Mephisto (A Rhapsody)

Samuel Gallet, Chris Campbell

• Publisher: Oberon Books
• Year: 2019
• Print ISBN: 9781786829535
• eBook ISBN: 9781786829542
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Politics & International Relations
• Subtopic: Political Ideologies
• Index: Politics & International Relations

In the town of Balbek the far right are about to seize power. At the local theatre, Aymeric dreams of celebrity; Lucas longs for a liberal revolution; Michael is seduced by the extremists; Juliette Demba is in fear for her life. As this political earthquake ripples through the town, Aymeric must make his choice: resist the forces of hatred or harness them for his own success. Based on the real life story of Gustaf Gründgens, whose dreams of fame led him to betray everything, and at the peak of his career, perform Faust for Hitler, Mephisto [A Rhapsody] is a searing contemporary response to Klaus Mann's banned, and fiercely political cult novel. Samuel Gallet's urgent new play asks: what would you sacrifice to do the right thing?

PART ONE

A LONG WAY FROM THE BIG CITY

LUCA: When I was a student

We had this political science teacher

He’d come in

And take his lessons

And there was the odd time

When we were doing the history of twentieth-century revolutions

He’d go quiet

And we’d just sit there

And after a long pause

He’d say

With a note of embarrassment

‘They expect a lot from us

People always had hope for those who would come after them

All those people who failed, well they’re watching us now

And hoping we won’t let it all slide back into darkness this time.’

For a long time I felt that gaze on me like a weight of guilt

All the dead there watching me

Those who’d fought

And been destroyed by the Leviathan

They were watching me and it felt like I was being found wanting

Judged in the dock

And I used to think

I can’t do this

And I was ashamed

But then we learned to live together

The dead and me

They were still there

But they stopped judging me

They urged me gently on

Sometimes whispering in my ear not to give up

And I tried again and again not to disappoint their expectations

And to keep the possibility of a different kind of history alive

And he’s always there in my memory, ageless, in a corner, in his chair

Saying nothing

Embarrassed

Just sometimes raising his head

To mumble

‘If the enemy triumphs even the dead won’t be safe’

1.

Balbek, a small provincial town somewhere out in the regions.

A theatre. In the theatre bar, EVA, AYMERIC and LUCA drinking.

Off to one side, MICHAEL looks out into the night.

Enthusiastic applause off.

AYMERIC: Four bows.

EVA: It’s all rubbish.

AYMERIC: I’m jealous.

EVA: No one comes to see anything good anymore.

AYMERIC: I want a pay rise.

EVA: We have to cast names.

AYMERIC: I can’t stand these provincial holes.

EVA: People only care about fame, power and money.

AYMERIC: I don’t blame them.

EVA: I was at a meeting with Juliettete Demba yesterday. She was giving a talk. Doing the deep and serious voice she goes, ‘Theatre. There is only the theatre. Everything for the theatre.’ And everyone thought it was just great.

AYMERIC: Theatre. There is only the theatre. Everything for the theatre.

EVA: Yes, it doesn’t work when you say it. How can I give you a pay rise?

AYMERIC: Fifth bow.

EVA: Stick a star name in it and they come swarming in like flies.

LUCA: It is possible to be famous and talented surely?

AYMERIC: I want to be paid like Juliettete Demba.

EVA: Does your name sell tickets? And I’m not talking about your unemployed mates from drama school who can barely keep their heads above water.

LUCA: I really like Juliettete Demba. Her voice, her presence.

MICHAEL: She’s a foreigner.

LUCA: She’s great.

MICHAEL: Just because she’s black.

EVA: Michael, please don’t start on that again.

Exit MICHAEL.

The show comes down. Lots of people. The audience spilling out of the theatre.

JULIETTEte DEMBA enters.

JULIETTETE: Darlings! Hello!

EVA: Juliettete, will you have a drink with us?

JULIETTETE: I have to go, I have a date.

AYMERIC: I’m sorry Juliettete, but I simply can’t let you go until I tell you how very much I appreciate your work.

JULIETTETE: You weren’t in, Aymeric.

AYMERIC: Excuse me?

JULIETTETE: You didn’t see the show.

AYMERIC: I was in the front row. I couldn’t take my eyes off you.

JULIETTETE: And now he’s lying to my face. He lies like it’s true.

AYMERIC: You were fantastic tonight, Juliette. I know that. Sometimes I’d like to be the only person doing theatre. All the people who make up the theatre, all the other actors, all the other actresses, I wish they’d all just die, disappear from the face of the earth and leave me centre stage in the spotlight on my own. Do you know what I mean?

JULIETTETE: Of course. I think all actors have that. See you later.

She exits.

AYMERIC goes back...

Table of contents

• Front Cover
• Half-Title Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• PART ONE: A LONG WAY FROM THE BIG CITY
• PART TWO: LOVE AND POLITICS
• PART THREE: LAST DAYS IN BALBEK
• PART FOUR: ASCENSION
• PART FIVE: THE DEAL
• PART SIX: ELSINORE