After the Play |
Summary: | After the conclusion of The Bear and the Maiden Fair, conversation ensues in the playhouse's gallery. |
Date: | 16 April 2014 |
Related: | The Bear and the Maiden Fair |
Players: |
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Continues from The Bear and the Maiden Fair
Amphitheatre - Whimsy Theatre
It is a summer night. The weather is hot and fair.
The Theatre Whimsical Dreams is a three-storey, open-air amphitheatre, approximately ninety-eight feet in diameter, which can house some two thousand spectators. At the base of the stage, there was an area called the yard, where, for a three pennies, groundlings stand on the rush-strewn earthen floor to watch the performance. Vertically around the yard are the three levels of the gallery, with more expensive stadium-style seats.
A rectangular apron-stage platform thrusts out into the middle of the open-air yard. The stage measures approximately forty feet in width, twenty-four feet in depth and is raised about seven feet off the ground. On this stage, there is a trap door for use by performers to enter from the cellarage area beneath the stage.
The back wall of the stage has two doors on the main level, with a curtained inner stage in the center and a balcony above it. The doors enter into the tiring house where the actors dress and await their entrances. The balcony above houses the musicians and can also be used for scenes requiring an upper space. Above the balcony is the apex, which has windows and a battlement-style walk.
Large columns on either side of the stage support a roof over the rear portion of the stage. The ceiling under this roof is called the heavens, and is painted with clouds and the sky. A trap door in the heavens enables performers to descend using a rope and harness. The rest of the theater is crisscrossed with wooden support beams, over which a white oilcloth can be stretched to keep out the rain, and also provide a reflective surface to help light the theater.
There is very rarely any elaborate stage dressing beyond a few pieces of furniture essential to a scene, and there are no painted backdrops. Nor are their curtains to cover the stage. Instead, before a scene begins, someone hangs a sign at the front of the stage, which tells where the scene takes place.
Carolis considers, then nods to Kevyn and says, "I can't argue there." This regarding Bear Island. "There are many tales of the Wall, just the thing for a nice cool evening. Unfortunately, you don't have them here." As the play draws to a close, he cheers, clapping loudly and giving a sharp whistle.
Keyte sings along with bits and pieces of the song, clapping in time and then a bit more madly at the end. "Huzzah!" She stands up from her seat even, to wave to Garvin as he waves to the audience, and flops back into down with with a bright smile. "Why's it unfortunate? Nobody likes the cold," she laughs.
"M'lord — I grew up a Bastard in a Knight's holdfast." Jacsen confesses to Carolis. "Before I was born again into a life of service, I could vouch that most armed men in Westeros looked like that to me." His dry laugh is a half-cough.
"Truly, Lady Keyte. Those Mummers were a pack of ex-sellswords, the lot of them, and the type that is made of ale. So what did they do? They got a bear, and taught it to drink. The poor beast probably did so to tolerate the smell."
And finally, Kevyn Cockshaw. Bruin though, is pointed at by the Maester as well. "Lord Kevyn — with all due respect, I believe she may be…" He leans in to whisper to the cockshaw lord, quietly — "Dornish." The 'she' being Bruin.
"Oh." Kevyn laughs awkwardly at Jacsen's correction. "Maybe." Maybe Dornish also look like barbarian hill people. He sings along with the bits of the song from the mummers, albeit in sporadic half-mutters rather than in full verse, and applauds again at the end of it.
Carolis arches a brow at Keyte and says, "Don't they? I must be terribly mistaken." Jacsen gets a laugh from him as he says, "Fair enough., Maester. I confess, your knights are still a bit odd to me." He waves to Garvin as well, and then applauds him.
Garvin appears in the gallery, still flushed with excitement, though he's traded the clanking golden armor for the tight costume (with bulging codpiece) he wore earlier. As he approaches the small group in the Tyrell section, he grins and sips from a large goblet of wine he carries. "So?" he asks, eyes alight. "What did you think? Was it better than the first play?"
Keyte arches her brows right back at Carolis, and agrees with a delighted smirk, "That you must, my lord!" She glances curiously toward the whispering maester, and lays a hand over her heart. "That poor bear," she laments, though in truth she doesn't seem too sympathetic. "I wonder how far you'd have to travel to see one, a real live bear."
"Sometimes you have to travel far and wide to see a bear. And sometimes, My Lady," Jacsen intones as he hefts his cane in the air lazily. "The Bear comes to see you." His severe features bear a polite smile. "Speaking of which — " He offers to Carolis - "It's quite simple, really. A Knight, and a — a Bear. One is a hairy, bestial killer whose only goal is to rain blood and destruction upon those too unaware to run away — and one is just an animal."
Kevyn gets no immediate response. Except a slight, sly grin after the Dornish crack.
Carolis laughs, a low and rich sound, and he says, "Ah, Maester, I have a feeling I am going to like you. I must introduce you to my man, Tellur. He is a trainer of ravens and other beasts, and I was hoping you would have use of him while we're imposing upon Lord Garvin."
Kevyn eyes Jacsen, like he's unsure whether he should laugh at the bit about knights or not. He finally settles for an awkward chuckle, and a mutter of, "I'm sure there are bears in the woods…somewhere nearby."
Garvin pouts as everyone isn't surrounding and telling him how wonderful his latest production was, sipping more wine and listening to the conversation in the gallery for a bit. Finally, he says, "You don't have to go to the woods to find a bear. There's one right here in Oldtown! She lives in a manse on Appletree Wynd." His poor attempt at humor causes him to giggle, and he gulps even more wine.
Keyte tilts her head, again curious toward the maester. Like Kevyn, she's not quite sure if she should laugh, hiding a small smile behind her hand. "Oh do you think so?" That's to the squire, for his mutterings. She's going to go exploring now and it's all your fault, Kevyn. Finally noticing Garvin, she leaps from her seat to address her cousin warmly. "Sweet cous! Oh, shh, I don't mean Lady Mormont, you know. The play was wonderful cous, but tell me — why wasn't there a bear?"
"Considering the ravens are being fed double, the feeling is quite mutual, Lord Carolis." Jacsen confesses to the Northman. "I suspect Lord Garvin will need a larger Solar if they get any fatter." Speaking of Garvin, Jacsen's patron is noticed as the Maester hefts his cane in the air to wave at the man. "Splendid, M'lord. Splendid!" He bellows.
Kevyn's statement earns a response from the older man in turn. "In the Reach, m'lord, all the bears are fat and happy. I imagine you go a hundred leagues out of Oldtown and they're there in the wood, passed out on Arbor wine and sprawled in the sun. This is Oldtown, m'lady." Finally tying his little nonsense speech to Keyte's response. "Everyone comes here eventually."
Kevyn rises when he spots Garvin, offering the man an inclination of his head. "The play was quite grand, my lord, as ever. He does not echo Keyte's question about live bears.
Kai casually makes his way into the amphitheatre, gazing about slowly at the wonders on display before silently making his way over to where the others dwell, hand lightly rested atop the pommel of one of his blades as per usual. He makes his way up to the upper gallery, continuing to gaze about before he spots Garvin, he casually decides to join the group, "Greetings." he calls out in his usual stern, Essosi accent before coming to a stop, expecting multiple angry glances.
Garvin brightens when Keyte speaks, his cheery grin returning. "Cousin, there were three bears! Lady Ursula, Bruin the Wildling, and Lord Berrick…me! Honestly, didn't you even watch the play?" He gives his eyes a dramatic roll, then turns to Kevyn and Jacsen. "Thank you, both of you! And wasn't Lord Arion wonderful as the Lion Knight? He's up in the apex, changing out of his costume." His eyes dart left and right, as he lowers his voice a little. "Though I think he's hiding up there, too bashful to face everyone." When he hears Kai's voice, he brightens further still, shouting, "Pansyslayer! Why, I haven't seen you in ages and ages. Did you enjoy the play?"
"Yes, Tellur's birds are little beggars. Don't let them fool you," Carolis says. "They'll get too round to fly." He then rises to his feet and claps again. "Brilliant, Lord Garvin. Kai catches his attention, and he glances to him. Not angry so much as curious. "A sweltering evening to you," he says. He has been taking the weather rather personally, it must be said.
"Well I watched it," Keyte defends herself, "But none of them were actual bears." Which is highly disappointing, Garvin. "Never to mind, though. The play was most good, cous. Most good. Lord Arion was wonderful." She flashes Kevyn a bit of a look — can we go find a bear now? It might be timed to coincide with the arrival of one usually blank-expressioned Essosi man.
"The fact that there were three bears is the whole point of the text." The learned Maester observes to Garvin. Attempting to defuse the situation somewhat, he intones, "Of which you are undoubtably aware, m'lord. We just became diverted in discussion of some artisticly barren players elsewhere that have used real bears. Bears have dominated the evening — as they tend do do." He smirks some.
Eyeing Carolis a bit, he shrugs a little regarding the birds. He seems to have a decent fondness for the little beasts. Or maybe he's fattening them up for a pie. It's hard to tell.
Finally, Jacsen turns to eye Kai flatly and nods his head once, the chains of his office around his neck jingling a bit. He leans a little on his cane more deeply.
Kevyn turns his head, with some confusion, when Garvin names the approaching man 'Pansykiller,' Though he does manage a polite, "Uh, good evening, Master. Good evening to you all, actually. I should be retiring for the night. I thank you for allowing me the company of your fine family, Lady Keyte, and guests. It was most enjoyable."
Kai slowly continues to approach the group, although he is sure to make way for anyone who wishes to leave; he bows his head slightly to the more noble persons around, keeping his silence for the time being as others say their farewells.
Carolis does have a rather fond tone when he talks about Tellur's fat birds, mind you. With Kai's arrival, he reclaims his seat. "A good evening to you," he says to Kevyn. Then he falls quiet, watching the interplay between various people.
"The… pleasure was all ours," Keyte assures Kevyn distractedly, glancing between her cousin and Kai. "If my lords would please excuse me as well," she says flatly, the warmth drained from her smile. She dips a quick curtsy and follows the Cockshaw lad out.
Garvin's eyes flick to each of the others, and he chews at his lower lip for a few moments. "Does everyone know Kai? Perhaps I should…." He clears his voice and straightens his shoulders, suddenly all formal. "Lady Keyte of House Tyrell, Lord Kevyn of House Cockshaw, Lord Carolis of House Stark, and Maester Jacsen, may I present Kai…uh…of Essos." He blushes just a touch as he realizes that Keyte, at least, knows Kai, giving her a small bow as she and Kevyn prepare to leave.
Kai performs a small bow as Garvin 'introduces' him, "A pleasure to meet those who do not know me." he says, before straightening up and slowly examining the faces about the room, before looking back at Garvin, "Sadly, I missed the play; I just got back from some business by the Hightower."
"Essos is a very large House." Jacsen observes as he bows his head again to Kai. Taptaptap goes his cane as he reseats it upon the floor. "Oh — do have a good evening Lord Kevyn." He shoots the departing Cockshaw a fierce grin.
Carolis offers Kai an amiable smile. "Hello, Kai. From Essos? Interesting." He says his good-byes to the departing Kevyn and Keyte. Then his attention turns to Garvin. "Will you let me read your first play, Lord Garvin? I'm genuinely impressed."
Garvin's eyes light at Kai's words. "Oh, have you! I'd be most interested in hearing all about your business at the Hightower. Perhaps over a flagon of mead? Or ale, if you prefer, whatever." He gives Carolis a grin then, nodding. "Certainly! I've only just hired a scribe, who was supposed to have copies of tonight's play ready by now, but I suppose I didn't give him enough time. But I'll have him prepare a legible copy of the first play, so you can have that as well."
Kai nods towards Garvin, offering a quick smile, "Ale would be good." he says, before taking a seat at one of the chairs available.
The scraping tap of a cane as Jacsen stands straight, the Maester cocks his head at a slight incline, eyeing Garvin for a long moment and then simply bowing his head at the mention of the play text. The silver-haired man doesn't comment further.
"Thank you, Lord Garvin," Carolis says. "You have a real talent." He doesn't sound too terribly surprised, honest. His attention drifts to the Maester, idly curious, and then to Kai. Then back to Garvin. He rises to his feet as he says, "In any case, it was very enjoyable. I'm sure the Maester of Winterfell will be pleased to learn I'm taking in some culture here."