Story for performance #876
webcast from Sydney at 07:34PM, 13 Nov 07

Report

200 people aged 15—25 years old,
10 people aged 45 plus, all interacted at different times with:
each other
sound and light show in shed
outdoor fire 1, positioned at entrance to property on roadside verge
outdoor fire 2, positioned outside entrance to shed
outdoor fire 3, positioned in garden
orchard stashes

all 210 registered the gradual warming.

orrvale road—cars, neighbour’s house, neighbour’s exterior gate, lighting, drain and irrigation channel
200 sausage rolls, cheese and kabana
BYO drinks—seemingly unlimited supply of alcohol
1 portaloo and 10 rolls of toilet paper
intermittent intimacy
torch patrol
routine car patrol

then simultaneously these things happened:

3 police cars arrived with a report of stabbing
party of 5 evicted due to evidence of intent to break bottle and stab
male staggered into party covered in slime, unidentified red liquid dribbling from mouth was noted and he was asked to leave
2 females and 1 male down in 3 separate incidents, incoherent and not capable of much, 1 young male lying on verge next to outdoor fire 1, monitored so that he would not fall into drain while awaiting pickup, sms-ing between friends, telephoning parents, taxis, sobbing, polite requests
flames leaping sky high from outdoor fire 1 due to air intake cover being repeatedly kicked open.

afterwards:

individual debriefing at 12.00am
party of 5 evictees broke neighbour’s blue outdoor gate light
cars revved up and down road about 2.00am
everything quiet by 4.00am
copious blood found smeared on back of shed—police informed and designated site a crime scene
arrival of police to take photos at crime scene
after sms-ing around, a guest admitted to blood nose, apologized for smearing as he said he was drunk
police contacted ‘said drunk’
3 recycle bins plus 1 rubbish bin full
dry toast and butter served at 8.00am
group debriefing session 9.30am

still later:
sore eyes persisting.

Adapted for performance by Barbara Campbell from a story by Lyn Patone.