Calypso

I common tip I hear for performers is to have a clear understanding of the story you are telling. Calypso has always been one where I thought I knew what I was trying to say but it never quite connected. So I decided to write a few paragraphs as the character exploring the emotions behind the work. I surprised myself when I realised the story I was trying to tell is not the one I wrote but now I have a clear vision. The short (emphasis on short) story is below:

The still blue Sea stretched out, its calm surface hiding the dark depths beneath. Grief, sorrow, pain, loneliness festered within its depths. Every sailor who ever loved the sea always left, every captain who extolled her brilliance and beauty cursed her waves, every maiden ship eventually smashed against her stones. So the Sea wallowed in her despair, quietly hoping that one day, someone would stay and love all of her. 

He left. Her favourite sailor. The one who laughed at her waves, who admired her glistening in the sun; he left. Retired to have a family on land. Her grief and loneliness boiled within her. She was the Sea, how DARE he leave?! She would show the world her true power, her true strength and throw off the shackles of pleasing others. No longer would she be calm, beautiful and playful. Now, she would be dangerous, feared and powerful. 

Her waves crashed against the shores, capsized boats and drowned men. She cackled as sailors refused to leave port, scared they wouldn’t survive. She lured them out with calm seas to pull them to her depths when they displeased her. She embraced her power. 

Never again would she be what they expected of her, instead, she would be everything she wanted to be.