Blessing - A Walk in the Woods

A WALK IN THE WOODS

Lee Blessing

A Play In Two Acts

OBERON BOOKS
LONDON

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First published in the United Kingdom in 2011 by Oberon Books Ltd Electronic edition published in 2012

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Copyright Lee Blessing 1988

Lee Blessing is hereby identified as author of this play in accordance with section 77 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. The author has asserted his moral rights.

CAUTION: Professionals and amateurs are hereby warned that A Walk in the Woods is subject to a royalty. It is fully protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America, and of all countries covered by the International Copyright Union (including the Dominion of Canada and the rest of the British Commonwealth), and of all countries covered by the Pan-American Copyright Convention and the Universal Copyright Convention, and of all countries with which the United States has reciprocal copyright relations. All rights, including professional, amateur, motion picture, recitation, lecturing, public reading, radio broadcasting, television, video or sound taping, all other forms of mechanical or electronic reproduction, such as information storage and retrieval systems and photocopying, and the rights of translation into foreign languages, are strictly reserved. Particular emphasis is laid upon the question of readings, permission for which must be secured from the authors agent in writing.

All rights whatsoever in this play are strictly reserved and application for performance etc. should be made before commencement of rehearsal to Judy Boals, Inc., 307 W.38th Street, #812, New York, NY 10018. No performance may be given unless a licence has been obtained, and no alterations may be made in the title or the text of the play without the authors prior written consent.

You may not copy, store, distribute, transmit, reproduce or otherwise make available this publication (or any part of it) in any form, or binding or by any means (print, electronic, digital, optical, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

PB ISBN: 978-1-84943-181-1
EPUB ISBN: 978-1-84943-742-4

Cover image by James Illman

Printed, bound and converted in Great Britain by CPI Group (UK) Ltd., Croydon, CR0 4YY.

To Jeanne Blake

And to Des McAnuff

ANDREY BOTVINNIK

57, a career Soviet negotiator

JOAN HONEYMAN

45, an American negotiator

A pleasant woods on the outskirts of Geneva.

A Walk in the Woods was presented by Lucille Lortel in association with American Playhouse Theatre Productions and Yale Repertory Theatre at the Booth Theatre in New York City on February 28, 1988. It was directed by Des McAnuff; the setting was designed by Bill Clarke; the costumes were designed by Ellen V. McCartney; the lighting by Richard Riddell; the music was by Michael S. Roth; the sound was designed by G. Thomas Clark; the casting was by Meg Simon/Frank Kumin; and the production stage manager was Maureen F. Gibson. The cast, in order of speaking, was as follows:

ANDREY BOTVINNIK: Robert Prosky
JOHN HONEYMAN: Sam Waterston

The world premiere of A Walk in the Woods was presented at Yale Repertory Theatre, Lloyd Richards, Artistic Director, Benjamin Mordecai, Managing Director on February 20, 1987. The director was Des McAnuff; set design was by Bill Clarke; lighting design by Jennifer Tipton; costume design by Ellen V. McCartney; music by Michael S. Roth; sound by G. Thomas Clark; production stage manager was Maureen F. Gibson. The cast:

ANDREY BOTVINNIK: Josef Sommer
JOHN HONEYMAN: Kenneth Welsh

A Walk in the Woods received its west-coast premiere at the La Jolla Playhouse, Des McAnuff, Artistic Director, Alan Levey, Managing Director on July 14, 1987. The director was Des McAnuff; set design was by Bill Clarke; lighting design by Richard Riddell; costume design by Ellen V. McCartney; music by Michael S. Roth; sound by G. Thomas Clark; production stage manager was Maureen F. Gibson. The cast:

ANDREY BOTVINNIK: Michael Constantine
JOHN HONEYMAN: Lawrence Pressman

A Walk in the Woods was presented as a staged reading at the Eugene ONeill Theatre Centers 1986 National Playwrights Conference.

This version of A Walk in the Woods was performed in the United Kingdom, London at The Tricycle Theatre on 12th October 2011 with the following cast:

ANDREY BOTVINNIK: Steven Crossley
JOAN HONEYMAN: Myriam Cyr

Director: Nicolas Kent
Design: Polly Sullivan

A mountain slope on the outskirts of Geneva. Late summer. A sunny morning. The path is well kept, but rustic. It leads to a wooden bench in a little clearing. The overall effect is light, airy, idyllic.

BOTVINNIK and HONEYMAN enter. They wear suits conservative but stylish.

BOTVINNIK: (With a very slight accent.) So I told him this was your reporter, you understand, a network reporter I told him when Brezhnev was in power, he always began Politburo meetings by saying, The survival of the Soviet Union depends on the total annihilation of America.

HONEYMAN: (With a smile.) You told him that?

BOTVINNIK: How was I to know hed believe it? He actually filed a report with his network. It was nearly broadcast. But, finally someone had the sense to ask him, Who told you that? Andrey Botvinnik? (Laughs slightly.) And they cancelled it. They know I made jokes. That reporter now I think is covering restaurants. (Looks around.) Do you like this place? Shall we sit?

HONEYMAN: Do you think we should stop?

BOTVINNIK: Why not?

HONEYMAN: Wellwe spoke of this as a walk in the woods.

BOTVINNIK: We are walking, we are sitting, we are walking again

HONEYMAN: But the reporters

BOTVINNIK: Reporters expect us when they see us. They love for us not to be on time. Much speculation. More column inches. (Pats on bench.) Come. Sit down.

HONEYMAN: All right. (They sit.)

BOTVINNIK: Fine, fine, fine. Now we are sitting. This is good. (A pause. They stare at the trees.) The trees are lovely in the late summer here. So full. You came at a good time.

HONEYMAN: Its beautiful.

BOTVINNIK: Have you been to Switzerland before?

HONEYMAN: No.

BOTVINNIK: Well, you must enjoy the lake, the mountain trails andso on and so forth.

HONEYMAN: I will. Thank you.

BOTVINNIK: Mr McIntyre loved the trails. He was very fond of hiking.

HONEYMAN: Yes, I know.

BOTVINNIK: He told you?

HONEYMAN: Yes.

BOTVINNIK: How is he doing, Mr McIntyre?

HONEYMAN: Very well. Hes with a law firm now in New York.

BOTVINNIK: Really? Hes not back at the Arms Control Agency?

HONEYMAN: No. Hethought hed try the private sector again.

BOTVINNIK: (With sudden enthusiasm, poking HONEYMAN lightly in the ribs.) Ah the private sector! Wonderful thing you Americans have. To think a refuge from government service.