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Bad Night at the Mex

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Introduction:

Bad Night at the Mex is a one act play of duration approximately 30 minutes for a cast of 3 males and 2 females. The genre is social comment and concerns the attitude of society towards the mentally ill and is a description of the mental state called schizophrenia. Bad Night at the Mex was first presented by Wellington Repertory Theatre in 1995, directed by Ann Elliot Smith.

Cast:

DARCY: Aged about fifty. Immaculately dressed in very stylish clothes obtained from an op shop. He has considerable stature/charisma/charm which is obfuscated by a psychotic illness. This part is not given many lines yet is the centre of the play.

MAN: A male.

WOMAN: A woman. Both MAN and WOMAN should both be played in a very 'naturalistic' manner. If anything they can be played down in order to anchor the play in 'normal' reality and provide a base on which to contrast the inflations of the hallucinations. FEMALE VOICE: Female voices.

MALE VOICE: Male voices. These two actors play many parts, representing Darcy's aural hallucinations. The many impressions must be clear and strong. Moments of comedy are required. In some cases the voices mimic actors, or acting styes, that Darcy has met in the past. The method is one of inflation, at times strident, grotesque and heightened.

Set and production notes:

SET:
All that is needed is a small table and three chairs. Hand props are menus, a jug of water and glasses. (Perhaps a candle on the table and a bottle of wine.)

PRODUCTION:
MAN and WOMAN will be seated throughout. There will be space for Darcy to come into during the head scenes. There should be significant lighting changes and sound effects to differentiate between the two types of reality. The voices should be on stage, but mostly in the darkened parts, and should be difficult for the audience to see and hear. The colour of their costumes should mask against the backdrop (preferably black). Black demoniac masks would be appropriate. A strobe lamp might be quite effective if the directors wishes.

NOTES:
The incident which prompted this play occurred in the Mexican Cantina in Wellington. It is not necessary to indicate the location specifically. The play does not have much of a plot. It's purpose is to paint a picture rather than tell a story. Some of the incidents described in the 'reality' parts actually occurred in real life.

The voices should appear in the programme as 'Male Voices' and 'Female Voices' (although I have used the singular in the text.)

Synopsis:

Darcy and two friends are in a restaurant having a meal. The two friends have a normal conversation while Darcy is plagued by aural hallucinations.

Start of play:

(DARCY'S MIND SPACE.)

DARCY: (ACTING HAMLET) 'What a piece of work is a man. How noble in reason, how infinite in faculties, in form and moving, how express and admirable, in action, how like an angel in apprehension, how like a god, the beauty of the world, the paragon of animals. And yet to me, what is this quintessence of dust?' (QUOTE FROM HAMLET)

(DARCY COMES BACK TO THE TABLE. RESTAURANT SCENE. THEY ARE CONSULTING THE MENUS)

MAN: I think we might start off with a dip.

WOMAN: A dip?

MAN: The chilli dip is quite nice.

WOMAN: Would you like a chilli dip Darcy?

DARCY: Chilli dip? Not too hot.

THE SEDUCTIVE VOICES SCENE. THE VOICES ARE IN THE BACKGROUND AND DO NOT MOVE.

FEMALE VOICE: You don't want chilli dip.

MALE VOICE: You know you don't like chilli dip.

WOMAN: I don't know. Is it hot?

MAN: It's not that hot.

WOMAN: It's not that hot Darcy.

DARCY: You can order what you like.

FEMALE VOICE: Don't eat the chilli dip.

MALE VOICE: It's too hot. It's too hot.

DARCY: (MUMBLES) It's too hot.

MAN: What did you say old man?

SILENCE

We should order our mains. I think I'll have the special.

WOMAN: The crab enchiladas are quite nice.

MAN: That's if you want to be crabby. You could share the special with me if you wish. (TO DARCY) What would you like old man?

DARCY: What would I like? Ah...

FEMALE VOICE: You don't want to talk to them.

MALE VOICE: Why do you listen to that vomit.

FEMALE VOICE: You want to talk to us.

MALE VOICE: We are the intelligent ones.

MAN: Yes, what would you like to order? Do you want the usual?

FEMALE VOICE: No, you don't want to order.

MAN: A cheese tostada eh... I must say I'm a bit peckish.

MALE VOICE: Why do you talk to them?

DARCY: What?

MAN: I thought you usually had a cheese tostada and a crab enchilada and wholemeal rice.

DARCY: Why don't you order a dip?

WOMAN: (PAUSE) I was wondering about the poetry readings.