Venus

Venus Suzan-Lori Parks (bio) The Roles • MISS SAARTJIE BAARTMAN, A.K.A. THE GIRL, AND LATER, THE VENUS HOTTENTOT • THE MAN, LATER. THE BARON DOCTEUR • THE MAN'S BROTHER, LATER, THE MOTHER-SHOWMAN, LATER, THE GRADE-SCHOOL CHUM • THE NEGRO RESURRECTIONIST • THE CHORUS as: THE CHORUS OF THE 8 HUMAN WONDERS, THE CHORUS OF THE SPECTATORS, THE CHORUS OF THE COURT, THE CHORUS OF THE 8 ANATOMISTS OVERTURE VENUS clothed and facing stage right. SHE revolves. Counter-clockwise. 270 degrees. SHE faces upstage. THE NEGRO RESURRECTIONIST The Venus Hottentot! THE BROTHER, LATER THE MOTHER-SHOWMAN The Venus Hottentot! THE MAN, LATER THE BARON DOCTEUR The Venus Hottentot! [End Page 301] (rest) VENUS revolves 90 degrees. SHE faces stage (rest) right. CHORUS The Chorus of the 8 Human Wonders! THE MAN, LATER THE BARON DOCTEUR The Man, later The Baron Docteur! THE NEGRO RESURRECTIONIST The Negro Resurrectionist! THE BROTHER, LATER THE MOTHER-SHOWMAN The Brother, later The Mother-Showman! later The Grade-School Chum! THE NEGRO RESURRECTIONIST The Negro Resurrectionist! CHORUS The Chorus of the 8 Anatomists! (rest) VENUS revolves 180 degrees. SHE faces stage (rest) left. THE MAN, LATER THE BARON DOCTEUR The Chorus of the 8 Anatomists! THE NEGRO RESURRECTIONIST The Man, later The Baron Docteur! THE MAN, LATER THE BARON DOCTEUR The Negro Resurrectionist! THE BROTHER, LATER THE MOTHER-SHOWMAN The Chorus of Spectators! THE NEGRO RESURRECTIONIST and THE MAN, LATER THE BARON DOCTEUR The Brother, later, The Mother-Showman!, later The Grade-School Chum! [End Page 302] THE MAN and THE BROTHER The Negro Resurrectionist! THE BROTHER, LATER THE MOTHER-SHOWMAN The Chorus of the Court! ALL The Venus Hottentot! (rest) THE VENUS The Venus Hottentot. (rest) (rest) THE NEGRO RESURRECTIONIST I regret to inform you that the Venus Hottentot iz dead. ALL Dead? THE BROTHER, LATER THE MOTHER-SHOWMAN There wont b inny show tonite. CHORUS OF 8 HUMAN WONDERS Dead! THE NEGRO RESURRECTIONIST Exposureiz what killed her nothin on and our cold weather. 23 days in a row it rained. Thuh Doctor says she drank too much. It was thuh cold I think. THE MAN, LATER THE BARON DOCTEUR Dead? THE NEGRO RESURRECTIONIST Deh-duh. THE BROTHER, LATER THE MOTHER-SHOWMAN I regret to inform you that the Venus Hottentot iz dead. There wont b inny show tonite. THE NEGRO RESURRECTIONIST Diggidy-diggidy-diggidy-diggidy [End Page 303] THE BROTHER, LATER THE MOTHER-SHOWMAN Im sure yr disappointed. We hate to let you down. But 23 days in a row it rained. THE NEGRO RESURRECTIONIST Diggidy-diggidy-diggidy-dawg. THE MAN, LATER THE BARON DOCTEUR I say: Perhaps, She died of drink. THE NEGRO RESURRECTIONIST It was thuh cold I think. THE VENUS Uhhhh! CHORUS OF 8 HUMAN WONDERS Turn uhway. Dont look. Cover her face. Cover yer eyes. THE VENUS Uhhhh! CHORUS (Drum. Drum. Drum. Drum.) (Drum. Drum. Drum. Drum.) CHORUS MEMBER They came miles and miles and miles and miles and miles. Comin in from all over to get themselves uh look,-see. They heard the drum. THE BROTHER, LATER THE MOTHER-SHOWMAN Drum Drum CHORUS (Drum Drum) THE BROTHER/SHOWMAN CHORUS DRUM (drum) DRUM (drum) DRUM (drum) DRUM (drum) THE VENUS (I regret to inform you that thuh Venus Hottentot iz dead. There wont b inny show tuhnite.) [End Page 304] CHORUS (Outrage! It's an outrage!) THE MAN, LATER THE BARON DOCTEUR Dead? THE NEGRO RESURRECTIONIST Deh-duh. THE BROTHER, LATER THE MOTHER-SHOWMAN Tail end of r tale for there must be an end Is that Venus, Black Goddess, was shameles, she sinned or else completely unknowing of r godfearin ways she stood totally naked in her iron cage. CHORUS OF 8 HUMAN WONDERS Shes thuh main attraction she iz Loves thuh sideshows center ring. Whats thuh show without thuh star? THE VENUS Hum Drum Hum Drum. CHORUS Outrage! It's an outrage! Gimmie gimmie back my buck! THE BROTHER, LATER THE MOTHER-SHOWMAN Behind that curtin just yesterday awaited: Wild Female Jungle Creature. Of singular anatimy. Physiqued in such a backward rounded way that she out shapes all others. Behind this curtin just yesterday alive uhwaits a female—creature an out—of towner whos all undressed awaiting you

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