Perfection Adored

I was playing around with Myerhold and Brecht with this scene.

The stage is a labyrinth of stairs and ramps and platforms. In the centre back is a large gilded idol. It is an ugly, misshapen humanoid (yet not human) figure. The cast move up and down and around the set in a line and in unison. On a ledge above the idol stands the Navigator. The sound of rhythmic large machinery is in time with the walking.

Navigator: Cogs, pause and attend.

Cast stop where they are and look at him.

Navigator: Cogs, you make me proud to be at the helm of this great wheel.

Cogs: Heed the Navigator and sail a clear course.

Cast do some ritual movement with response.

Navigator: You all have your daily assignments. You know where you must be and you know what you must do. But do you know your speak and why? Who be the axle on which we turn?

Cogs: Perfection, Navigator (ritual movement)

Navigator: Do we see Perfection in the world?

Cogs: Yes, Navigator (ritual movement)

Navigator: Where is perfection homed?

Cogs: We see Perfection in the centre of our world, Navigator. (ritual movement) She is amongst us and with us always.

Navigator: As we look upon her visage (indicating idol) we marvel at her symmetry, her perfect lines, a beauty beyond dispute. The calmness of her visage brings us piece and serenity. She is the pure essence of nature in harmony and the true model for our why in the world.

Cogs: (ritual moves) Purity, harmony, symmetry.

Navigator: Now let us sing our vision as we observe our why.

All:

A long time ago in the dawn of our time

A beauty came amongst the people

We wept as we watched her glory start to shine

And to her grace we built a steeple

She was too fair and fine to let on her own

We needed her to be our idol

We dragged her into chains, left her all alone

Her life for us must be pure bridal

At first she fought and screamed defying our love

Her body torn and rent and damaged

Her blood and bones became her freedom dove

And submitted to a life ravaged

You see her golden hair, her eyes of pure blue

Her skin as white as snow and unmarred

Her human form divine, the dream we pursue

Universal truth we ever guard

Navigator: (Kneeling and intoning) Oh great goddess Perfection. We strive in your shadow, truthing daily in our quest for why. In our speak we say what we see. What we see is what we believe. What we believe is truth.

Cogs: The truth is spoke and we revere the word.