Time Flies by Ives: A Lesson to All

A young woman sits behind the wheel of her car trying to let the adrenaline fade away, struggling to control the trembling of her body. At the age of 28, she has given no thought to speeding beyond avoiding a ticket. Moments of her life flash by... she is at the top of the world with a successful job, friends, and a lifestyle that hedonists envied... and today her bubble almost burst. She was almost going too fast to avoid the fatal three car pile up that happened practically in front of her. She has never thought about how short her time could be before.

In David Ives one act play Time Flies, two mayflies live out their day blissfully unaware of how quickly their allotted time passes. They notice nothing beyond the procession of moments that have led them to this moment, when time itself takes a hand and reveals itself in a touch of danger and irony. Like Horace and May, most people feels as if there is an infinite span of time available, until some event reveals evidence of mortality and how quickly time passes in ignorance. Time Flies reminds us of this- time passes regardless of who we are, and time happens whether we are aware of it or not.

This show does not require spectacle or embellishment to get the moral across. It might be easier to understand with minimalist production. Heavy-handed production values might bog the story down in time or place and negatively impact the story; the universal theme of which seems best taken from the standpoint that this could be happening anywhere, anytime, and between anyone. The set design should remain simple. A green loveseat on a green lily pad-shaped rug adorns center stage with a coffee table in front and a set of end tables. Set upstage center on a dais behind the loveseat is a tall, high-back chair. It should give the impression of a throne with an hourglass image boldly displayed at the apex of the back. This is where "time" will reside as an omni-present voyeur, not a part of the set, though a definite presence. To satisfy the needs of the show itself, a remote control and a box of green tissue or "leaves" should sit on the end tables. On the coffee table should sit a bottle with some glasses and a try of unidentifiable snacks.

"Time"/David Attenborough character is seated on the "throne" as the curtain rises. He is dresses in a sleeveless white robe with many watches adorning his bare arms. The hourglass shape should be prominent just over his head. The lights are up and should represent mid-afternoon daylight when the curtain opens. This isn't the start of a show... it is the middle of life. The "Time" character makes an overt check of a watch and makes a gesture to usher in our characters of Horace and May. They enter, dressed simply in solid colors and have mayfly wings and antennae on their heads. It is important that these characters be distinctive in personality, not costume, in order to emphasize the fact that it could be anyone in place of these two mayflies. This will help to continually convey the fact that this message applies to everyone who is anywhere, not just the two on stage before the audience.

Simple lighting schemes will reflect the passage of time during the show, By adding purples, reds and blues, dusk will fall and evening will set in over our duo. All extraneous events, such as the sounds of the frogs and the cuckoo clock, are cued by an obvious time check and gesture from "Time"/Attenbourough. Though Horace and May should never directly see "Time", it should be apparent that the couple can see Attenborough through the television the actors will pantomime is in front of them.

Most action takes place directly on the loveseat, with the exception of a comedic session of sex which ends up on the floor behind the loveseat with antennae bobbing over the back of the loveseat. A red lighting scheme will enhance this, and a voyeuristic Attenborough in safari vest and hat timing this session with a stopwatch will add to the comedic effect. An enthused Attenborough could even pantomime rocking a baby at the end of the session to show the conception of the next generation of mayfly as a result of this little tryst.

As our characters finally come face to face with their impending mortality, they exit stage right, leaving Attenborough/"Time" character standing stage center. He then checks the time once again, in order to herald the coming of another event, and removes his safari gear. Lights come up to daylight once more as "Time" moves slowly towards the audience in front of closing curtains. As the curtains finally close, "Time" examines his watches and lets his gaze travel over the audience. He then smiles gently and exits through the audience humming to himself. This action will reinforce the theme of the play as it relates directly to the audience. The point should easily reach the audience that time is what is happening while they watch the show, and time is a lesson that only experience reveals.

I really enjoyed reading and designing a scheme for this piece of work since time is something that is still not truly understood by psychology or neuroscience. No one truly knows why an hour can pass like a minute or a minute can pass like a day. The lesson learned here is to live each minute to the fullest. Use positive self talk to tell yourself each moment is a moment of joy and wonder. I hope we can all learn this lesson from the mayflies of David Ives.

SOURCE:

Ives, David (2001) Time Flies and Other Short Plays: Time Flies, Degas, C'Est Moi, Dr. Fritz/the Forces of Light, Basel's in Arms, Arabian Nights, Enigma Variations, the Mystery of Twicknam Vicarage
ISBN 080213758X (ISBN13: 9780802137586)