Monologue Exert, “Curtains Of Silence” by Bethany Osborne 2024

Annie: 17 year old female, older sibling to Justin (15) with parents Robert (57) and Vivian (55). In her second last year of high school, Annie tells the audience, and herself, about her upcoming exams, broken bones and the sudden illness of her younger brother. More than anything Annie wants to have the normal high school experience, as well as a normal life.

Sitting on a single bed in a clinically clean dated room, facing the audience surrounded by exam papers pens and notebook, arm in a cast and sling. The actors emersed in the study materials, as the music fades out, looks up to acknowledge the crowd.

Doing new things makes me a little sick to the stomach.

Going new places, seeing new things while I can understand and be excited about those things sure, I also feel like I could possibly throw up in the street just thinking about the unknown. What do I feel these feelings for now? A new chapter of my life I guess, or new way of being for the mean time.

You see, my brother is sick. Like rushed to a hospital in the big city sick. The big scary c word sick, or at least that’s what they think so far. They are doing the tests as we speak, while I hide out in the hospital motel, or weird overnight careers room, I’m not to sure.

Mum and dad have been here for a few days, dad left work and they drove up the afternoon they got the call. Dad about as organized as I am, his stuff is in a singular pile on top of his luggage back in the motel. Mums staying here is a little bit neater, but she hasn’t really spent a lot of time in this room. I think she’s sleeping in my brother’s bedside chair. He’s ok, it’s not ‘a bad kind of cancer’ we have been told, but they still aren’t completely sure what it is. But its treatable, and that s what’s important. The doctors are doing testing and putting a plan in place, that we will eventually find out.

I need to study for my exams, they are in a week and with this arm its going to be even hard to smash out a perfectly sensible essay with legible handwriting, there are still quotes to memorise and practise paper to complete before that can happen mind you. There may even be some play I needed to read and highlight, but time has been so slow and fast at the same time be honest, I’m not sure what I’m meant to do…

Justin, my brother has been He’s been sick for a few weeks now, We thought it was just a chest infection. We were wrong. I wonder what he is feeling during all this, I mean we aren’t the super close siblings that the movies, but I wouldn’t describe us as distant, just different people. It’s weird being like this, watching him jut lay there. I feel like I should be more evolved but really there’s not a lot I can do.

Back home, when I went to get my arm checked out, I sat in the waiting room and watched the families around me with little kids, partners and parents all quietly bonding or trying to keep the little ones calm. You see, the day my family was called to Sydney, I had a dance competition that night, and while onstage performing I fell, felt a stab of pain in my arm the got up and finished the dance of course. Once I got back to the dressing room, I couldn’t lift any of my stuff. That’s when I was pretty sure I’d done something important.

I’ve broken my arm bones before, so I’m aware of what it feels like, and Boy did this hurt. I was staying with my aunt for that night, and we talked about the pain in my arm, which she reckoned was sprained and since there was so much else going on that evening, I figured it was the least of my family’s problems. Or at least I tried to be.

Studio Tour and Reflections, 2024, Video work

Curtains Of Silence, 2024, Monologue Exert Written by Bethany Osborne

Study Of Self, 2024, Acrylic on canvas board

Nighttime Driving, 2024, Acrylic on canvas board

Untitled, 2024, Collage and illustration

Untitled Puppets, 2024, Puppets made from recycled cardboard, hot glue and Masking tape

Artist Statement

As a multidisciplinary artist I have been able to work on a number of works, including two paintings, some exploratory puppet bases and an excerpt from a monologue in development.
The first painting in a self portrait, a study based on an image I took myself after attending a local Pride event. I have had a complicated relationship with painting so took the time experiment and work on growth and self confidence I have experienced over the year. The second painting was originally inspired by a 1922 painting Moonlit Walk by William Henry Dethlef, and involved into representing a part of my daily life, driving home late at night from my night shift job. The cardboard puppet shells are a starting point for a full body kangaroo puppet that I aim to develop over the next few months. I am inspired by the abundance of kangaroos on the property that I live on. They are a vital part of living regionally and I would for this puppet share that experience with others. I have included a section on a monologue I am writing, that comes from the bigger idea of a play I have started. It aims to showcase the pain and emotional struggle faced when a loved one is unexpectedly rushed to hospital and life must continue to move forward. I have made progress in my mindsets and creativity, hence including my notebook of treasured information.

Bethany was mentored by Actor Kate Smith