Soames by Robin Tranter

Soames aminiOpera

Notetothesinger.

ThroughoutI'veattemptedtowriteasaccuratelyaspossiblenotesandtheirrhythms, inordertogiveasmuchhelpasIcantotheperformerandyet,writtennotation,however carefullydone,cannotexpressthesortofflexibilityIwouldliketohearinthispiece.Anumber ofissuesresultfromthisincluding:howtofindtherighttempo,useofdynamicsandALWAYS theneedforexpressivesinging.OccasionallyI'veincludedmarksofexpression,dynamicsetc(where theyhavebeenprovidedtheyshouldbeobserved)butmostlyI'veleftsuchmatterstoyoutheperformer. Rememberit'sflexibilityI'mlookingfor,thereforeregardingtempo-keepinmindthatcorrecttempo requiresthecleardeliveryofthetext.Managethisandyouwontgotoofarwrong.Greatflexibilityintempo maythereforebeemloyedthroughoutandyouhavelicencetodecideforyourselfjusthowyouwillperform thispiece.Also,pitchingofnotesdoesnotalwayshavetobeexacte.g.wheretherearedifficultintervalsto sing,especiallywithshorternotevalues,it'smoreoftentheshapeofthemelodythatmatters,morethangetting theexactrightnotessogoforitandletyourfeelforthemusicguideyou.RegardingstagingI'vemadeafew suggestionshereandtherebutagainthatismostlyleftuptotheperformertodecidee.g.dress,gestures, simple propsetc.Thepiececanbeperformedaselaboratelyorassimplyasyoulike.

Thestoryitselfismyre-imaginingoftheGalsworthystory"TheManofProperty"andtherelationship betweenSoamesForsyteandhiswifeIrene.Iwouldn'twantpeopletothinkIdonotsympaphisewithIrenes' predicamentbutit'sSoames'characterthathasalwaysinterestedmemost.Itseemstomethatheisas muchavictimofstraitlacedVictorianmoralityandbehaviourasIreneis.I'veimaginedthereforewhat mighthavehappenedinanothertimeifSoameshadmetsomeonewhotruellylovedhimandwantedto bewithhim.Somemayofcoursedisagreewithmebutthat'snotmyconcern.Itdoesseemtomethat Soamesisarathersadcharacterwhoneedsatleastonepersononhisside.

Act 1

Off stage. Spoken "Inorder to love, we must first be loved."

Scene 1 Lights down low lying down

NB All stage directions are for guidance only.

         Soprano     Ah1    Ah!     Ah!

        Ah!        Ah!        Ah!        Ah!Ah!A        (h!)Ah!Ah                Ah!Ah!           A(h!)   Ah!     Ah!    Ah!     Ah!       Mhmh       mhmh        mh GP    Mh        mh    GP Lights up sitting in a chair centre stage.   What  Narrative        aboutyourpa       rents?Weretheygood        parents?         Didyougetlotsofcuddles,      kisses       wereyouread            abedtimesto       ry?        YourNannywouldreadto (4.5.)       you.Isee -     GP         Whichofyourparents (2.2.3.2.)       didyoulovethe   most? -

         Wemaynotliketo          admititbut     mostofuswill      loveoneparentmore      thanthe -            other.  GP          Didyoueverowna   pet? -              Doyouownapet?         Apet         givesussomethingelseto    carefor.       Ifwe      lovethem    theywill       loveusback. GP      Wheredid Scene 2 Chair centre stage pacing up and down.      yougotoschool?    Mh!       boardingschool.         Didyoulikeitthere?                Therewerenogirlsatyouschool.          Wereyoueverbullied? GP Sitting in the chair                 Whatabout    friends,         doyouhavemanyfriends?              Colleaguesassociates.          Mh!Notquitethe     same.

           Youspendalotoftimeinyour     gallary. GP        I'msorry.       LikeI         toldyouatourlastses     sionthere      arenoeasy    answers.        Time     Makeanap        pointmenttocome&see        meagainnext    week.       GP   A Reflection      bitofa   coldfish;      notsurpri -                singthough.       Thereseemstohave     beenlittlelove -            littlelove     oraf    fectionshown      himasa      childgrowingup. -   GP     Hisparentssound      veryformal,stuffy.     Hesayshe      loveshiswife,         hiswife,     but;        he'sneverbeen     shownmuch  love.

    Likea    garden       lovesgrows     onlywhen      nurtured. lights go down             Ah! own tempo                                             Scene 3 Lights up Sitting centre stage                     You're Narrative            quiteabitolderthansheis.             Doyouhavesimilarinterests,             likesanddislikes?         Yousometimesshoptogether        forchina;     andyou          oftengotothe  theatre. GP        She'samusicianand     youlikeart.             Doessheshareyourloveofart?    She      neversaysmuch. -

                There'salackofcommuni     cation.then GP               I'mint'restedinwhat     youthinkSoames. GP         Yousayyoudon'tunder             standher.         Thatyouneverknowwhatshe's    thinking. GP         Twopeple  Reflection     oneamu    sician    the       otheranart      love(v)er.        I    don'tknow(?)   I     don'tknow(?)   Mh!      I     don'tKnow!       GP       I'llseeyounextweek Narrative   Soames     DoIhave            anyadviceto   offer?    Imay     havean    answerfor       youbut    let'sleavethat      'tillnext   time.     He'sholding  Reflection   onto -

       someone     Who'll        neverbringhimhappiness.      Happiness               it'swhatwe   allwant;     And  love.     Weall           needtobeloved      Love     love   love,     itcan           makeusa  live,        anditcanbethe    deathof   us.   Hislove       for    hiswife  is    kil     lingthem   both. GP       Love,     passion;   but       whendoeslovebecomepos  ses   sion?        Remember   Nero    andPop   pea. GP  And    whatabout             sacrifice?        YouaskedmewhatIthink. Narrative Scene 4     Youmay

        notlikewhatI     havetosay.    Well,        there'snothingwrong      withyouSoames,            oryourwife.    butyou're     wrongforonea    nother.     Yourwifeis               youngerthanyou.Lessma       ture,not     practical:       toyoua            paintingisn'tjust     somethingto    lookat,         itmustbeagoodinvest     ment;but        music?        Shedoesn'tloveyou,         it'sassimpleas    that. GP -         Marriage     isn'ta   contract,   a    businessar    rangement.         Your   wifefeels   trapped.      Isshe  wrong?        Showherhe'swroong         Soames.       Lethergo!        Thisismyad   viceto   you. -

         Findsomeonewhowill       loveyouforwhoyou    are.      I'mtoldHiswifeis Reflection        verybeauti      fulbutshould       notbemistakenfor      oneofhispaintings.          ThinkaboutwhatI'vesaid Narrative          Sir!sir!  Act 2 A chance meeting in the park     youdroppedthis. GP              Isometimeswalkthiswayhomeafter   work.       I'ma    teacher. GP          Thegardenslookprettyat       thistimeofyear.               andthefreshairiswelcoming    welcoming        afterastuffyclass   room.      GP         Thatmustbeint'resting   work. Reflection      He'svery      formalbutpo        lite,        conversationpleasant.      butthere'ssomething      sadabouthim. -

          Justaswell     otherscan'tread    ourthoughts.            NoIdon'thavefartowalk. Narrative     YesI    do.I        findmyworkrewarding             andIlovebeingwith    children.         Well,youhaveto,tobea    teacher.             He'snot Reflection     handsome,     definatelynot   handsome     buthe            hasan    interesting  face,    thoughtful.         Thankyouforwalkingmethroughthe (332) Narrative                park.itwas        kindofyou.Good   bye.       I'mhungry!         Whatwillwehavefor       dinnerthiseveningI    wonder. GP      Hello!Hel Scene 2 Chance meeting in an art gallery.          lo,youremember       me?Youdroppedyour      gloveandI     pickeditup. GP -

        Ido!      Ioften    comehere          ImentionedtoyouI'ma    teacher.          Artismy    favouritesub    jectto   teach.    I       dopaintanddraw, -              notverygood;          there'sroomforimprovement. GP         Youhaveaprivatecol         lection.      Isita    largeone?    Yes,I'd      liketosee       itonlyI -         havenooneto     bringme. GP            Yourwifeplaysthepian        o.Ialways           wantedtolearntoplaya       musicalinstrument               butcouldneverfindthe   time. GP    Per             hapsIcanbringmybrother.         That'svery       kindofyouMr.    Forsyte. -

       Long pause          Beingasolicitor            Peoplemusttrustyou..   GP           Doesyourwifeshareyourint'restin    art?     Iliketo      lookatskies,       whichiswhy     Constableis        oneofmyfavourite   painters.               Yes,Ilikeportraits.       Doyouhavea     favouriteone?          Ialwaystrytoim           (m)aginewhattheartistwas      thinkingwhentheywere    painting.      Long pause        HelloagainMr Scene 3 The gallery    Forsyte            Soamesitis,thenyoumustcallme      Jane.      Wecould     walkbackthroughthe   park.    He'svery Reflection      niceandhe   knowsa    boutart.     Ah         -

                           Didyoustudyartatuniversity?        I(t)taly!                   IoncevisitedParis     Paris,Paris.  Ah. GP            HowdoIdefinebeauty?           Theremustbeproportion,     balance             light&shade....      Butforittobe     greatart     thereneedsto            besomethingmore         Nothingremainshidden,     asiflaid    bare,stripped      GP           IhopeI didn'tembarras Reflection      himI       wonderhowold      heis?        earlyforties,but     thatdoesn'tmat     ter         I'menjoyingour       talks.      Wesharea    passionfor   art......   He's   kindbut -

        guarded     whenitcomes   to    hisemo   tions. Narrative GP        WhenIwasyoung          IthoughtIwantedtobe        anartistbut -           teachingiswhatI'mbestsuitted       to.Didyou          everwanttobeapainter?     Yeslets!                 Iknowofalittle       tearoomnotfarfrom  here. GP  Our Reflection               conversations Scene 4 Together somewhere     arebecoming     lessformal,     moreopen,         intimate.    Soamesseems     int'restedin     knowingmorea            boutme.whereIlive,    doI       haveafam'ly?       He'sattentive              andhehasalook       inhiseye. GP          Yes,Iwouldliketomarry......... Narrative -

         Iwouldlike        childrenofmyown.      Youhavenochildren?                   WhenIloveitwillbecompletely,     bodyand    soul.In       marriageIwillgive         but      alsowillre  ceive! GP    Behindthat Reflection         ratherseriousfaceI     sencethereisa    passionateman      strugglingtoget    out.                 Ishalllethimknowhe       hasmypermissionto         speaktomeaboutan     ything.        Hewantsto     talkbuthe'snot       sureofhimself.          WhataboutthisoneSoames? Narrative            Whatdoyouimaginthatyoung         girlinthepictueis      thinkingabout?     Isshein   love?                       Itmustbewonderfultobein   love.  

               Soameshasaskedmetodinewith Reflection        himandIrene.      Iwonder              whatshe'llmakeofit.       I'mrathernervous.     Imustbe       carefulwhatIsay.        ButhowdoI        hidemyfeelingsfor   Soames?             It'sveryniceofyoutoin Narrative Scene 5 Irenes' dining room         viteme.                Yourhusbandhastoldyouhowwemetinthe        park.Iwassurprisedto               seehimagaininthegallery.       Ioftengothere. GP       Youplaythepiano?                 Formetogotothe          gallery,tolookatpaintings          mustbelikeyougoingtoa           concert.       DoyoulikeartMrs   Forsyte?        Yes!SoamesMrForsyte            isveryknowledgeable.     Shenever Reflection    looksatsoames.      Shetalksto

                 mebutneverto   him.   Soames     isvery   quiet. -               NothankyouMrsForsyte. Narrative         Yes!coffeewouldbe   nice.           Haveyouboughtanynew       paintingslatelyMr   Forsyte? GP         Idon'timaginethat -        anythingIeverpaintwill        hanginagallery.      It'struemost     artistsare     deadbefore           anyonecon      siderstheirwork   goode     noughto   buy.    Isup - -           poseit'sthesamewithcom    posers.....       Withapainting     it'sallthere       infrontofyou         butwithmusicyour          waitingforwhatcomesnext. GP          Youmusthavestarted       youngplayingthePi     ano?           Iwastakentomyfirst

                gallerywhenIwasaboutfive.You're Reflection        talkingtoomuch.        AfterI'mgone            willshesayanythingtoSoames?       Idon'tlikeher.           Shedoesn'tloveSoames.         Shedoesn'tappreciate   him.           Shehardlyacknowledgeshe'sinthe   room.          Hehasmoretoofferthan       she'swillingtotake.        ShetreatsyoubadlySoames. Scene 6 a clandestine meeting Narrative          Whydoyouputupwith      it?IknowI   couldn't.            Icountthesecondswespendto              gether,notjustthetimesspentlookingat              paintingsbutbeingwith    you.         Atdinneryouwerequite   different.                 Thefactthathe'solderthan Reflection      medoesn'tmat'ter.            I'mnotgoingtobedi

       screetanylonger       WhyshouldI?       Shedoesn'tcare.         andSoamesdeservesmuchmore.   GP   You Narrative           needn'tbecarefulwithmesoames. - -       Iwantyouto       knowthatyoucansay       anythingtome;    askme   anything    I  wont       beembarrassed. GP  Are   you      happy  Soames?  When  I'm   withyou      you  make  me       hap        py   but    it   hurts    meto   seehow  she    shutsyou  out.     I   care     aboutyou   Soames   Your          happiness   mat   tersto  me.        HaveIsaid Reflection

          toomuch     Isheof      fen    ded?    He's                lookingatme.     Nowhe's    takingmyarm.      Doesheknow         I'mrea        dytogivehim     givehimmy  heart. GP              Irene'sbeautifulbut Narrative     cold,likea        pieceofdelicatechina..      Shemakesyoucold -    too.Soames.             butwhenyou'rewithme      you'rewarm               andaf      fectionate.     Youlookat           mediff'rentlyfromtheway        youlookather. GP    ShallItellhim Reflection       Ilove     him?      Surelyhe      knowsthat.        I'mnotbeautifullikeher, -

       plainJanebut       I'mfullofpas              sionforhim.        kissmeSoames. Narrative          nothingyousaywilleverof    fendme.        Iadmireyour         loyaltybuthowlongcanyou    goon        trying,getting      nothinginreturn?   GP     Youmusttellme     everything.           WhenI'mwithyouIwanttotellyou      everything. GP Scene 7 Intimate moment    Tonight Reflection   Soames    toldme    everything         aboutIre    ne,   their    marriage     orrather      lackofit     nolove,     nocom   fort.  She Narrative     doesn'tloveyou   Soames,     notlike   Ido    You       careaboutthefamily     aboutwhatpeople -

      maythink.Scandal!     Peoplefor    getsoone  nough       andI   rene      wouldn't    standinour   way    Shewont      giveyouason,      butwecan        havelots      ofchildren.      Lotsof  child  ren. -   Finally Reflection Act3    Soamesisfree      ofI    rene     Mylove,    ourlove,     has       setusbothfree.      Therenever       wasanylovebetween      them,       itwasallon    hisside,     neverhers.     Iknowfor    certain       thatwhatI    feelforsoames     isn'tpi      tyforawast   ed    marriage    butthe     very    deepest,    truest  love.      Iloveyou Narrative a passionate encounter       Soamesbodyand   soul.

Lights down very low

Spoken "Inorder to love, we must first be loved."

        Youneverbelonged    toher         Youneverbelongedtoher;          webelongto    onea   nother.    Ourhearts   tellus    webe   longto  ge    ther. GP   Youlove    meSoames     I      hearitinyourvoice,         Ifeelitinyourtouch.  GP    Whenwe'reat   lastto   gether -     thenyoushall     haveallof  me.    Allof   youis    everything   I   want.       Mydarling The Letter       Soaoaoa      oames,I        writethiis          letterto        yououto     letyouknow     I        willbe    thinkinga    boutyouto   day.           Myheartbeatsfaster           becauseyouareinmy       thoughtsandIcan't

            waitforthemomentwhen         wearetogethera  gain      andtheday              whenwewillnever       havetosayanother    goodbye.       Mydarling     I      knowhowmuchit   hurtsyou     tohaveto    gothroughthis      awfuldivorce            butattheend    ofit    knowthat      Iwillbethere    waitingfor     you.       Maymylove    sustain   you         asyourlove    sustains  me.      Iunder    standhowyou       feelaboutdivorce     andthe    disgraceit   bringson   e    evryone      Youarea         manofgreat     honourand       honourisa        finethingfinething     buttrue

        lovemustnotbede (2.3.)  nied.      Ourlovemust    notbede  nied.     GP    Iwillbe    waitingfor  you.   GP     Allmylove!     Jane.     Nov 2022