CONSTANCE

A mother whose son has been taken hostage in a political settlement she had no part in.

0:38Dramatic30s–50sIntermediate

The speech62 words · 3 beats

0:00 / 0:38

Off-book

Grief fills the room up of my absent child, Lies in his bed, walks up and down with me, Puts on his pretty looks, repeats his words,

Remembers me of all his gracious parts, Stuffs out his vacant garments with his form;

Then have I reason to be fond of grief.turn

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Takes

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Speaking to: Two men who have just told her, kindly, that she is too attached to her sorrow.
What just happened: France and England have made peace. Her son Arthur is now in English custody. The people who arranged it are standing in front of her being reasonable.
Objective: To make them understand that the grief is not a mood — it is the only place her child still lives.
The turn: There isn't a turn. It's one held note, which is what makes it hard.
Watch out for: Short, unfamiliar, and devastating. A rare audition piece that isn't on every panel's list.

Full work: King John New to the vocabulary? What’s a beat? →