Overview
- Female: 0
- Male: 3
Context
At a theatre, the Manager is trying to begin his rehearsal of Pirandello’s play Mixing It Up. The Leading Lady has just arrived, and they are already behind schedule. The Manager directs the Leading Man in a scene where he prepares eggs in a chef’s hat, and explains the symbolism of the scene to the actors. This scene includes an excellent, short tongue-in-cheek monologue from the Manager about the state of theatre, and the jobs of actors.
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THE MANAGER (clapping his hands). Come along! Come along! Second act of "Mixing it Up" (sits down).
(The actors and actresses go from the front of the stage to the wings, all except the three who are to begin the rehearsal).
THE PROMPTER (reading the "book"). "Leo Gala's house. A curious room serving as dining-room and study."
THE MANAGER (to Property Man). Fix up the old red room.
PROPERTY MAN (noting it down). Red set. All right!
THE PROMPTER (continuing to read from the "book"). "Table already laid and writing desk with books and papers. Book-shelves. Exit rear to Leo's bedroom. Exit left to kitchen. Principal exit to right."
THE MANAGER (energetically). Well, you understand: The principal exit over there; here, the kitchen. (Turning to actor who is to play the part of Socrates). You make your entrances and exits here. (To Property Man) The baize doors at the rear, and curtains.
PROPERTY MAN (noting it down). Right oh!
PROMPTER (reading as before). "When the curtain rises, Leo Gala, dressed in cook's cap and apron is busy beating an egg in a cup. Philip, also dressed as a cook, is beating another egg. Guido Venanzi is seated and listening."
LEADING MAN (to manager). Excuse me, but must I absolutely wear a cook's cap?
THE MANAGER (annoyed). I imagine so. It says so there anyway (pointing to the "book").
LEADING MAN. But it's ridiculous!
THE MANAGER (jumping up in a rage). Ridiculous? Ridiculous? Is it my fault if France won't send us any more good comedies, and we are reduced to putting on Pirandello's works, where nobody understands anything, and where the author plays the fool with us all? (The actors grin. The Manager goes to Leading Man and shouts). Yes sir, you put on the cook's cap and beat eggs. Do you suppose that with all this egg-beating business you are on an ordinary stage? Get that out of your head. You represent the shell of the eggs you are beating! (Laughter and comments among the actors). Silence! and listen to my explanations, please! (To Leading Man): "The empty form of reason without the fullness of instinct, which is blind."—You stand for reason, your wife is instinct. It's a mixing up of the parts, according to which you who act your own part become the puppet of yourself. Do you understand?
LEADING MAN. I'm hanged if I do.
THE MANAGER. Neither do I. But let's get on with it. It's sure to be a glorious failure anyway. (Confidentially): But I say, please face three-quarters. Otherwise, what with the abstruseness of the dialogue, and the public that won't be able to hear you, the whole thing will go to hell. Come on! come on!
[Pirandello, Luigi, Six Characters In Search of An Author, Act One.]
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