Experimental Theatre I WAS SITTING ON MY PATIO THIS GUY APPEARED I #155042

Description

I Was Sitting on My Patio This Guy Appeared I Thought I Was Hallucinating (Archive of two scripts, an original script from the 1977 premiere production and the script publication which accompanied the 1978 London performances)
Author:
[Experimental Theatre] Robert Wilson (playwright, performer); Lucinda Childs (performer)
Title:
I Was Sitting on My Patio This Guy Appeared I Thought I Was Hallucinating (Archive of two scripts, an original script from the 1977 premiere production and the script publication which accompanied the 1978 London performances)
Publication:
N.p. / London: N.p. / Robert Wilson, 1977 / 1978
Description:
Archive of two scripts of Robert Wilson's iconic play "I was Sitting on My Patio This Guy Appeared I Thought I was Hallucinating," an original 1977 script with annotations in holograph red marker throughout, and faint copied annotations and illustrations throughout, and a copy of the 1978 publication of the script, published on the occasion of the June 5-11 performances at the Royal Court Theatre, London, with a contemporary gift inscription on the title page, dated "London June 6, 1978," the second Royal Court Theatre performance.
The 1977 script, dated "12/76-2/77" and entitled "NO" on the first page, is a one act play, as opposed to the final two act production, but retains all the final premiere production credits on the title page for Wilson, co-performer Lucinda Childs, and music by Alan Lloyd, as well as the final title. The holograph annotations, which highlight all the stage actions, props, and off stage clues, and the copied annotations and illustrations of stage directions and prop usage, indicate this was likely used by Wilson in preparation immediately before the premiere, or by Wilson or Childs during the production, a fascinating documentation of Wilson's process.
The play premiered on April 5, 1977 at Eastern Michigan University, barely a year after Wilson's revolutionary opera "Einstein on the Beach," before traveling to the Cherry Lane Theatre in New York in May, 1977. In 1978 productions were mounted in ten European cities, ending in June at The Royal Court Theatre. A re-staged version, starring Christopher Nell and Julie Shanahan, and directed by Wilson and Childs, premiered fourty-four years later, on September 20, 2021 at Espace Cardin, in Paris.
Set upon an austere black and white stage set, a performer begins a monologue that appears to be a seemingly random outpouring of association, becoming increasingly feverish and frantic before being replaced by another, only to be replayed in a nearly identical, yet strikingly different, fashion. A seminal piece of experimental theater.
"12/76-2/77" script:
Self wrappers with front wrapper integral with title page, with credits for playwright Robert Wilson, performers Lucinda Childs and Robert Wilson, and music by Alan Lloyd. First page dated "12/76-2/77" on upper left with credits for playwright Robert Wilson on upper right. 39 leaves, with last page of text with a copied annotation number of 38. Xerographic duplication, rectos only. Pages Near Fine, side stapled with six staples, three on recto and three on verso, with light toning to the extremities.
1978 script:
11.75 x 8.75 inches, side stapled in card wrappers. Very Good plus, with light toning and creasing at spine fold, wrappers with light rubbing overall, some edgewear, and creasing at spine fold.
Seller ID:
155042
Subject:
Archives, Artists, Avant-garde, Play Scripts, Theatre
Royal Books
Baltimore, MD
Royal Books is located in the midtown area of Baltimore, Maryland. Since 1996, we have specialized in rare books and paper relating to twentieth century literature, genre fiction, the arts, and popular culture, with a particular emphasis on cinema.
Terms of Sale
All books noted as First Editions are also First Printings unless indicated otherwise. All items are guaranteed to be as described, and may be returned at any time for any reason for a full refund, including return postage if not as described.
Shipping & International Customers
Shipping within the US is free by USPS Media Mail. Please ask us about faster options and international shipping rates BEFORE placing an order. We are happy to upgrade shipping to Priority Mail or to arrange overseas shipping to many foreign countries upon request
.
If you are outside the US, and would like a quote for shipping prior to making payment, please go ahead and place your order, but do NOT pay for it. We will send a quote immediately for cheapest shipping (typically First Class). If you would like something other than cheapest shipping, let us know by way of an inquiry.
This listing was created by Bibliopolis.