Craig Lucas - Ode to Joy

BOOKS BY CRAIG LUCAS AVAILABLE FROM TCG The Light in the Piazza Book by Craig Lucas Music and Lyrics by Adam Guettel Ode to JoyPrayer for My EnemyPrelude to a Kiss and Other Plays ALSO INCLUDES: Missing PersonsThree PostcardsReckless and Other Plays ALSO INCLUDES: Blue WindowStrangerWhat I Meant Was: New Plays and Selected One-Acts ALSO INCLUDES: The Dying GaulGods HeartOde to Joy is copyright 2016 by Craig Lucas Ode to Joy is published by Theatre Communications Group, Inc., 520 Eighth Avenue, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10018-4156 All rights reserved. Except for brief passages quoted in newspaper, magazine, radio or television reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Professionals and amateurs are hereby warned that this material, being fully protected under the Copyright Laws of the United States of America and all other countries of the Berne and Universal Copyright Conventions, is subject to a royalty. All rights, including but not limited to, professional, amateur, recording, motion picture, recitation, lecturing, public reading, radio and television broadcasting, and the rights of translation into foreign languages are expressly reserved. Particular emphasis is placed on the question of readings and all uses of this book by educational institutions, permission for which must be secured from the authors representative: Seth Gelblum, Esq., Loeb & Loeb LLP, 345 Park Avenue, 20th Floor, New York, NY 10154, (212) 407-4931. Page 52: Ive Got My Love to Keep Me Warm by Irving Berlin.

Copyright 1936, 1937 by Irving Berlin. Copyright Renewed. International Copyright Secured. All Rights Reserved. Reprinted by Permission. The publication of Ode to Joy by Craig Lucas, through TCGs Book Program, is made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

TCG books are exclusively distributed to the book trade by Consortium Book Sales and Distribution. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA Lucas, Craig, author. Ode to joy / Craig Lucas. First edition. ISBN 9781559368063 (ebook) DDC 812/.54dc23 Book design and composition by Lisa Govan Cover design by Mark Melnick Cover artwork: Craig Hawkins, Supervention No.15, 2014. (Artwork partly composed of a reproduction of Robert Longos Untitled, 1981.) First Edition, September 2016 Ode to Joy is for Nico Muhly Table of Contents

CONTENTS O de to Joy was commissioned by the Greenfield Prize at the Hermitage Artist Retreat in Englewood, Florida. (Artwork partly composed of a reproduction of Robert Longos Untitled, 1981.) First Edition, September 2016 Ode to Joy is for Nico Muhly Table of Contents CONTENTS O de to Joy was commissioned by the Greenfield Prize at the Hermitage Artist Retreat in Englewood, Florida.

The Hermitage Artist Retreat invites artists and writers in every discipline to work at its historic site on Floridas Gulf of Mexico. The Hermitage commissions the Greenfield Prize to bring into the world works of art that will have a significant impact on the broad as well as the artistic culture of our society. The play was completed under a commission from Playwrights Horizons. I would like to acknowledge the generous time and energies of Bruce Rodgers, Patricia Caswell, Sharyn Lonsdale, Greg Leaming, Michael Edwards, Jason Bradley, Hannah Goalstone, Elizabeth Marvel, Bill Camp, Tim Sanford and Christian Parker. Thanks to dramaturg Sydne Mahone, who knows how to ask the right questions at the right time. Ode to Joy was presented by Rattlestick Playwrights Theater (David Van Asselt, Artistic Director; Brian Long, Managing Director) at the Cherry Lane Theatre in New York City, on February 27, 2014. Ode to Joy was presented by Rattlestick Playwrights Theater (David Van Asselt, Artistic Director; Brian Long, Managing Director) at the Cherry Lane Theatre in New York City, on February 27, 2014.

It was directed by the author. The scenic design was by Andrew Boyce, the costume design was by Catherine Zuber, the lighting design was by Paul Whitaker, the sound design was by Daniel Kluger; the production stage manager was Michael Denis. The cast was:

ADELE	Kathryn Erbe
BILL	Arliss Howard
MALA	Roxanna Hope

ADELE, a painter; determined, playful, intimidatingly bright, alert, deeply kind, sometimes combative; an alcoholic; anywhere from late thirties to mid-fifties BILL, a cardiac surgeon; born into wealth, classically educated, erudite, hardworking, passionate, somewhat solitary, widely traveled and experienced in a variety of milieus; an alcoholic; anywhere from late thirties to mid-fifties MALA, a pharmaceutical executive; fiercely ambitious, private, wounded somehow, refuses to speak of past trauma; a non-drinker; anywhere from thirty to fifty The actor playing Mala also plays Bartender. The actor playing Bill also plays TV Voice and Dr. Wong. New York City, 19992014.

Scene 1Adeles building. Day, 2014. Scene 2Bar. Night, 2007. Scene 3Adeles former studio. Day, 1999.

Scene 4Restaurant. That evening, 1999. Scene 5Bills loft. Night, 2007. Interval Scene 6Hospital. Night, 1999.

Scene 7Bills loft. Night, 2008. Scene 8Malas apartment. Midnight, Y2K. Scene 9Park. Day, 2009.

Scene 10Adeles building. Late afternoon, 2014. Pauses can be brief. Words in brackets are not spoken. Slashes indicate possible points of overlap for the subsequent speaker. An ungrammatical comma is a hitch in the thinking or rhythm.

SCENE 1 Adeles building. Day, 2014. Adele is alone. She holds a paintbrush and is working on a large canvas (unseen) between herself and the audience. Soon she is overcome with physical pain. ADELE: This is the story of how the pain goes away.

Or: how I got out of the way... of me and everyone else... Once upon a time, seven years ago, a Thursday afternoon... (She closes her eyes and a bar begins to glow with warmth. She walks into it.) SCENE 2 Bar. Bill is seated at the bar. Bill is seated at the bar.

Adele approaches the bar, receives a text, types, tries to get the bartenders attention. The bar is not officially open and the bartender has headphones on. ADELE: May I... ? (Adele types. A very sad song is playing. Bill sobs.

Beat.)(To the bartender) Yes, could I have a double vodka on the rocks and could you put on something... a littlelesssomething joyful