based on a libretto by Chris Willerton
Setting: A large hospital in Syracuse, NY, in November 1910. Dr. Alison James, a surgeon in her late thirties, battles bureaucracy, male prejudice, death and suffering in a personal struggle to find meaning and purpose.
Scene 1- "The Unjust Judge"
President's office, November, 1910. AJ continues running battle
with hospital President over his failure to appoint her Head of
Surgery
Scene 2- "I Will Soar"
AJ visits with Toby, the orderly. Explains her motives for career.
Scene 3- "In My Time"
AJ meets new patient, John Skye, who has a heart condition. Then
President unexpectedly brings in her new competitor, Dr. William
DuPont, a talented surgeon. DuPont is smooth and distant until
Skye rattles him a little with Mark-Twain-style jibes.
Scene 4- "I Have Seen"
s
Skye's room, after Christmas. Months have passed with AJ and DuPont
vying for job. Duet with male Patient and Toby--compassionate
good humor with a dying man. When AJ enters, Patient changes tone
and challenges her motives; is she working at self-aggrandizement
or for patients' good? (Clearly, he is teaching her and is blunt
because he senses that little time remains.)
Scene 5- "Life is Not Yours to Give"
AJ's office, April. Evening. DuPont looks in on AJ, who is still
grasping for a way to save Skye's life. DuPont counsels her to
move on to other patients and leave Skye to a dignified, aristocrat's
death. Being doctor to the rich, says DuPont, is a matter of providing
goods and services, not a personal squabble with death. AJ retorts
that she can't live with such a view. Yet she admits that her
own pugnaciousness isn't saving Skye's life.
Scene 6- "I Will Arise"
Still AJ's office, much later the same night. Weary from her reading,
AJ naps on the couch. She dreams of Skye's dying--sees herself
laboring over the body while Skye's soul stands apart, singing.
In the dream she reels back to the couch as Skye's soul departs
and voices call her to rescue him. She wakes. After a moment's
silence, she is shocked when real voices call--Skye really is
dying. She rushes out.
Scene 7- "Everything"
AJ & President, after Skye has died. She faces up to defeat.
Scene 8- "All Who Suffer"
President's office, a week later. Weary and ready to re-think
her priorities, AJ enters to ask for a leave of absence. She is
shocked to find that President and DuPont have decided to leave,
having been recruited to a fancier hospital. AJ is offered job
as Head of Surgery but is chagrined--she hasn't wanted to win
it this way. Toby urges her to take it because she's a good surgeon.
He reminds her that her opponent is not Death (who wins eventually
over every doctor) or male prejudice (which afflicts every profession),
but suffering. Every one must do in life what one can, and she
must not let ego keep her from her role.
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