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A PROTEST PLAY AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY
The Living Theatre
1994–2005
For information about this play call: 212 969-8905
Not In My Name – Page 1
Scenes
Scene 1: The Vigil 2
Scene 2: The Class Song 3
Scene 3: The Chase 4
Scene 4: In the Name of the People 5
Scene 5: Two Wrongs 7
Scene 6: The Conflict of Ideas 8
Scene 7: The Cycle of Vengeance 9
Scene 8: The Breath of Fear 10
Scene 9: Cain and Abel 11
Scene 10: Piasto–The Carnival Dance of Death 12
Scene 11: Turning the Furies 13
Scene 12: Breaking the Cycle 14
Scene 13: We Ask You to Join Us 16
Scene 14: The Stay Song 18
Casting Notes
The play requires a minimum of 7 actors, 4 of whose roles can be divided, allowing
up to 11 distinct voices. Additional actors speak the choral lines only.
VOICE 1 Herald
VOICE 2 a,b Voice(s) of Protest
VOICE 3 Voice of Authority
VOICE 4 a,b Voice(s) of Protest
VOICE 5 a,b Voice(s) of Protest
VOICE 6 a,b Executioner(s)
VOICE 7 Condemned
SONG LEADER Actor designated to set the pitch
• a,b indicates that the role may be divided between two actors as specified
• In the event two actors are not available one actor speaks both a and b
parts
• If two actors share a role, and a or b is not specified, both actors speak in
unison
Not In My Name – Page 2
Scene 1: THE VIGIL
ALL arrive at the performance site.
A box is placed in the center of the playing area.
SUPPORTERS erect banners to form a backdrop for the playing area. Bags and
coats are grouped underneath banners for safekeeping.
ALL actors move slowly around the edge of the playing area in a solemn
procession.
Two or more SUPPORTERS and ACTORS move out to sidewalks and street
corners within sight of the playing area. They distribute leaflets and verbally inform
passers by of the performance and the scheduled execution.
At an agreed time ALL actors leafleting return to the playing area to join those in
the vigil action.
When all have returned, VOICE 1 starts the chant. On the second phrase of the
chant, ALL join the chant, break from the vigil and move to stand in opening
positions.
At the end of the second round of the chant SONG LEADER begins the “Class
Song”
Not In My Name – Page 3
Scene 2: THE CLASS SONG
SONG LEADER While there is
A lower class
ALL I am in it. (moving down to 1st position)
The prisoners on death row (frozen in position)
Are the poor.
While there is (moving up to 2nd position)
A criminal element
I am of it. (frozen in position)
When the government metes out (moving down
Vengeance it devalues human life. to 3rd position)
While there is (frozen in position)
A soul in prison
I am not free. (clench fists, reaching up to 4th position)
Break the cycle (open hands, frozen in position)
Of vengeance.
While there is (bringing hands down to 5th position)
A prisoner on death row
Life itself is at stake. (frozen in position)
ALL remain frozen in position.
Not In My Name – Page 4
Scene 3: THE CHASE
VOICE 1 starts the chant.
and
VOICE 7, portraying the CONDEMNED, breaks into flight.
On the second phrase of the chant ALL join in
and
VOICES 6a and 6b, portraying EXECUTIONERS, break into pursuit of
CONDEMNED.
On successive repetitions of the chant ALL move through the five positions of grief,
moving during the first phrase and freezing for the second phrase.
The CONDEMNED chased by the EXECUTIONERS move in slow motion, winding
a path among the ensemble.
In front of the central box, the EXECUTIONERS apprehend the CONDEMNED and
lift him onto the box. They perform an execution etude, a series of repeated
actions, which continues through the following scene.
Not In My Name – Page 5
Scene 4: IN THE NAME OF THE PEOPLE
ALL continue chant at a reduced sound level.
VOICE 1 (standing upright and facing forward)
There is a man named (condemned person).
Tonight he is alive.
Tonight he will die.
VOICE 2a (standing upright and facing forward)
We are here
To witness
The intention
Of the State of (state of execution)
To kill (condemned person).
VOICE 3 (standing upright and facing forward)
In the name
Of the people
Of the State of (state of execution)
ALL stop chanting
(one after the other standing upright and facing forward)
VOICE 5 Not in my name!
VOICE 2 Not in my name!
VOICE 4 Not in my name!
VOICE 1 (Condemned person) was accused.
(Condemned person) stood trial.
(Condemned person) is condemned to die.
ALL start a mournful drone.
All VOICES OF PROTEST turn towards CONDEMNED and on their line turn out to
audience and then turn back.
VOICE 2b His mother said:
VOICE 4a He was a good boy.
VOICE 1 The State says:
VOICE 3 An eye for an eye.
VOICE 2a We say:
VOICES 2,4,5 Not in my name.
Not In My Name – Page 6
VOICE 1 The chaplain said:
VOICE 3 God will forgive him.
VOICE 2b The Sixth Commandment says:
VOICE 5 Thou shalt not kill.
VOICE 1 The Governor says:
VOICE 3 In the name of the people I invoke the death penalty.
VOICE 2a We say:
VOICES 2,4,5 Not in my name!
VOICE 2b His sister said:
VOICE 4a I stand by him.
VOICE 1 The prosecutor said:
VOICE 3 He stands convicted of (crimes).
VOICE 1 The Judge says:
VOICE 3 Lethal injection
VOICE 2a We say:
VOICES 2,4,5 (dropping postures of grief)
Not in my name!
ALL resume chanting at a low sound level.
VOICE 4b (Condemned person) is alive tonight
On the Death Row of (prison)
In (state).
VOICE 2a We are here
To witness
The intention
Of the State of (name of state)
To kill (condemned person).
ALL stop chanting.
VOICES 5,4 STOP THE KILLING!
Not In My Name – Page 7
Scene 5: TWO WRONGS
All VOICES OF PROTEST move outwards and then turn back towards the
CONDEMNED in long, reaching strides timed to the rhythm of the text. When they
reach the EXECUTIONERS they form a tableau halting the execution and
protecting the CONDEMNED.
VOICES 2,4,5 Two wrongs / Don't make a right!
Two wrongs / Don't make a right!
Two wrongs / Don't make a right!
Two wrongs / Don't make a right!
Two wrongs /
ALL abruptly drop their static poses and turn outwards to question the audience’s
response.
ALL (ACTORS take two steps toward the audience and stop)
Two wrongs / . . . . . . .
(ACTORS take two steps toward the audience and stop)
Two wrongs / . . . . . . .
(ACTORS take two steps toward the audience and stop)
Two wrongs / . . . . . . .
ACTORS step into the audience.
Not In My Name – Page 8
Scene 6: THE CONFLICT OF IDEAS
A silent beat.
A series of questions arise from the ACTORS, articulating the ambivalence,
doubts, fears and confusion arising in the audience. Each ACTOR has prepared a
question.
The first ACTOR enters the playing area with stylized movement, speaks her
question and freezes in a specified place. The movement and frozen position
express the conflict, imbalance and confusion of the question.
The next ACTOR, the partner of the first, enters the playing area with stylized
movement, speaking his question and joining his partner in strong, close physical
juxtaposition – also expressing the conflict, imbalance and confusion of the
question and freezes.
The next ACTOR enters the playing area with stylized movement, speaks her
question, freezes, is followed by her partner doing the same and they freeze in
strong, close physical juxtaposition.
The next pair enters and so on until all ACTORS have entered the playing area and
are in frozen positions.
The cycle of questions starts over and all ACTORS slowly start a physical
interaction with their partner and then others. The questions are repeated more and
more rapidly and the corresponding movements depict increasing confusion.
After a number of cycles (usually three), words and bodies overlap into chaos. The
questions deconstruct into fragments and the actors are drawn into a vortex at the
center of the playing area. The movement and words reach a peak of turmoil.
Not In My Name – Page 9
Scene 7: THE CYCLE OF VENGEANCE
VOICE 1 Endless is the cycle
of vengeance.
Endless is the cycle
of vengeance.
ALL ACTORS spin out from the group towards positions for the “Slash Circle.”
Every other ACTOR in the circle stands in a “Hubris” position.
ACTORS between them lie fallen on the ground in the “Killed” position.
VOICE 1 Endless is the cycle of vengeance.
No end to the causing of pain
Where pain has been caused.
Retribution follows retribution
Revenge upon revenge.
The standing ACTOR in the “Hubris” position triumphantly surveys the area under
her.
The “Killed” ACTOR looks up from the ground slowly. He sees the person in front of
him, is overcome by vengeance, slowly rises and reaches up to strike her.
The ACTOR in front, sensing danger, turns to see the ACTOR behind her about to
strike, is filled with fear, as he slashes downwards and kills her (on the word
“follows”).
She falls to the ground.
The ACTOR who killed her steps forward in triumph and claims the position (on the
word “cycle”) and then surveys the area under him.
The cycle repeats. The text and action starts slowly and speeds up through five
repetitions.
At the end of the fifth cycle all ACTORS freeze.
Not In My Name – Page 10
Scene 8: THE BREATH OF FEAR
ACTORS perform breath of fear action.
On a long, slow, wheezing inhale the actor moves backwards, recoiling in terror
from an audience person. This terror transforms to rabid rage and on a long
hissing exhale the actor moves forward, reaching towards the audience person as
if to destroy them. This inhale/exhale cycle repeats with different audience persons
through the scene.
VOICE 4b We are here today
To break the cycle
Of vengeance
Which is very ancient
And deeply rooted
From the raging
Of the primordial furies
To every moment
When the
Taking of life
Is enacted
VOICE 2b All who are caught
In the cycle of violence
And the cycle of vengeance
Merit our compassion.
Not In My Name – Page 11
Scene 9: CAIN AND ABEL
ACTORS pair off - one as CAIN and one as ABEL.
CAINS and ABELS face each other (on “brother’)
VOICE 4a Even Cain, who killed his brother,
Was given a mark of protection
By God.
VOICE 6a Out of competition
(CAINS kill ABELS)
Came the first murder.
(ABELS kill CAINS)
Brother killed brother.
BOTH kill each other and fall to the ground
VOICE 7 But God put a mark of protection
On the forehead of Cain.
The fallen CAINS and ABELS sit up and face each other.
ALL CAINS Two wrongs
(placing their hands on ABELS’ foreheads)
ALL ABELS Don't make a right.
(placing their hands on CAINS’ foreheads)
VOICES 4,5 And yet the scream for vengeance rose.
ALL rise into the jagged poses of the furies and hold frozen until the dance.
ALL RETRIBUTION!! RETRIBUTION!!
VOICE 7 Thus the furies raged
At murder unrevenged.
Not In My Name – Page 12
Scene 10: PIASTO–THE CARNIVAL DANCE OF DEATH
ALL dance the CARNIVAL DANCE OF DEATH while singing:
ALL Piasto, Piasto, Piasto
Ecce To nou sou
(from Aeschylus' The Eumenides:
Catch him! Catch him! Catch him!
There he is!)
Not In My Name – Page 13
Scene 11: TURNING THE FURIES
VOICE 4 Till wisdom restrained them
And turned the furies
The FURIES are transformed into the EUMENIDES. Two Actors as the forces of
wisdom take a third Actor and rotate around.
VOICE 2 Which are the rage
In each of us
FURIES (scream)
ALL transforming into the court of law,
raising arms to form a gothic arch.
ALL Into the court of law.
ALL The law is often unjust
(cutting action)
Mercy is always just
(open arms, compassion gesture)
Though justice is not always merciful.
(menacing gesture)
ALL begin crushing action.
ALL Tonight
Legal justice
Will kill (condemned person).
(final killing gesture)
VOICE 4 The death penalty
Is the furies' last stand.
ALL rising into the jagged poses of the furies
ALL (scream abruptly cut short)
Not In My Name – Page 14
Scene 12: BREAKING THE CYCLE
The EXECUTIONERS and CONDEMNED resume the chase in the playing area
Simultaneously the other ACTORS slowly and individually realize what they have
become as they release their poses, and look out into the audience dropping all
stylization.
ALL (personally to the audience)
How can we break
Such an ancient
Cycle of vengeance?
One by one, ALL walk to a member of the audience during, before or after the line.
ALL (personally and not in unison)
I will begin with myself.
When all other ACTORS have spoken
VOICE 3 (more loudly)
I will begin with myself.
ALL (after one beat, in unison and
personally to chosen audience member)
I will begin with you.
ALL make physical contact with audience member.
(chorally)
We are breaking the cycle.
(personally to chosen audience member)
I give you my word that I will never kill you.
Will you promise me the same?
ALL have brief exchange with audience member.
Not In My Name – Page 15
The EXECUTIONERS apprehend the CONDEMNED and proceed to lift him onto
the central box during the following vows.
VOICE 1 We reverse the cycle of vengeance.
ALL (in unison) (chorally to audience grouping)
I will never be an executioner
(personally to chosen audience member)
Because I have vowed not to kill you.
(chorally to audience grouping)
I will never fire into a crowd
(personally to chosen audience member)
Because I have vowed not to kill you.
(chorally to audience grouping)
I will never bomb a city
(personally to chosen audience member)
Because I have vowed not to kill you.
The EXECUTIONERS are frozen ready to start execution etude.
ALL turn to look at EXECUTIONERS and CONDEMNED on following line.
VOICE 3 (directing attention to execution etude)
Every time the State kills
In the name of the people.
The EXECUTIONERS resume the execution etude with a slapping sound.
ALL look out to audience to speak their line and then look back to execution.
ALL Not in my name
VOICE 3 (directing attention to execution etude)
I will separate myself from that act.
VOICE 4a (directing attention to execution etude)
I am not part of that agreement.
VOICE 2a (directing attention to execution etude)
I contest the right of the State to kill.
ALL (personally to chosen audience member)
I break the cycle of violence
By promising you who stand here before me
That I will never kill you.
ALL embrace with spectators for a few moments.
Not In My Name – Page 16
Scene 13: WE ASK YOU TO JOIN US
VOICE 5 (Taking one step back from audience group
and directing attention to execution etude)
The vows we make now are only the beginning.
VOICE 3 (Taking one step back from audience group
and directing attention to execution etude)
There are over 3,000 people on Death Row.
VOICE 4b (Taking one step back from audience group
and directing attention to execution etude)
Those put to death are mostly the poor
and people of color.
VOICE 1 (Taking one step back from audience group
and directing attention to execution etude)
In New York the governor and legislature are bringing
back state killing. (or other local political development)
ALL (All moving to be one step away from audience)
Not in my name!
VOICE 3 (Taking a second step back from audience group
and directing attention to execution etude)
On (date of subsequent execution)
The State of (state)
Intends to kill (Condemned person)
In the State Penitentiary.
ALL Not in my name!
Not in my name!
Not in my name!
VOICE 2b (Taking a second step back from audience group
and directing attention to execution etude)
On (date)
at (time)
We will gather at (performance site)
To demonstrate our refusal to be complicit
In any act of vengeance -- ever.
VOICE 4a (Taking a second step back from audience group
and directing attention to execution etude)
We ask you to join us on (date)
And other nights executions are scheduled.
Not In My Name – Page 17
VOICE 5 (Taking a second step back from audience group
and directing attention to execution etude)
We ask you to add your voice
To our cry of protest --
ALL (All moving to be two steps away from audience)
NOT IN MY NAME!
VOICE 1 We ask you to join us
In ending the death penalty
This play will only end
When we end all executions.
Not In My Name – Page 18
Scene 14: THE STAY SONG
SONG LEADER Stay! Stay! Stay!
ALL (turning and reaching towards execution etude)
Stay the murdering hand.
(turning and appealing to audience members)
Is it mercy
Can stay the murdering hand?
Is it wisdom
Can Stay the murdering hand?
Is it humanity
Can stay the murdering hand?
(Beckoning audience members to join in taking action)
Stay! Stay! Stay!
Stay the murdering hand.
(Leading audience members, ALL move in slow reaching
strides to halt the executioners)
MEN } Stay!
WOMEN } Stop the cycle of killing!
ALL Two wrongs don't make a right.
MEN } Stay!
WOMEN } Stop the cycle of killing!
ALL An eye for an eye leaves everyone blind.
MEN } Stay!
WOMEN } Stop the cycle of killing!
ALL Is it all right to kill sometimes?
MEN } Stay!
WOMEN } Stop the cycle of killing!
ALL bring CONDEMNED down from box and turn outward to remaining audience
ALL Not in my name!
Not in my name!
Not in my name!
After concluding moment, ALL disperse and start dialogue with audience.
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