Based in Vancouver, Electric Company has been creating original works of live theatre since 1996.
This exclusive excerpt from a rare and little-known work by the Electric Company was written by Kim, Jon, Kevin and Dave for Theatre Under the Gun, Vancouver's own 24-hour playwriting festival. But it's so good, you'd swear they spent 28 hours.
"The Mammoth Backstage at the Kansas City Revue, the floor is covered with white plastic bags.
Burns enters
Burns: (to Don Pardo) Where is he?
Burns looks through the curtain at the audience.
Burns: Shit! (to Don Pardo) You tell him to get down here right away, 'cause I'm starting the show!
Exits.
Sound cue 1. [This all-important sound cue was provided by the festival as part of the "inspiration package" and had to be used during the performance. It was a strange, scratchy and warbling fanfare for a lounge god.]
Don: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to a historic moment. Here he is…a living legend, the last of his kind…The Mammoth!!
Curtains open, revealing a single audience member, eagerly awaiting the Mammoth.
She pulls out a lighter gives a salute, looks around at the empty house, chants
Girl: Mammoth! Mammoth! Mammoth!….
Curtains close. Wind, chimes… Lights up on a winter scene, two explores enter cross-country skiing. They stop, and a voice over begins.
Franklin: Day 236 of our expedition. Still no clues as to the mystery surrounding the extinction of these prehistoric beasts. Nothing but snow and ice as far as the eye can see. Where the hell are we? The supposed ancient migration grounds remain elusive and I can't stop thinking of my Patty Babe. Patty Babe. Scott is keeping up a brave face, but I suspect he is about to crack. Where does he get all his scratch and win tickets? Provisions are low, out of water, mouth is dry… Not again. I sent Scott to scout east. What terrible tragedy brought about the demise of these earnest creatures?
Lights shift to back stage at the theatre, a fight is heard off stage. A janitor enters to sweep the bags up off the floor. Light spills in from a door stage right and we hear…
Mammoth: You work for me, lady - I don't work for you! I when I say I don't wanna - Crash!!
Crash: You're drunk Mammoth. Break what you want, but promise me you'll go on tonight.
Mammoth: I don't care anymore! Nobody cares! Crash!!
Crash: You're a star, Mammoth. You're a star. They're all waitin'. What's it gonna take, Mammoth? (pause) A steak an' eggs? I'll get ya a steak an' eggs.
She leaves, walking onto stage, closing doors behind her. A few steps onto stage, the doors swing open revealing the Mammoth in silhouette.
Mammoth: Crash!
Crash: Yeah?
Mammoth: I'm waiting.
Crash: I'll be back before you can say over easy.
The Mammoth retreats into his den.
Based in Vancouver, Electric Company has been creating original works of live theatre since 1996.