks up wine
bottle. Approving noises and gestures from both.
Hendrickje:
Looks up, starts to open her mouth as if to speak to
him, but he walks to Leonardo’s table and sits down, his back to
Hendrickje.
(To Angel) .That does it. I’ve had
about all I can take from that Rembrandt.
Angel:..........................................................................
.Ah, but he’s such a wonderful artist. Working
from within the constraints of the narrow, 17th century Netherlands Protestant
ethos he displays an ethereal .universality, a simple
spirituality and a non-judgemental observation of his subjects..So sensitive in his timeless depiction of the
human condition.
Pulls a feather from his wing, a piece of paper from his
tunic and starts writing.
Hendrickje: .................................................................
Hey, I’m human. I don't see him being so
sensitive to my condition. It’s this damned obsession with
cleanliness.
Stands up, does various exercises to improve the circulation
in her legs
Christ, you live with a man, cook his food, warm his side of
the bed, darn his socks. Then one day you wake up and find out that all he
really wants is for you to stand around in water until you freeze to
death.
