Act II, Scene 7
Soft lights on the scene -- a porch, a den, a
quiet glade, a cemetery, any or all of these
shifting throughout the song.
Four mature singers, perhaps our first couple
and our gay couple alternating, intertwining
their lyrics, verses, simple dance steps,
actions to set up the reflections.
More sweetness, more pleasantness, than sadness
until the melancholy last three lines.
The background capturing each season.
Other dancers can pass in and out of each season
-- friends, relatives, lovers, children,
grandchildren -- until the last stanza.
No caricature, but no senility, as real as
possible.
This need not be a stationary thing for our main
performers either. They can join in the dance,
move from setting to setting, perhaps even
depict the passing of them out of the life of
another.
COMPANY
(singing)
DO YOU
REMEMBER
WHEN YOU AND I
WERE YOUNG,
AND SPRINGTIME
WAS THE SEASON
OF OUR YEARS?
CAN YOU
REMEMBER
THE SPRIGHTLY SONGS
WE'VE SUNG,
THE LOVING,
AND THE LAUGHTER,
AND THE TEARS?
DO YOU
REMEMBER
THE SUMMERS OF
OUR LIVES,
THE SHARING,
AND THE GROWING
IN THE SUN?
CAN YOU
REMEMBER
THE BLOSSOMS AND
THE HIVES
OF BEES, AND
BIRDS, THE SWEETNESS,
AND THE FUN?
DO YOU
REMEMBER
THE COLORED LEAVES
OF FALL,
THE COOLNESS
IN THE DISTANCE
IN THE NIGHT?
CAN YOU
REMEMBER
THIS AUTUMN TIME
AT ALL,
WHEN EARLY
EVENING SHADOWS
CALM THE BRIGHT?
DO YOU
REMEMBER
THE FIRST SHARP WINDS
OF COLD,
HOW WINTER
TURNED OUR FORTUNES
INTO FEARS?
The scene should build to climax with light and
motion, and then return to --
Two couples only, each lighted separately (or
one couple and one survivor) in beautiful
harmony or fine counterpoint -- a quartet
or trio wrapping up all these seasons.
CAN YOU
REMEMBER
NOW THAT WE'VE GROWN
SO OLD,
NOW THAT
OUR DAYS ARE COUNTED,
NOW THAT
OUR TRUE TIME NEARS,
WHEN SPRINGTIME
WAS THE SEASON
OF OUR YEARS?
Music: Lowell Prescott
Lyrics: Leroy Prescott
Copyright © & Ⓟ 1983 Lowell H. Prescott. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission.