microplay
Concept: Droner is a microplay that is also an experiment in -- let's call it -- theatrical robotics. That is, this play's two figures can be visually played by drones (or some other sort of robot or puppet or mechanical prop or kite-like thing) while being vocally played by two players, who can take advantage of the range of effects in current sound processing software to modulate their voices to match the -- no pre-set/clearly identifiable gender, age, etc. -- of the drone character-contraptions. The drone pilots/prop operators, like the voicing players can be onstage...or not. The visual, inanimate drones/prop actuators -- darting, feinting, attacking, retreating, etc. -- allusively mime the voiced dialogue. This play's two agonists -- indicated in the script as AY and AX -- are roles made to be -- in all characteristics and particulars (except the words they say) -- devised collaboratively by the robotics-theater artist-engineers who stage and play them. In college and university performing arts programs in particular, there might be an interest in theater-making collaboration with robotics engineering colleagues.
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AY
I'm here as you
AX
that's great, I'm so
AY
I dunno..
AX
oh no, don't worry it's alright..you know
AY
well I
AX
relax, you always can
AY
but no..
no, please no..
AX
trust me..and you can always go
AY
you're touching me and
AX
just to make me feel --
besides like where've you got
AY
like to go back
to now
AX
with all your problems
AY
for real
AX
why I can help, like all you
AY
like shut down..
and close my eyes and
AX
let me, I'll
AY
no..no
AX
you have to now we're here
AY
but not for this
AX
you got no choice, you
AY
no!
AX
oh, so what's you know..
to be ashamed of..like that's just the way it is --
so be good, shut up and take
AY
but after that..
AX
trust me, for you I'll make it worth a lot.
AY
So now
AX
oh you can go now, there's no need
AY
I thought that you
AX
I mean I did but now
AY
what?
AX
stop it!
AY
it's not like..um..I agreed
AX
of course you did..anyway now I'm busy -- got to go
AY
what happened, wasn't it like
AX
nothing, no!
what happened..like it didn't..if you know
AY
what's
AX
I didn't mean it like a threat
AY
no
AX
like it's our secret, doesn't have to go
AY
out of this room?
AX
where..it's okay..we can
AY
know what you did to me
AX
it's nobody else's
AY
guilty
AX
no! I'm completely in my rights I am!
AY
and my rights?
AX
look -- keep quiet, don't rat, be selfless
AY
so easy
AX
you're not a victim, you consented
AY
what choice I have way you..your power's implemented?
AX
You're not the only one
AY
so why 'm I
AX
the sobbing story's useless we all know that
AY
I keep and keep -- can't help it -- cry and cry
AX
so what..cause no one hears you..that's a fact
AY
so I
AX
just shut it up and let it go
that's all that you
AY
but if it just won't let
AX
c'mon, we all get over everything you know
AY
I'm always feeling choked
AX
it's over -- forgive, forget
AY
like you've..entitled..for yourself've done --
absolved like you're
AX
I've never been a guilty..
like of..like whatever
AY
like it was like by no one --
why how I feel 'bout what's been done to me?
AX
forget it, I said you're not the only one
AY
who's longing..
crying for redress and knowing of my wronging?
*