Philomena Bradford

Masking/(un)Masking

Written and directed by Philomena Bradford. 

Performed by Philomena Bradford, Diane Exavier, and Amy Huang on September 24th, 2015 at 95 Empire in Providence, RI. 

To be read by three actors. Parts A, B & C. They are running out of time and out of breath at their own rhythms. Only release slows them but momentarily.

To be edited and recorded in 2016. 

Excerpt: 

B: ...that was the last time my father held me. he held me. i dreamt—

C: i love to sleep.

B: —of a mattress of sea anemones that expanded at my touch. i lay down on my back and felt their fat press into mine filling all the gaps, cushioning my armpits and that space between my ass cheeks. really touching me like i'd never been touched before held. held .held. held. ahhhh. mmmmmmmm. i stayed like this for a while, comfortable. then there was the sound of ochre, gradually rising like someone turning up a stereo. a sound like sand in the mouth brittle brawny time. my anemone bed receded and i lay on cracked shells. eyes. lips. stomach. hands. 

A, B, & C: this is what is left. 

A: afraid to move to grind what remains into dust but unable to still the flesh. let gravity give memories to the wind eyes

A, B, & C: lips. stomach. hands.