A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor

Abbott and Othello
Saturday, October 2, 1999
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(GK: Garrison Keillor, SS: Sue Scott, TK: Tom Keith, TR: Tim Russell, RD: Rich Dworsky)

Coming up later on many of these public radio stations, a new production of "Abbott and Othello" - (MOUTH TRUMPETS)

TR: Who is in yon tower, my Queen?

SS: Who is not in yon tower, m'lord.
Who is guarding the moat.
What is in yon tower,
And I Know Not is at the catapult.

TR: You Know Not who is in yon tower?

SS: What is in yon tower.
I Know Not is at the catapult.

TR: And what sayeth thou his name to be?

SS: Who?

TR: The man in yon tower.

SS: What.

TR: The tower guard.

SS: What is in yon tower.

GK: Abbott and Othello ... a play about the power of language to drive men mad.

TR: Why dost thou seek to drive me from my senses?
What say'st thou? I know not!

SS: Nay, my lord, I know not is at the catapult.
What is in yon tower.

TR: I ask you one last time, my queen: what is the name of the man at the catapult?

SS: No, I Know Not, m'lord. What is in yon tower?

TR: Then who is at the moat?

SS: Exactly right, m'lord. (TR CRY OF RAGE, SS STRANGLING SOUND)

GK: Abbott and Othello, coming up later on many of these stations. Not recommended for children under ten. (MOUTH TRUMPETS)

(idea contributed by Dan Fiorella)