THE ZOO STORY-EDWARD ALBEE.pdf

THE ZOO STORY A PLAY IN ONE SCENE by Edward Albee for William Flanagan THE PLAYERS PETER:A man in his early forties, neither fat nor gaunt, neither handsome nor homely. He wears tweeds, smokes a pipe, carries horn-rimmed glasses. Although he is moving into middle age, his dress and his manner would suggest a man younger. JERRY:A man in his late thirties, not poorly dressed, but carelessly. What was once a trim and lightly muscled body has begun to go to fat; and while he is no longer handsome, it is evident that he once was. His fall from physical grace should not suggest debauchery; he has, e closest to it, a great weariness. THE SCENE: It is Central Park; a Sunday afternoon in summer; the present. There are two park benches, one towards either side of the stage; they both face the audience. Behind them: foliage, trees, sky. [At the beiginning PETERis seated on one of the benches. As the curtain rises, PETERis seated on the bench stage-right. He is reading a book. He stops reading, cleans his glasses, goes back to reading. JERRYenters.] JERRY: I've been to the zoo. [PETERdoesn't notice.] I said, I've been to the zoo. MISTER, I'VE BEEN TO THE ZOO! PETER: Hm? . . . What? . . . I'm sorry, were you talking to me? JERRY: I went to the zoo, and then I walked until I came here. Have I been walking north? PETER: [Puzzled] North? Why . . I . . . I think so. Let me see. JERRY: [Pointing past the audience] Is that Fifth avenue? PETER: Why ya; yes, it is. JERRY: And what is that cross street there; that one, to the right? PETER: That? Oh, that's Seventy-fourth Street. JERRY: And the zoo is around Sixty-Sfth Street; so, I've been walking north. PETER: [Anxious to get back to his reading] Yes; it would seem so. JERRY: Good old north. PETER: [Lightly, by reflex] Ha, ha. JERRY: [After a slight pause] But not due north. PETER: I ... well, no, not due north; but, we . . . call it north. It's northerly. JERRY: [Watches as PETER,anxcious to dismiss him, prepares his pipe.] Well, boy;