Norton Street Script

By E.J. Gold

Instant (PDF) download $(19.95)

Norton Street, a play by E.J. Gold, is a thought-provoking play that takes the audience on a journey beginning in the Magic Theater. The characters Bornless and Mike find themselves in this theater, which is not really a theater, but rather a place where the giant plasma widescreen shows you a video of your most recent lifetime. Bornless is seeing his lifetime projected on the screen, and he reviews it to note any changes he would like to make next time through the game.

As the play progresses, Bornless and Mike decide to leave the Magic Theater and head to Norton Street. Bornless built the Norton Street gaming level himself, and he has been working on it for over seven billion billion years. However, he still feels that the "game", which some identify as life on planet Earth, is not finished somehow.

The play explores deep philosophical themes, such as the nature of reality, the illusion of life, and the role of free will in shaping our existence. In offering a unique perspective on the intrinsic nature of existence, it challenges the audience to think deeply about their own lives and the choices they make. The play's unique blend of humor, drama, and existential questions keeps the audience engaged and entertained.

The characters in the play are well-developed, and their interactions are both humorous and poignant. Bornless and Mike's banter is witty and amusing, and their relationship is both complex and endearing. The play's dialogue is sharp and thought-provoking, and the script is full of memorable lines that leave a lasting impression with the audience long after the play has ended.

Briefing Doc

Main Themes:

Nature of Reality: The play delves into the illusory nature of reality, positing that the universe is a self-created construct of the "Bornless One," a character representing ultimate consciousness.

Self-Awareness: The Bornless One struggles with the realization of their own godhood and the cyclical nature of existence, experiencing panic, fear, and a desire for escape.

The Waking State: Norton Street, a seemingly ordinary apartment, represents the highest level of reality, a place of stark awareness and confrontation with the void.

Escape through Dreams: The play explores how the Bornless One seeks refuge in lower realities, like Earth, experiencing life and death cycles as a means of distraction from the ultimate truth.

Companionship and Isolation: While companion characters attempt to guide and comfort the Bornless One, the play ultimately highlights the inherent isolation of ultimate consciousness.

Important Ideas/Facts:

Everything is an Illusion: The play repeatedly emphasizes the idea that all phenomena, including the self, are ultimately illusory constructs within the mind of the Bornless One.

"I know I Bluelined Norton Street into as if-ness, and I know that all phenomena is illusion, including me."

Norton Street as the Ultimate Reality: Norton Street, with its seemingly mundane objects, represents the highest level of existence - a place of heightened awareness where the Bornless One confronts the void.

"This is as high as the elevator goes."

Objects as Universes: The objects within Norton Street, like teddy bears, wigs, and computers, are symbolic representations of entire universes, each containing its own complexities and life forms.

"It's a universe. Everything in this place is a universe all of its own."

Desire for Escape and Return: The Bornless One repeatedly seeks escape from Norton Street through "blackouts" that plunge them into lower realities, only to return each time, perpetuating the cycle.

"Every time I die I end up here. Why does it always have to be my trip?"

The Body as a Source of Fear: The Bornless One experiences bodily sensations as a source of fear and discomfort, highlighting the disconnect between their true nature and the limitations of a physical form.

"I feel like everything is expanding and contracting at one and the same time...Everything is crumbling, disintegrating all around me."

Role of Companion Characters: Characters like Mike, Crystal, and Audrey offer guidance and companionship, but their existence ultimately reinforces the Bornless One's role as the ultimate creator and experiencer.

"You created it. You ordered us and everything and everyone else into being to cool yourself out."

Quotes:

"The wide bubble of an imaginary hologram is a self-illuminated imaginary character that hallucinates the cosmos at nine feet." - This quote captures the core concept of the play - reality as a self-created hallucination.

"This is Zen - nothing happens next." - This line highlights the stillness and cyclical nature of existence within Norton Street.

"Reality is whatever you bump into." - This quote points to the subjective nature of reality and its dependence on individual perception.

"Out of myself the world was made." - This emphasizes the solipsistic nature of the play's universe, with the Bornless One as the sole creator.

"It's all done with mirrors." - This line reinforces the play's central theme of illusion and the deceptive nature of appearances.

Overall Impression:

"Norton Street" is a thought-provoking and often humorous exploration of consciousness, reality, and the human condition. It uses surreal imagery and engaging dialogue to grapple with profound philosophical questions. The play's cyclical structure and the Bornless One's persistent struggle to escape their own creation offer a compelling metaphor for the human search for meaning and liberation.

Note:

Purchase price includes royalty-free performance rights for amateur productions. For professional theatrical productions please contact the publisher for the royalty payment schedule.

By the way:

There is an amazing 30 episode machinima animation available. Check out the Norton Str33t Minisodes here. Produced by the author (and game designer) E.J. Gold in the GODD engine. A classic retro machinima sure to please.