Invocation

[PROLOGUS, COMPANY]
Gods of the theater, smile on us
You who sit up there stern in judgment, smile on us
You who look down on actors (And who doesn't?)
Bless our little company and smile on us
Think not about deep concerns
Think not about dark dilemmas
We offer you rites and revels
Smile on us for a while

Gods of the theater, smile on us
You who sit up there stern in judgment, smile on us
Think not about deep concerns
Think not about dark dilemmas
We offer you rites and revels
Bless our play and smile

Forget war, forget woe
Forget matters weighty and great
Allow matters weighty to wait
For a while
For this moment, this brief time
Frown on reason, smile on rhyme

Forget pomp, forget show
Forget laurels, helmets and crowns
Receive lovers, liars and clowns
For a while
For this moment, this brief span
Celebrate the state of man

Forget war, forget woe
Forget greed and vengeance and sin
And let mime and mockery in
For a while

Gods of the theater, smile on us
Gods of the theater, bless our efforts, smile on us
We offer you song and dance
We offer you rites and revels
Grace and beauty
Joy and laughter
Sly disguises
Wild confusion
Happy endings

If we please you, bless our play
Smile our way
Smile this moment, then at length
Go, and with a new-found strength:

Resume war, resume woe
Resume matters weighty and great
Resume man's impossible state
But now smile

For this moment
This brief stay
Bless these players
Bless this play!

(spoken)
The play begins.