Archie’s Empty Chair

Archie and Grace have one chair for their drama. “It can be a bus seat,” Archie says. Grace carries a small cloth bag and waits beside it. Their teacher asks them to show a story without explaining it first.

Archie sits down and tells the audience everything. He says where the bus is going and who is waiting. Grace has nothing to do except stand there. When they stop, she says, “I want a part in the story.”

They start again, this time without explaining the story. Archie settles into the seat and looks through an imaginary window. Grace checks for a bus, then shifts her bag to her other hand. Archie notices the waiting person.

He points to the empty space beside him. Grace tries to sit, but the chair is only wide enough for one. They stop pretending and look at it. Their bus has a problem they had not planned.

“What if you are saving it for someone?” Grace asks. Archie nods. He places his hand on the chair and looks towards the door. Grace steps back. Without speaking, they have changed what the seat means.

Grace pretends her bag is heavy. Archie looks from the bag to the door, then stands and offers the chair. Grace sits. A moment later, she notices him waiting and moves her bag aside so he has room to stand beside her.

They try the scene once more, leaving pauses for the audience to notice each choice. Archie uses fewer words. Grace changes her posture when the bag feels heavy, and again when someone offers help.

Afterwards, the class talks about who might arrive at the door. There are several ideas. Archie does not choose just one. “We never showed that bit,” he says. Their little scene has left another story for the audience to imagine.