Civil War Scenes Scene One:

Civil War Scenes

Scene One: An Affair at Coulter's

This scene should take advantage of the stage and side balconies. The parts that should be played in the scene include Captain Coulter, the General, the Colonel, and the various messengers. The scene will open with the discussion taking place in the left balcony. Characters will enter and exit as necessary. Background effects should be those of gunfire and battle. As the Colonel moves down to the battle scene, the attention should shift to the center stage where the battle is commencing. The notch will be center stage. The final scene in the house should be performed in the farthest right corner of the stage and the right balcony.

The costumes for this scene must include standard Civil war uniforms.

Light cotton fabric can be used to replace that of wool and other expensive fabrics. Makeup will be to make the soldiers appear wounded and dirty. The scenery would be a table with maps in the first part of the scene. Paper mache dirt hills and Styrofoam cannons in the second part of the scene with a forest backdrop. The final scene will be some old ruined furniture and a fake wife and child. Lighting will follow each action point and move throughout.

Scene Two: One of the Missing

The whole of this scene is primarily a monologue on center stage. The scene will open with him trapped under the rubble and he will explain what has happened. His lines will include discussion of his current mission, previous missions, his pride at his work, and his family. Throughout the monologue, his thoughts will be interrupted by the pain on his head. Natural sounds will be playing in the background. His discussion will become less and less coherent as he dies. His costuming will be that of a typical southern scout. Makeup will include a bloodied gash on his head. Scenery is a background of trees and a woodpile burying him.

The scene will close with the other soldiers finding his body and declaring him dead. The soldiers will exit the stage in the opposite direction so as to represent them moving onto their next mission.

Scene Three: Killed at Resaca

This scene will be recreated through a telling at a campfire. The man who delivered the message will be retelling the story of Lieutenant Herman Brayle to the group of listening soldiers. On stage, it will be nighttime. The backdrop will be a starry sky with lights creating the illusion of stars. On center stage will be a fire pit (a disguised BBQ pit) with a lit fire. The soldiers will be reclining on logs and on the ground listening to the story with cups of beer and dinner in hand. Each soldier will have on their uniforms and be covered in dirt and meant to look weary.

The delivery man will tell the tale and be interrupted occasionally by one of the soldiers asking a specific question about the man and his courage. A spotlight will be placed on the delivery man. The spotlight will be dim at first and grow brighter as the story progresses. At the end of the scene, the soldiers will react to the tale with disgust and drink to the late Lieutenant Herman Brayle. The scene will end with the lights fading until only the fire is scene, which will then be put out as well.

Scene Four: Parker Adderson, Philospher

This scene will take place exactly as it does in the story. The stage will be divided into two parts. In center stage will be the tent with the Parker Adderson and the general. Adderson will be sitting across from the general at the table and will be questioned. The monologue will unfold with only this part of the stage being lit.

After the fight, Adderson will be escorted to stage left where there will be a doctor and campfire along with soldiers guarding Adderson. Adderson will be wrapped in a blanket and must be visibly trembling and shrunken in horror. The general and dead officer will still be in the tent, which will remain lit. The general will come around and order the execution. At this point, the tent and campfire will go black and the right stage will be lit with the fire squad in position to execute Adderson. Adderson's execution will take place and the scene will end with the general also dying on the ground.

Costumes, as with other scenes will be uniforms. Actors will be clean faced, except for Adderson who will be visibly dirty. This scene is meant to happen at night, so the night time starry backdrop should be used along with night time natural sounds playing in the background.

Scene Five: A Son of the Gods

This final scene will take place as a story being reflected upon by General Lee as he is surrendering and signing the surrender agreement. This part of the scene will take place in the left balcony. The scene will open with Lee and Grant shaking hands, in full honorary uniform. Lee will look sad, defeated, and tired. Grant will ask him to release some of his burden and this story will unfold.