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--- session_1_-_opening_night [2024/08/21 14:41] – [Session 1 - Opening Night] binder
+++ session_1_-_opening_night [2025/05/13 20:15] (current) – binder
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 ====== Session 1 - Opening Night ======
-<div [style=text-align: center]> <b>Previous Session - </b> | **Next Session** -  //[[session_1.5_-_the_madman|Session 1.5 - The Madman ]]//</div>
+<div [style=text-align: center; margin-bottom: -10px; margin-top: 30px]> <b>Previous Session - </b> | **Next Session** -  //[[session_1.5_-_the_madman|Session 1.5 - The Madman ]]//</div>
 <div [style=text-align: center]>  ------------- </div>
- **Report Date -** //Session played on Monday 8th May, 2006//
+ **Report Date -** //Session played on Monday, 8th May, 2006//
- **Audio Recording -** **[[The Monday Night Players Present...Tatters of the King Session 1 - Opening Night]]** //(Note: This recording was made in 2006 and as such has some quality issues.)//
+ **Audio Recording -** // TBC (Note: This recording was made in 2006 and as such has some quality issues.)//
 ===== Wednesday, October 17th 1928 =====
-Our story begins on a dark and chilly evening, with [[Doctor Frederick Bartlett]] - a well-respected psychologist and researcher for the [[Tavistock Clinic]] to attend the premiere of [[Carcosa, or The Queen and the Stranger]]. Invited by [[Michael Gillen]], a former patient and close acquaintance, of the doctor, this [[https://unboundbook.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/01-Carcosa-Playbill.pdf|production]]  is to be held at the [[the_scala_theater|Scala Theatre]] on Charlotte Street, London.
+Our story begins on a dark and chilly evening, with [[Doctor Frederick Bartlett]], a well-respected psychologist and researcher for the [[Tavistock Clinic]] attending the premiere of [[Carcosa, or The Queen and the Stranger]]. Invited to the play by [[The Group#Michael Gillen]], a former patient and close acquaintance of the doctor, this [[https://unboundbook.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/01-Carcosa-Playbill.pdf|production]]  is to be held at the [[the_scala_theater|Scala Theatre]] on Charlotte Street, London.
-This invitation is not simply a friendly gift, however, rather it is under this pretense that the Doctor is being asked to make an informal assessment of the mental state of the play's author, [[Talbot Estus]], Gillen’s companion and housemate. While happy to assist his friend, Bartlett is reluctant to attend such a likely self-absorbed and dreary production alone, and offers his second ticket to his friend [[Captain George Withers]], a career soldier, and veteran of the Great War.
+This invitation is not just a gift, but rather an attempt by Gillian to have the good doctor make an informal assessment of the mental state of the play's author, [[Talbot Estus]], Michael’s companion and housemate. While happy to assist his old patient, Bartlett is somewhat reluctant to attend what he believes will be a dreary production alone, and so has offered a second ticket to his close friend [[Captain George Withers]], a career soldier and veteran of the Great War.
-Performed by [[The Group]], a [[https://unboundbook.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/02-Carcosa-Cast-List.pdf|collective of amateur players]] who - for the most part - possess limited acting ability, the doctor and his guest had little expectation of the night. {{ :scala-stage.jpg?direct&400|}}As luck would have it, however, while sitting in the theater's bar before the performance, the two encounter [[Andrew Saunders]]. Saunders, a museum curator with a special interest in mythology, is an acquaintance and also a former patient of Doctor Bartlett (the two becoming friendly after Saunders sort treatment as the result of a very strange experience on a train a year or so prior). It turns out that Saunders' sister ([[Hannah Keith]]) is starring in the play, and had provided him with tickets. As with Bartlett, Saunders was also accompanied by a friend - [[Nathaniel Browne]] - an author and budding occultist with whom he shared the aforementioned train journey. Nathaniel, for his part, is very enthusiastic about seeing this new play by the noted novelist, Talbot Estus.
+Performed by [[The Group]], a [[https://unboundbook.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/02-Carcosa-Cast-List.pdf|collective of amateur players]] who - for the most part - possess limited acting ability, the doctor and his guest had little expectation of the night. {{ :scala-stage.jpg?direct&400|}}As luck would have it, however, while sitting in the theater's bar before the performance, the two encounter [[Andrew Saunders]]. Saunders, a museum curator with a special interest in mythology, is an acquaintance and also a former patient of Doctor Bartlett (the two becoming friendly after Saunders sort treatment as the result of a very strange experience on a train a year or so prior). It turns out that Saunders' sister ([[The Group#Hannah Keith]]) is starring in the play, and had provided him with tickets. As with Bartlett, Saunders was also accompanied by a friend - [[Nathaniel Browne]] - an author and budding occultist with whom he shared the aforementioned train journey. Nathaniel, for his part, is very enthusiastic about seeing this new play by the noted novelist, Talbot Estus.
 ====The Performance ====
-Watching the [[Carcosa, or The Queen and the Stranger]], the Investigators observe that the audience is reacting strangely to the performance on the stage and even they have wildly [[https://unboundbook.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/03-Three-Impressions-of-Carcosa-or-the-Queen-and-the-Stranger.pdf|different memories of what plays out on stage]]. Gasps of horror, surprise and even laughter are expressed at points in the performance that seem wholly inappropriate.
+Watching the [[Carcosa, or The Queen and the Stranger]], the Investigators observe that the audience is reacting strangely to the performance on the stage, and even they have wildly [[https://unboundbook.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/03-Three-Impressions-of-Carcosa-or-the-Queen-and-the-Stranger.pdf|different memories of what plays out on stage]]. Gasps of horror, surprise and even laughter are expressed at points in the performance that seem wholly inappropriate.
-During the intermission between the two acts the new companions talk:
+During the intermission between the two acts, the new companions talk of their experiences:
   * [[Nathaniel Browne|Nathaniel]] reveals that the play is affecting him deeply, especially the appearance of [[The Yellow Sign]].
   * Similarly, [[Andrew Saunders|Andrew]] states that he is also being affected by the performance, albeit seemingly not quite to the same extent as his friend.
   * [[Captain George Withers|Captain Withers]], on the other hand,  seems singularly unimpressed with the whole thing.
-  * [[Doctor Frederick Bartlett|Doctor Bartlett]], however, has more interested in the audience's reaction to the play than the production itself, his clinical instincts telling him that something 'just not right' seems to be unfolding before his eyes, but is unable to tell what or why.
+  * [[Doctor Frederick Bartlett|Doctor Bartlett]], however, is more interested in the audience's reaction to the play than the production itself. His clinical instincts telling him that something 'just not right' seems to be unfolding before his eyes, but he is unable to tell exactly what or why.
-While they are discussing the play, the group overhears a couple talking heatedly about the performance, with the woman insisting she saw things which the husband disputes were there at all. Nathaniel is also puzzled that he saw two people get up and leave in the middle of the performance whereas the others saw no such thing. One thing is for certain, however, that many of the patrons do not return for the second act.
+{{ :queen_cassilda_and_the_stranger.jpg?direct&300|}}While they are discussing the play, the group overhears a couple talking heatedly about the performance, with the woman insisting she saw things that the husband disputes were there at all. Nathaniel is also puzzled that he saw two people get up and leave in the middle of the performance, whereas the others saw no such thing. One thing is for certain, many of the patrons do not return for the second act.
-The investigators watch the second act during which the emotions of the crowd appear to become more intense, culminating in a near riot at the end of the play. Some people cry out and others scream. Nathaniel is left crying uncontrollably, while the man on his left punches his wife and grabs Nathaniel. Fortunately Captain Withers, mystified rather than affected by the performance and rendered furious by the assault on the lady, remains clear-headed enough to save Browne from his assailant. Someone sets off the fire alarm and there is a stampede toward the exits before the ushers restore order.
+The investigators watch the second act during which the emotions of the crowd appear to become more intense, culminating in a near riot at the end of the play. Some people cry out while others scream. Nathaniel is left crying uncontrollably, while the man on his left punches his wife and grabs Nathaniel. Fortunately, Captain Withers, more mystified than affected by the performance and rendered furious by the assault on the lady, remains clear-headed enough to save Browne from his assailant. Someone sets off the fire alarm, and there is a stampede toward the exits before the ushers restore order.
 Partly to avoid the police, who have arrived in the wake of the riot, the four companions go to the after-play reception and meet with the cast, who are largely unaware of any untoward incident. Browne meets [[Talbot Estus]] and discusses the play, which has inspired him, and its meaning with great fervour.
-Saunders locates his sister, [[Hannah Keith]] and the two talk. Hannah reveals that she has been dreaming of [[Carcosa]] and seems to find the play most disturbing.  In Andrew's attempt to undestand more what is plaguing his sister, Hannah lets slip that others, such as the young [[Jean Hewart]] have had similar thoughts about the production.
+  * Saunders locates his sister, [[The Group#Hannah Keith]] and the two talk. Hannah reveals that she has been dreaming of [[Carcosa]] and seems to find the play most disturbing.  In Andrew's attempt to understand more what is plaguing his sister, Hannah lets slip that others, such as the young [[The Group#Jean Hewart]], have had similar thoughts about the production.
+  * [[The Group#Michael Gillen]] tells Doctor Bartlett that Talbot Estus seems to have a fear of the stars, as well as a mania for the [[Carcosa, or The Queen and the Stranger|play]], which he is attempting to novelise.
-[[Michael Gillen]] tells Doctor Bartlett that Talbot Estus seems to have a fear of the stars, as well as a mania for the [[Carcosa, or The Queen and the Stranger|play]], which he is attempting to novelise.
+  * The reception breaks up soon after, with Estus having a heated exchange with the [[the_scala_theater|Scala Theatre's]] manager. It seems that after a single night of issues and disturbances, the owners are pulling the plug on the production.
-The reception breaks up soon after, with Estus having a heated exchange with the [[the_scala_theater|Scala Theatre's]] manager. It seems that after the night issues and disturbances the owners are pulling the plug on the production.
-As the group departs the theatre, arrangements are made by the new acquaintances to meet for lunch that coming weekend.
+As the group departs the theatre, arrangements are made by the new acquaintances to meet for lunch over the coming weekend.
 ===== October 18th & 19th 1928 =====
-After such an extraordinary and inauspicious evening, the characters attempt to return to their normal lives. However, the play and its connection to stranger, more singular things, seem to have seeped deep into our Investigator's consciousnesses.
+After such an extraordinary and inauspicious evening, the characters attempt to return to their normal lives. However, the play and its connection to stranger, more singular things, seem to have seeped deep into our Investigators' consciousnesses.
-  * [[Nathaniel Browne]] dreams several times of playing in a discordant orchestra, with a picture of [[the Yellow Sign]] instead of music. Researching the play’s origins he discovers the works of [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_W._Chambers|Robert W Chambers]] and that multiple plays of the same name appear to have existed in the past. He starts to write stories featuring elements from the play.
+  * [[Nathaniel Browne]] dreams several times of playing in a discordant orchestra, with a picture of [[the Yellow Sign]] instead of music. Researching the play’s origins, he discovers the works of [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_W._Chambers|Robert W Chambers]] and that multiple plays of the same name appear to have existed in the past. He starts to write stories featuring elements from the play.
-  * [[Andrew Saunders]] dreams several times of confronting an armed doppelganger of himself in a [[Carcosa|Carcosan]] Palace, and arranges to see his sister after the lunch with his friends.
+  * [[Andrew Saunders]] dreams several times of confronting an armed doppelganger of himself in a [[Carcosa|Carcosan]] Palace, and arranges to see his sister after lunch with his friends.
   * [[Captain George Withers]] thinks little of the play until he encounters a landscape of [[Carcosa]] during a regimental function at a gallery.
-  * [[Doctor Frederick Bartlett]] also thinks little of it, but does notice [[the Yellow Sign]] in a piece of London graffiti that says //“The King will change London”//. He also discusses [[Talbot Estus]] with [[Michael Gillen]], but states there’s little he can do if Estus is unwilling to see him.
+  * [[Doctor Frederick Bartlett]] also thinks little of it, but does notice [[the Yellow Sign]] in a piece of London graffiti that says //“The King will change London”//. He also discusses [[Talbot Estus]] with [[The Group#Michael Gillen]], but states there’s little he can do if Estus is unwilling to see him.
 ===== Saturday, October 20th 1928 =====
-The four new friends meet for lunch at Overton’s Oyster House, with the strange play quickly becoming the focus of the group's discussions (much to [[Captain George Withers|George Withers]]' chagrin). [[Nathaniel Browne]], given a copy of the play's script by [[Talbot Estus]], has discovered that the play as performed does not match the text Estus wrote. [[Andrew Saunders]] agrees to mention this to his sister, [[Hannah Keith|Hannah]].
+The four new friends meet for lunch at Overton’s Oyster House, with the strange play quickly becoming the focus of the group's discussions (much to [[Captain George Withers|George Withers]]' chagrin). [[Nathaniel Browne]], given a copy of the play's script by [[Talbot Estus]], has discovered that the play as performed does not match the text Estus wrote. [[Andrew Saunders]] agrees to mention this to his sister, [[The Group#Hannah Keith|Hannah]].
-Later that day, over tea, Saunders discovers that both his sister and her husband scripts are identical to that in Browne's possession, and they reiterate their claim to have 'without a doubt' performed the play as it had been written.
+Later that day, over tea, Saunders discovers that both his sister and her husband's scripts are identical to that in Browne's possession, and they reiterate their claim to have 'without a doubt' performed the play as it had been written.
-Meanwhile, [[Doctor Frederick Bartlett|Dr Bartlett]] receives an intriguing letter from an asylum superindendent in Herefordshire…
+Meanwhile, [[Doctor Frederick Bartlett|Dr Bartlett]] receives an intriguing letter from an asylum superintendent in Herefordshire…
-**//Continue to [[Session 1.5 - The Madman]]//**
+<div [style=text-align: center]>  ------------- </div>
+<div [style=text-align: center]> <b>Return to  -</b> | **Continue to** -  //[[session_1.5_-_the_madman|The Madman ]]//</div>