Story of Tragedy

The play opens with a retelling of how the Fail family faced their first tragedy. The soundscape and world, meant to evoke the feeling of a dream, work together to narrate the death of Mr. and Mrs. Fail. In the production, three narrators act as a Greek chorus, bringing the audience through the tale with sound effects punctuating key moments.

Mortimer’s Dream

Mortimer has already mourned two of the Fail sisters, both of whom he was in love with. With the third sister, Gerty, on her deathbed, he falls into a dream-like state, his mind trying to come to terms with the possibility of another loss. After a conversation with Gerty in his dream following unsuccessful attempts to alter the past, he is thrust back into the present.

Retelling History

After John N. and Mortimer have both grown old, Mortimer walks out into the river. He feels at peace and wants to return to the water, which will shepherd him to his lost loves. Before he is washed away, many parakeets cover the banks of the river, and he hears music found earlier in the play in his last moments.

Sound Collage

A sound collage created in the lead-up to Preliminary Designs. Intended to be an audio “sketch” of the show to communicate ideas and capture the emotional arc.