Last night five of us met at my home for our monthly playreading.  We take turns for hosting, and yesterday it was me.  I chose “Over The Horizon” by Eugene O’Neill.

We tried on new emotional clothes, each of us switching parts after every act.

…

Two brothers on the farm, one a dreamer, the other practical – Robert and Andrew

The girl that both of them love – Ruth

Their father, a lifetime farmer – James

Ruth’s mother, old and sickly and bitter – Mrs. Atkins

…

Listen to them

Perhaps become them

***

Robert:  Suppose I was to tell you that it’s just beauty that’s calling me, the beauty of the far off and unknown, the mystery and spell which lures me, the need of freedom of great wide spaces, the joy of wandering on and on – in quest of the secret which is hidden over there – beyond the horizon?

Andrew:  “I have loved wind and light and the bright sea.  But holy and most sacred night, not as I love and have loved thee.”  (He hands the book back)  Here!  Take it and bury it.  I suppose it’s that year in college gave you a liking for that kind of stuff.  I’m darn glad I stopped at high school, or maybe I’d been crazy too.  Imagine me reading poetry and plowing at the same time!  The team’d run away, I’ll bet.

Ruth (to Andrew):  You see I’d found out I’d made a mistake about Rob soon after we were married – when it was too late …

And then I thought that when Mary came it’d be different, and I’d love him; but it didn’t happen that way.  And I couldn’t bear with his blundering and book-reading – and I grew to hate him, almost …

I wouldn’t know how to feel love, even if I tried, any more.

James (to Andrew):  You know I’m speakin’ truth – that’s why you’re afraid to argy!  You lie when you say you want to go ’way – and see thin’s!  You ain’t got no likin’ in the world to go.  I’ve watched you grow up, and I know your ways, and they’re my ways.  You’re runnin’ against your own nature, and you’re goin’ to be a’mighty sorry for it if you do.  ’S if I didn’t know your real reason for runnin’ away!  And runnin’ away’s the only words to fit it.  You’re runnin’ away ’cause you’re put out and riled ’cause your own brother’s got Ruth ’stead o’ you, and …

Mrs. Atkins (to Kate – Robert and Andrew’s mother):  It do make me mad, Kate Mayo, to see folks that God gave all the use of their limbs to potterin’ round and wastin’ time doin’ everything the wrong way – and me powerless to help and at their mercy, you might say.  And it ain’t that I haven’t pointed the right way to ’em.  I’ve talked to Robert thousands of times and told him how things ought to be done.  You know that, Kate Mayo.  But d’you s’pose he takes any notice of what I say?  Or Ruth, either – my own daughter?  No, they think I’m a crazy, cranky old woman, half dead a’ready, and the sooner I’m in the grave and out o’ their way the better it’d suit them.

***

Oh … it was fun!