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1978

I was Sitting on my Patio This Guy Appeared I Thought I was Hallucinating

Written by Robert Wilson

Play Details

Context

Artistic Director 
Stuart Burge

 

Dates Performed

Monday 5th June 1978
Jerwood Theatre Downstairs

Play Details

Synopsis

Act I introduces us to a man lounging on his patio, dressed in a white silk shirt and black silk robe, seemingly lost in his own thoughts. Suddenly, a mysterious stranger appears, throwing the man into a surreal and disorienting dialogue that feels like a dream—or perhaps a hallucination. The stranger’s presence shatters the man’s solitude, leading to fragmented conversations filled with cryptic statements, existential questions, and bursts of confusion. The scene is a whirlwind of reality and illusion, blending the mundane with the bizarre as the man grapples with the intrusion into his personal sanctuary.

Act II echoes the first, this time with a woman in the central role, dressed in a white silk blouse and black rayon pants. She too experiences an unexpected encounter with a stranger, triggering a parallel journey through disjointed and surreal dialogue. Her interaction mirrors the man’s, highlighting a cyclical pattern of human experience and the elusive nature of reality. The repetitive and fragmented exchanges emphasise themes of isolation, identity, and the tenuous grip on what is real versus imagined.

The play’s minimalist and ever-shifting set, including elements like a ringing telephone, gray filing books, and an illuminated wine glass, creates an atmosphere of unease and contemplation. The surreal landscape of the patio transforms with each blackout and lighting change, further blurring the boundaries between the real and the unreal.

Director(s)

Robert Wilson

Poster credit

Poster courtesy of V&A Theatre and Performance Archive

Cast & Creative

Cast

Lucinda Childs

Cast

Robert Wilson

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