The Monologue of Mendeleev
Introductory monologue to the theatrical action
"Magic of the Elements"
conceived, composed and interpreted by Ignazio
Salvatore Basile
The lights are on slowly on the scene. The
scientist Mendeleev is sitting at a desk and is immersed in the deepest
reflections, puffing and muttering something, in an incomprehensible Russian
Language. Initially he does not notice the lights and the audience in the hall.
In the background you can hear the notes of a Borodin symphony (or of his work
"Prince Igor") in the background.
At a certain point, noticing the audience, he
will have a start and will stand up, approaching the proscenium. The notes of
the music will fade slowly, slowly ...
Mendeleèv (muttering while moving the mosaic
tiles in front of him)
Mo je tack, niet! N’aviernotack…Niet …..…(pausa)
Da..da!!!!Kak Vaussnei!!!!!!!(little surprise break)
Oooh!!I beg
your pardon! (the scientist realizes the
presence of the public in the hall. He
stands up and goes to the proscenium holding
some tiles in his hands)I did not realize your presence here …..’you
Know?..... I was overthought…… .…...trying to remember a dream about some empty
spaces in my periodic table…something like musical scales………or like a simphony…..( he still indulges, as in a trance, to
reflect and dream for a long moment, then he will end up shaking himself
definitively) Oh, I apologize once again
for my persistent carelessness!
It’s time to
introduce myself now: my name is Dmitri Ivànovic Mendelèev, I come from Russia and I am a chemist……. (he will look around thoughtfully)
By the way! If someone has ever told you that Chemistry is a
boring subject he must have been somebody who has never understood what
Chemistry is related with!
That’s for sure: all the things of the known
world, are related with it and chemistry is perfect!! …..Despite of those empty spaces that I am looking for………How could I fill them?
I must reasonably believe that they are more than one……. Actually it does not change the core of the matter! Pay me your attention, please (
he turns to
the blackboard and reads, almost spelling, with a long wand):
“The
Periodic Law subordinates to it self his interior dynamics and it aims to go in to the philosophical principle wich controls the
mysterious nature of the elements!”
It sounds quite brilliant, does n’t it? But, what does
it mean? (he will observe a short pause
for reflection and after he’ll have a sudden
enthusiasm) Good Heavens!!! Why did n’t
I reach it before? But now I surely got it!!!
It means that if my law says that one element exists,
although nobody has never seen it, this element must exist! According to my
figures and the predictions governed by my Periodic Table there must be an element that has an
atomic weight 72 and a density 5.5!
But, wich one,
is it ? (he Sits Sighing for fatigue and sudden disappointment)
I am too tired now! I am going to take a little rest! I’ll see
you later
(Mendelèèv
goes out; the demonstration of the magic of the
elements begins.)
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