The Reincarnated Beethoven

Overture:

The lights come up on Denise, Dewitt's mother, conversing with her friend, Marjorie. Dewitt is offstage, practicing on his Casio.

Denise, my dear,
you shouldn't fret so.
At least, he's tied himself
to that Casio.

Denise

Sometimes I grow afraid
of what I see
inside my head
when I gaze out.

Marjorie

How old was he
when you gave him
all those buttons
and keys to play?

Denise

He was twelve.

Marjorie

And in three years time
he's sat behind grand pianos
playing sonatas at Carnegie Hall
and the Botanical Garden.

And his feet are not
in the streets,
and the Lord knows
that's a blessing.

Denise

But sometimes I think,
Am I completely selfish?
Did I buy him that Casio
because I hoped his playing
could slow down my dying?

Marjorie

Girl,
why do you fret yourself
this way? I remember
you said you had seen
hunger in his eyes
as a boy played a piano,
and that you couldn't
stand to see Dewitt's envy.

Denise

But that was three
or four
lifetimes
ago.

Marjorie

So, why do you sigh
when he touches the keys?

Denise

Because I don't know
if he has enough iron
left in his fists
to walk these streets.

Marjorie

But you've given him
something stronger
than iron in his fists.

Denise

No, I don't ever
want him to forget
how to weep.

And, anyway,
I'm awful tired
these long days.

Marjorie

Buy I'm looking
at you, and I see—
I see nothing
but a big appetite
for living.

Denise

Girl,
let me tell you:
Don't let anyone say
this virus can't make God
kneel down inside you.

Marjorie

Like I said: I'm looking
and can't see nothing
but good, old-timey hope.

(Pause).

Denise

Marjorie,
I want to thank you
for being such a good friend
for those times
you kept an eye
on Dewitt and Sis
when I went back to school,
and for now when I spend
hours in a room with the Lord
in one dark corner
and Satan in another.

Marjorie and Denise hug each other; Marjorie walks toward the door—she stops and speaks.

Marjorie

Where is Sis?

Denise

She's in the streets
chasing the shadow
of some boy's boombox.

Marjorie

Now, don't be so hard
on her, Denise.

Denise

Everything's rap
and hip-hop
with that girl,
and she calls her brother
Mister Retrograde.

Marjorie

But sometimes it's good
to have a little back beat,
to not be misunderstood
down on Mean Street.

Marjorie exits. The lights fade.

from Scene 2

The Chorus

We're writing down
everything we see
and hear.

Born poor in the Bronx
a boy doesn't have half
a chance,
a victim of circumstance.

We know the inside
and the outside,
and sometimes
we know too much
for our own good.

We're writing down
everything we see
and hear.

Born poor in the Bronx
can a boy like him
be taken serious,
if he's minus
half a chance,
a victim of circumstance?

We know the inside
and the outside,
and sometimes
we know too much
for our own good.

We're making notes
and taking votes.
What can we say:
Do we say
sexually-transmitted
or a dirty needle?
Your guess is as good
as mine. Yeah,
his mama tries hard
but death always
has a trump card.

The lights fade.

Scene 3

The lights come up on Dewitt and his mother facing each other; Sis sits on a stool, spooning corn flakes into her mouth.

Denise

Dewitt,
eat your eggs and grits.
Drink your orange juice.

Dewitt

Yes, mama.

Denise

Pull up your pants
so you can walk like a man.

I don't want you
to wear out your tongue
with excuses—excuses—
standing in the doorway
of The Three Deuces.

Dewitt

Yes, mama.

Denise

Turn that cap...