GODDARD COLLEGE · PLAINFIELD, VERMONT · JULY 1988
TMWSIY · A SENIOR THESIS · GAMEHENDGE
// THE WORLD
Gamehendge is a land that exists out of space and time. Vast green forests. A great mountain rising at the center, where the prophet Icculus dwells at the peak. It was an Edenic world — a peaceful race called the Lizards living in harmony, guided by a sacred text called the Helping Friendly Book, which allowed them to surrender to the flow of existence without complication or corruption.
Then Wilson arrived. A traveler from outside, he earned their trust, stole the Book, declared himself King of Prussia, and built his city in the heart of their world. He locked the Helping Friendly Book in the highest tower of his castle. He enslaved the Lizards. The paradise became a kingdom.
This is the world Colonel Forbin discovers when he steps through a mysterious door on one of his daily walks with his dog McGrupp. A lonely retired officer from Long Island, carrying a lifetime of regret, walks into someone else's war.
// ICCULUS — THE CENTRAL WARNING
"All knowledge seeming innocent and pure becomes a deadly weapon in the hands of avarice and greed."
// WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS
The rebellion succeeds. The Famous Mockingbird retrieves the Helping Friendly Book from Wilson's tower. Errand Woolfe — the revolution's leader, motivated by his son's execution — receives the Book. And immediately seizes it, kills Wilson with the Sloth, and declares himself the new King of Prussia.
One tyrant replaced by another. Forbin imprisoned. The Lizards no freer than before. Icculus was right. The warning was the whole story.
// THE CHARACTERS
Colonel Forbin
The Protagonist
A retired military officer from Long Island, living a lonely life of regret. He discovers a mysterious door on one of his walks with McGrupp and steps through it into Gamehendge. He tries to be a hero. He fails. He ends imprisoned.
McGrupp
The Faithful
Forbin's dog. Watchful. Present for every walk that led to the door.
Wilson
The Tyrant
A traveler from outside Gamehendge who arrived and gained the Lizards' trust through deception. Stole the Helping Friendly Book, declared himself King of Prussia, enslaved a peaceful people. The obvious villain.
Errand Woolfe
The Revolution
Leader of the rebellion. His son Roger was executed by Wilson at fourteen on suspicion of treason. When the Famous Mockingbird returns the book, Errand seizes it, kills Wilson with the Sloth, and declares himself the new king. One tyrant replaced by another.
Tela
The Ambiguous
A rebel who rides a multibeast. Forbin falls for her immediately. She was sending intelligence to Wilson using Spotted Stripers — messenger birds. Whether by choice or coercion is never resolved. Rutherford kills her for it.
Rutherford the Brave
The Knight
An aging knight in gnarly armor, formerly of Wilson's army, now secretly working against him. Dim-witted but noble. He kills Tela and her bodyguard the Unit Monster. The revolution's blunt instrument.
Icculus
The Prophet
The Supreme God of the Sky, living atop the sacred mountain. He gave the Helping Friendly Book to the Lizards thousands of years ago. His warning never changes: all knowledge seeming innocent and pure becomes a deadly weapon in the hands of avarice and greed.
The Famous Mockingbird
Divine Instrument
Sent by Icculus to retrieve the Helping Friendly Book from Wilson's tower. The climax of the story. Hope, made into a bird.
The AC/DC Bag
The Machine
A mechanical hangman. Wilson's instrument of execution. Kills Mr. Palmer — Wilson's own accountant — in the town square for embezzling funds to support the rebellion.
// THE SONGS — IN ORDER
Wilson
The tyrant is introduced. The crowd's chant becomes a ritual.
The Lizards
The original world — the Helping Friendly Book, the peaceful life, the theft that ended it.
Tela
The rebel arrives. Forbin falls. The ambiguity begins.
AC/DC Bag
Palmer is executed in the square. The machine does Wilson's killing.
Colonel Forbin's Ascent
The climb up the sacred mountain. Every note is a step.
Icculus
The prophet speaks. The warning is delivered.
Fly Famous Mockingbird
The bird is sent. The book will be returned.
The Sloth
Errand's weapon. Wilson dies. The revolution completes — and immediately fails.
Possum
The aftermath. Forbin imprisoned. The cycle unbroken. Philosophical reflection on what just happened.
// PERFORMED IN FULL
Nectar's — Burlington, VT
First full performance. The thesis made live.
Olympia, WA
Nearly complete.
Crest Theatre — Sacramento, CA
Considered the purest live performance.
West Virginia
Mansfield, MA
Madison Square Garden
First complete cycle in 29 years. Live actors, dancers, puppets, Broadway-scale production. Narrator Annie Golden delivered the 1988 narration verbatim.
TMWSIY · 1988