Weeping Potatoes

The audience has been let through the gate. 

Margaret has handed out all her umbrellas, and then gone backstage.

Did you have enough umbrellas? asks Katherine.

No, says Margaret. Some people are sharing.

That's nice, says Katherine. Did you keep one for yourself?

No, says Margaret. 

You can share mine, says Katherine. Let's go and sit down.

The seats are wet, says Belle. Some people are complaining.

Have you got an old towel? asks Margaret.

Belle finds an old rag at the bottom of the prop box, and gives it to Margaret.

Margaret and Katherine look for two vacant seats.

Here Margaret! calls a member of the Geological Society. We've saved a seat for you!

Are there two seats? asks Margaret. 

If we move along one, says the member.

They all move along one.

So Margaret's seat is warm and dry.

Katherine wipes the wet one they were saving for Margaret.

And sits down.

Weren't we supposed to get torches? asks one of the members.

Only in the case of a power cut, says Katherine.

Hush, says Margaret. It's starting.

And it is.

Vello has come onto the stage.

Welcome to our show, all you brave people, says Vello. I see you are well prepared for a tempest and shipwreck. There will be a change in the cast for tonight's performance. Denis Diderot will be playing Candide until he falls overboard, after which his part will be played by a lobster. Once he has swum ashore Denis will take over the part again. This calls for a willing suspension of disbelief on your part. Are you up fot it?

Yes! Yes! call one or two people.

Why a lobster? calls out a member of the Geological Society. Why not another human?

Because the lobster knows the part, says Vello. No more questions, please. There'll be a Q and A later. Enjoy the show, everyone!

He leaves the stage.

Sweezus and Terence come on.

Sweezus is in his plain Anabaptist costume, and Terence is dressed as a florin with an umbrella.

I am a florin, says Terence. And this is James the Anty my generous master. He gave me to Candide when he was down and out, and no one else would help him. 

Terence dances around Sweezus two times, with the open umbrella.

Sweezus makes necessary movements, avoiding the spokes.

Terence stops dancing with his back to the audience so that they can have a good view of the potatoes.

Water has dripped from the umbrella onto the potatoes.

They look like weeping potatoes.

The more knowledgeable of the audience ponder the significance of weeping potatoes on the back of a florin.