A Surreal Comedy Sketch for Two Actors About Illusion, Perception and Reality
They stand side by side, facing the audience, gazing toward the back wall.
Him – Nice day, isn’t it?
Her – Bit windy though.
Him – True. Wind probably chased the clouds away…
Pause.
Her – Do you see that window over there?
Him – Which window?
Her – Just behind that tree. Half-hidden by the leaves.
Him – Oh yes, that one… Funny. I’ve never seen a light on there, not even at night.
Her – I wonder who lives there.
Him – Maybe no one. Could be empty.
Her – Maybe… But during the day, I sometimes see shapes through the glass. Through these branches.
Him – Really?
Her – A man and a woman, I think.
Him – Sounds like something out of a film…
Her – Which one?
Him – Rear Window! Don’t tell me you think the guy murdered his wife.
Her – No… but I’ve got a weird feeling about that place.
Him – Don’t you have anything better to do than spy on the neighbours?
She smiles, then stares again, more intently.
Her – Wait a second… That’s bizarre. It looks like…
Him – What?
Her – There’s a terrible wind today, and the leaves aren’t moving at all.
He looks, puzzled.
Him – You’re right… That’s odd.
Her – You’ll laugh, but…
Him – Try me.
Her – The tree… It’s an optical illusion.
Him – An optical illusion?
Her – I swear. Look again.
He leans in, more focused.
Him – You’re right. I’d never noticed it before.
Her – I had a feeling something was off…
Him – But wait… if the tree’s not real, the window can’t be either.
Her – You think?
Him – How could a fake tree hide a real window?
Her – True, that wouldn’t make sense.
Her – If the tree is painted on the wall, then the window must be too.
Him – A tree that doesn’t exist… hiding a window that doesn’t exist either.
Her – That’s why the illusion works so well. We assume that if something is hidden, it must be real. Why hide something that isn’t even there?
Him – Like God. The less you see, the more you believe.
Her – If God went shopping in supermarkets with a fake beard and a shabby coat like Father Christmas at Christmas time, people wouldn’t believe in him for long.
Him – Quite right…
Pause.
Her – What if we’re illusions too?
Him – What?
Her – Maybe whoever’s watching us just sees… tricks of light. Paintings. Photos.
Him – But we’re here, we move, we talk.
Her – So do videos.
Him – We’re in 3D.
Her – So are holograms. Maybe we’re just… three-dimensional illusions.
Him – We should ask the neighbours opposite.
Her – Then again, how much can you trust the neighbours… if they’re illusions too?
Him – I think we’re losing our minds.
Her – You’re right. I’ll close the window.
She hesitates.
Him – Don’t tell me… it’s painted on the wall?
They share an uneasy look.
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A sketch from the collection Blackouts
Link to the collection for free download (PDF)
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