Forum / "Imagine the poem written with a pistol at your head..."

• 
  David Ackley

  Jul 01, 02:19pm

  So says Mandlelstam with his first line in the play "Tiger Milk," drawn somewhat from his life and works, which I began writing in March, 2010 and posting scene by scene on Fictionaut under the title "In the Jaws of Kronos." Thought by many to be the best of the 20th century Russian poets, in 1934 Osip Mandelstam wrote a poem vilifying Joseph Stalin and read it before a small group of friends. Shortly thereafter he was imprisoned, then released into exile and subsequently, in 1938, re-arrested, meeting his demise of unknown causes in a Gulag camp in December of that year. Though these events and others in the play are historically true, it is, barring a few quotes from his own and another's poetry, entirely an imaginative creation, a work of art, not history.

  The idea in posting it on Fictionaut as a Work in Progress was a way of committing to finishing--before witnesses, in effect--and, since I had no experience with playwriting, a way of recruiting collaborators whose hoped-for comments might either encourage continuing or warn me off before I hurt myself. The former thankfully having prevailed, I finished it ( 3 acts and some 13 thousand words) and the complete version is now available in Prick of the Spindle's Kindle edition, at Amazon.

  A number of fellow Fictionauts read along as the scenes were published here, and for that fact alone and their very helpful comments I wanted to thank Marcus Speh, Shelagh Power-Chopra, Larry Strattner, Kathy
  Fish, James Lloyd Davis, and most particularly Eamon Byrnes who not only read and commented on each scene, but wrote me a fine summary critique when I asked him for final thoughts on the completed version.

  And of course all thanks to Cythia Reeser, both for publishing it in her fine magazine, and for her thorough and constructive editorial eye in bringing it to print.

• 
  David Ackley

  Jul 01, 02:24pm

  And Sam Rasnake. Thanks.

• 
  Shelagh Power-Chopra

  Jul 01, 02:49pm

  I'm in the throes of reading this again (in its entirety this time, yes, David, I really am:)). Congrats on the publication. It's a very memorable play with some truly original voices. David's always been brilliant with dialogue so it only makes sense that plays should be his forte.

• 
  James Lloyd Davis

  Jul 01, 03:38pm

  Wonderful news, David, and kudos'n'such for following through.

  A powerful premise and an artful execution.

  In an age of revisionist history, the romantic view of as windblown Che Guevara supplants the image of the Gulags and the cheapness of life under Stalin... and how many others of his kind in a movement that ostensibly sought economic and social equality for all... your play reminds us of the facts in delicious metaphor.

  Congratulations and every success. Please, keep us informed if this goes into production.

• 
  Jane Hammons

  Jul 01, 06:49pm

  Congratulations, David. I admire your courage in posting it in progress here--and thanks also for the description of the process, something we seldom know or see in the final product.

• 
  Sam Rasnake

  Jul 01, 09:10pm

  That's great, David. Wonderful. Good for you.

• 
  Joani Reese

  Jul 02, 02:50am

  Sorry I missed it here, David, but congratulations on its publication. Good for you.

• 
  Ann Bogle

  Jul 02, 04:25am

  I lack a Kindle (or Nook) and even experience in using one, but I visited the Amazon page. Very hearty congratulations, David!

• 
  David Ackley

  Jul 02, 01:16pm

  Thanks, all, for the generous thoughts.
  Ann, me too, but I expect the play will be returning to its original haunts here, one of these days after its run at Prick of the Spindle.

• 
  Ann Bogle

  Jul 02, 06:07pm

  Yes! Drama is our greatest oft-neglected literary art form, so it is especially thrilling that Prick of the Spindle and Cynthia Reeser feature your play in the edition.

• 
  Susan Tepper

  Jul 02, 09:08pm

  David, Congratulations!!!!!!!!!! You have taken on a word form that totally intimidates me. I have great respect for the play and playwright, and what a terrific venue is Prick of the Spindle!!!!!!!

• 
  Julie Innis

  Jul 03, 01:49am

  Kudos David! As I too am without e-reader device, I eagerly await its return to Fnaut, or better yet, its debut on stage.

• 
  Gloria Mindock

  Jul 03, 03:35pm

  David, this is wonderful! Congratulations. Great publication! Cynthia is great! I will go read your play. How exciting!

• 
  David Ackley

  Jul 03, 05:57pm

  Julie-thanks for the interest. From your lips to a producer's ear.

  Gloria- Thanks so much, delighted you'll read it and to you, Susan, and Ann, thanks for giving Cynthia Reeser and Prick of the Spindle the credit so richly deserved.

• 
  David Ackley

  Jul 06, 11:28pm

  That's Cynthia Reeser and Eamon Byrne, to correct two typos and show why I can always use a good editor.

• You must log in to reply to this thread.