Centralia, 1919: a play

PRITCHARD 71 BARRY PRITCHARD CENTRALIA, 1919 a play A slide is showing as the audience enters the theatre. It contains basic information the audience needs to best understand this play and it reads: The Industrial Workers of the World, known usually as the I.W.W. or the Wobblies, began around the turn of the century. It was a labor movement that attempted to organize all the working people of this country into one big union dedicated not only to higher wages and better working conditions but also to the idea that profits should be shared by the laborers rather than going into the pockets of owners and bosses. Needless to say, such a concept met with a lot of opposition. During this time a folk-singer sings songs from the little red song book. When the play is ready to begin, the slide and the union songs gradually fade. A movie newsreel is projected onto a screen. It shows vintage footage of the late 1918-early 1919 era. Prominently featuring shots ofservicemen returning home on troopships to confetti parades and so on. Inter-cut with this are shots ofother news events of the day such as: Ty Cobb playing baseball Wilson signing the Armistice The Navy plane NC4 after its flight across the A tlantic Peace conference in Paris Victory Loan drives ("Sure, We'll finish the job "slogans) Bobby Jones playing golf Women 's fashions Prohibition officers axing whiskey kegs New automobiles Jack Dempsey fighting Jess Willard Bill Tilden playing tennis Seattle Mayor Ole Hansen speaking against I. W. W. Deportation of "undesirables " Etc. While this footage is being shown, a man 's voice sings slowly, unaccompanied , the song "Hallelujah, I'm a Bum. " 72 THE MINNESOTA REVIEW VOICE: 0, why don't you work Like other men do How in hell can 1 work When there's no work to do? A large chorus sings, echoing, as ifin the distance: Hallelujah, I'm a bum Hallelujah, bum again. Hallelujah, give us a handout To revive us again. O, why don't you save All the money you earn? If I did not eat I'd have money to burn (Chorus) O, I like my bossHe 's a good friend of mine. That's why I'm starving Out in the breadline. (Chorus) I can't buy a job For I ain't got the dough, So I ride in a box-car 'cause I'm a hobo. (Chorus) Whenever I get All the money I earn The boss will be broke And to work he must turn. (Chorus) The film and song end. There is a pause and several moments of silence. Then full lights up quickly as the entire company takes the stage and sings: COMPANY: Peace! Peace! Welcome sound Flash the news the whole world 'round. Run tell mother, sister, brother Daddy's on his way. Peace! Peace! Yankee crowned, Old flag never touched the ground PRITCHARD 73 Colors flying, no more sighing, celebrate the day. Good-bye shot, good-bye shell Good-bye suffering, good-bye hell Good-bye slavery of nations Good-bye beans for daily rations Good-bye Czar and King and Kaiser Now we trust you all are wiser. War-times, war-times, come again no more For it's good-bye, good-bye,good-bye shot and shell! They all disperse except for one man who now takes focus. He wears a World War I helmet. MAN: On the morning of November 1 lth, 1918, President Woodrow Wilson announced to the American people: Focus on a man wearing some things that indicate Wilson WILSON: My fellow countrymen: This Armistice was signed this morning. Everything for which America fought has been accomplished. It will now be our fortunate duty to assist by example, by sober friendly counsel , and by material aid in the establishment of a just democracy throughout the world. WILSON SINGS: Let us have done with battle, Let us have strife no more Let us unite our efforts to banish the curse of war. Silence the roar of the cannon Darken the flash of the steel God in his mercy and wisdom The pathway of right will reveal. So...