"To The Edge"

The Forum Opera

The Story - and the performance

Act 2 - TO THE EDGE

a performance of the opera rehearsed in Act 1


Scene 1

A corridor in the Presidential mansion. Mona (played by Hywa) is at a photocopier, making copies of secret documents. The President's Wife (Felicia) catches her. The Wife suspects something.

copies

Mona copies secret documents

Wife

The President's Wife challenges Mona

routine

Mona - 'I'm only the secretary - but so much more in truth'

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Scene 2

The President's office in his mansion. The President (James) barks orders down the phone. He is leaving tomorrow for Edge City. His Wife seeks to console him, and to ask him to spend time with her instead. The President exits angrily. The Wife sings of her suspicions and concerns for him.

office

The President - 'No mistakes this time - there is a crisis'

Wife

The Wife - 'Let's spend a few days together'

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Scene 3

A warehouse in Edge City. Anton, the leader of the guerrillas, (Romeo) is lying on a mattress in a darkened room, speaking on the phone. Mona, his partner, is there, and teases him.

warehouse

The guerillas in the darkened warehouse

conspire

The guerillas conspire

security

Anton - 'we are in danger - security, absolute'

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Scene 4

The Presidential Suite in a hotel in Edge City. The President has arrived to deal with the crisis, but also for a rendezvous with Mona. He is on the phone to her. There is a knock on the door - Anton enters, disguised as a waiter, and delivers breakfast. His wife rings - she will be on the next plane to Edge City.

rendezvous

The President - 'Mona my love'

waiter

Anton, disguised as a waiter, checks out the Presidential suite

wife

The Wife has rung - she'll be on the next plane

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Scene 5

The warehouse. Mona is making herself glamorous for her rendezvous with The President. Anton enters, saying he has found the President, and they are ready to spring the plot. He cautions Mona, but she throws herself at him, and...

return

Anton returns in triumph - 'I have found him. We cannot fail'

afterwards

Mona asks - 'Will be be together, afterwards?'

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Scene 6

The Presidential Suite. Mona has arrived unexpectedly early to see the President. He pushes her into the bathroom since he is expecting his wife. There is a knock. A hotel 'boy' enters and leaves suitcases. The Wife enters, waving a piece of paper about the plot. He dismisses her warnings. There is a knock. Anton enters as a waiter, with champagne. Mona burst in from the bathroom.

Anton takes out a gun, and demands that The President abandons The Project, or he will be killed. This growing drama is interrupted by the 'boy' re-entering, and holding out his hand again. The others attempt to continue. Then the 'boy' starts slowly to undress, causing chaos - this was not in the script. The Wife grabs the gun, with startling consequences.

spies

The President - 'My spies, they tell me nothing'

mona

Mona bursts in - 'Darling, I couldn't wait'

proof

The Wife arrives with evidence of the plot - 'Here is the proof'

champagne

Mona jumps out - 'Champagne my friends'

gun

Romeo springs the trap - 'Stand back against the wall'

hero

Romeo - 'Cancel the project, and live - if not..'

x

X butts in again

aria

The President justifies his actions - 'I only have your interests at heart'

strip

X disrupts the action - by stripping

toy

X dismisses the gun as 'A toy'

shot

The Wife shoots X

deposition

Romeo and James dispose of the body

pray

Felicia, left alone, prays for James

poem

James goes back to the pub, to work on his poem

change

Hywa sings - ' and I liked the change'

end

Felicia - 'Of a mother's sorrow there is no end

Romeo - 'Better get back to the wife or ther'll be hell to pay'

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Scene 1

Scene 2

Scene 3

Scene 4

Scene 5

Scene 6


Act 1


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Last updated on
3.11.06