Scene Cheryl Mendoza ’21
Setting: The interior of a cottage in a Danish village. The walls form a semihexagon to give the audience a clear view. A straw bed, stage left, a chest at the foot of the bed which a woman, Mary, is seated on, sobbing. The lighting is cool and the walls of the cottage are grey, made from stone. The cottage door, upstage center, is flung open by a backlit female figure. Ophelia, steps out the halo of light and into the light of the cottage as the door shuts with a force behind her. Ophelia quickly glides to Mary and kneels by her, she tries to take her hands but Mary pulls away. Mary’s sobbing continues. Ophelia stands back up and walks over to the hearth, upstage right, which has a kettle hanging above where the flame would be. Ophelia picks up a pitcher of water from a nearby table and pours it into the kettle. She gently places the pitcher back on the table and crouches down to start a fire.
50
mosaic
She strikes up a fire and a warm glow begins to illuminate the cold, grey space. Ophelia walks upstage left where there is a window overlooking a field she looks out over the fields with rue and fenugreek plants hung on the window to dry . Ophelia runs her finger gently along the thin, drying plants . She grabs two jars; one of dried rue and one of dried fenugreek from a shelf and tucks them into her dress. Ophelia glides back over to the chest Mary is sitting on and sits beside her. Ophelia cradles her face in her right hand, using her other hand to wipe her tears. Ophelia tries to shush Mary but Mary just cries harder. In her agony, Mary crumples into Ophelia’s arms. Ophelia holds Mary, Mary lays her head on Ophelia’s chest. Ophelia rocks Mary and caresses her hair, she pushes a few stray pieces behind Mary’s ear.
