ACT THREE

The same empty stage, the folding chair still in its centre.

Enter THE STAGE MANAGER, who unfolds a second chair and places it carefully next to the first, then exits.

An uncomfortably long pause.

Enter THE COMPOSER. He walks around the stage, inspecting it, then stares into the auditorium.

The ComposerEvery audience needs an opera.

THE COMPOSER sits on one of the folding chairs.

More time passes.

The ComposerDidn't they wait for me?

A pause.

The ComposerI have some good tunes.

The Composer(in a low voice, as if to himself) Wagner and Schoenberg inversions… the Mahler problem, solved… a new approach to silence…

THE COMPOSER inspects his fingernails.

The ComposerA touch of Debussy… merged with Stravinsky…

THE COMPOSER stands.

The ComposerHello? Is there anybody out there?

THE COMPOSER sits again, this time on the other folding chair.

The ComposerIt will be a triumph.

THE COMPOSER stands, folds the other chair, and holds it in both hands for a while, then hurls it towards the back left corner of the stage. It lands with a bang.

The ComposerMaybe I should incorporate that sound.

A pause.

The ComposerIt could go nicely with the trumpet and the cymbal.

THE COMPOSER sits.

A long silence.

THE COMPOSER stands, walks to the back left corner and inspects the folding chair lying there, then walks to the front of the stage.

The Composer(addressing the auditorium) I'm famous.

A person in the auditorium claps.

Curtain.