tales by torchlight: synopsis and extracts

 

 

characters:

 

Flexible casting providing opportunity for multiple role-playing and over twenty speaking parts for both men and women.

 

approximate running time:

 

45 minutes

 

synopsis:

 

Britain during the Blitz.  The air-raid siren sounds and frightened Londoners head for the Underground, where we follows their heartfelt stories and anecdotes through a series of episodes and monologues providing both humour and sadness.  Numerous characters provides the opportunity for multiple role playing.

 

 

extract one:

 

War-child   I never got used to the sirens.  Those damn sirens.  I was four years old and I'd been brought up with the bloody things, and yet ... yet ... I never got used to those sirens.  And as they wailed like demented dogs, we made our way towards the tube station.  Like most of the others we only had a backyard - not a proper garden - so there was no room for an Anderson shelter.  At first we hid under the stairs, but it never felt very safe, so we'd make our way towards the tube station.  Mum said we'd be alright there.  And as we reached it there'd normally be a scuffle or something going on with one of the wardens.  The tubes were supposed to be locked up after six, you see.  But somebody would normally find a way to break their way through.  And then we'd all pour in,  teachers, cleaners, factory workers, doctors, shopkeepers, the poor and the rich.  For once we were all equal.  As we all squeezed in, we were all equal.  And I started to get excited.  As the huge lights started to sweep across the sky, I started to get excited.  As we all trooped - like our fathers at war - down into the darkness of the tube station,  I started to get excited.  There was a whole new world down there.  A world of fear and bewilderment.  But ... but, at the same time, an escape ... a world of escape.  And amidst the fumbling and bickering and crackling radio broadcasts, I would sit and listen to the chatter.  And the tales told in the torchlight.

 

 

 

extract two:

 

Joan and Eddie, a newly wed couple, enter.

 

Joan   I can't believe we're down here.

 

Eddie   What?

 

Joan   What are we doing down here?

 

Eddie   It's a tube station.  This is an air raid shelter.  There's an air raid going on!

 

Joan   I know, Eddie, I know.

 

Eddie   Then what's the problem, love …

 

Joan   It's our wedding night, Eddie, it's our bloody wedding night.

 

Eddie   Well, I know that, stupid …I'm not thick or anything.  I mean, I only said my vows a few hours ago …

 

Joan   But I wanted to spend my wedding night in a top five star hotel in a four poster bed.  I wanted it to be right …you know, for the first time.

 

Eddie   Oh, love, I'm sorry, but you know as soon as the siren went off we had to come down here.  You know we had to …

                                           

Joan   But the London Underground, Eddie, the London Underground.  Mum said we shouldn't have rushed the wedding.  If only we'd waited, Uncle Ron said we could had a room of theirs down by the sea.  Down by the sea, Eddie, down by the sea … It would have been so romantic.

 

Eddie   I know, love, but I'm leaving tomorrow.  You know that.  It had to be now, or maybe never …

 

Joan   Oh, Eddie, don't say things like that!

 

Eddie   You know I'm only kidding.  You know I am.  (Pause.)  Anyway, we could always spend our first night down here … couldn't we?  (He clearly has just one thing on his mind.)

 

Joan   Eddie Sullivan!  How can you say such a thing!  With all these people about …this is the London Underground …

 

Eddie   No-one'll notice!  It's dark down here, especially over in that corner.  Besides, might cheer everybody up a bit!  They look like they do with it.

 

Joan   How can you be so smutty!  When there's children about and everything!  No, it's no good, you'll just have to wait until we get another chance …

 

Eddie   Another chance!  But I'm going back tomorrow!  I might not see you again for months.  I don't know if I can wait that long!

 

Joan   Well, you'll have to … you'll just have to!

 

 

 

extract three:

 

Rambling Man   I know what you're thinking.  You're thinking, how can he be sitting here looking so chirpy.  Looking so chirpy after what happened yesterday.  After that git struck again.  After he took away another house here and another street there.  And I know you're thinking that.  I know you are.  And I'll tell you why I'm looking so bloody chirpy, I'll tell you why ... it was yesterday - late yesterday - and I was walking home after yet another bloody raid, down past where they'd been hit the hardest, when I saw this woman clawing away at the rubble crying her eyes out.  You've got to help me find my baby, she was calling out to me, you've got to help me find my baby.  And what could I say to that.  This poor woman - her husband at war and her baby buried under all that rubble - crying like I've never seen tears.  Well, I had to help her.  You have to, don't you.  You have to.  And I know what you're thinking.  I do.  You're thinking, how can an old timer like me help dig away at rubble - with my arthritis.  Well, I went and got help, that's what I did.  I went and got help ...

 

 

© Matthew Wilkie and Mike Hills
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