4 from ritual to theater and back: the efficacy ... - AAAARG.ORG

drama, script, theater, and performance 75
Plot summary
A brief plot summary of The Tooth of Crime may help those readers
unfamiliar with the play. Hoss is a famous rock singer. He lives in a
mansion, is surrounded by his woman, Becky, his driver, Cheyenne, his
private doctor, his astrologer, and other members of his staff. He complains
that he is “insulated from what’s really happening by our own
fame”. (In this, Hoss is very like modern politicians.) Although he is on
top, Hoss is insecure. He feels threatened by the “gypsy movement” –
young stars who move up the ratings not in the traditional ways but on
their own. Throughout the play, the worlds of big music, organized
crime, and sports are intermixed. Hoss is a singer, a killer, an athlete: a
superstar in all realms. As the first act proceeds, Hoss is told of a gypsy
killer coming to challenge him; and he prepares for the contest. The
gypsy, Crow, finally arrives – in Shepard’s text at the start of Act II, in the
TPG’s production at the end of Act I. Crow is very cool, he speaks a new
language that Hoss can’t keep up with. When the two of them meet,
Hoss is confused, asks Crow to “back the language up, man, I’m too
old to follow the flash.” Finally they engage in a word-duel, a combat of
styles, a battle of the bands. Hoss brings in his own referee, but loses
anyway. Dejected, Hoss asks Crow to teach him how to be a gypsy. Crow
shows Hoss gypsy moves, but is in fact leading Hoss towards death.
Ultimately, Hoss commits suicide, and Crow comments: “It took you
long enough, but you slid right home.” Then Crow sings a triumphant
song, tinged with doubt: “Keep me in my state of grace.” There
Shepard’s text ends. The TPG production added a final touch: just
before the final blackout, Crow looks at Becky, who makes the first
gesture challenging him – the cycle, much more accelerated, starts
once more.
3. Crow appeared at the end of Act I instead of at the start of Act II.
4. The rock band which Shepard wanted to play backup music was
not used. The performers played music they composed during
workshops; being musicians – part of Hoss’s band, or allies of
Crow – became an integral part of their roles.
This last is very important because it built into TPG’s Tooth a definite