The Yellow Sign: Part I of The King in Yellow Cycle

By Christopher Lee Poor

The Yellow Sign is a two-act horror play inspired by the works of Robert W. Chambers, Arthur Machen and H.P. Lovecraft. It occurs over a 3-4 day period in the lives of three friends who live in the time and place of its performance. It explores themes of technology, the power of ideas to shape our reality, and the effects of worldview on our relationships. It is written for a cast of 4 males and 2 females, in their 20-40s, a seventh player who can be a male or female adult, and an ensemble of 4 males and 4 females who need to be passable dancers. There is a single original song that is sung by one of the female cast members in the alto range. There are three short (3-4 minute) dance sequences that are integral to the plot. The play includes several situations that breach the fourth wall; one of the revelations of the play is that the audience is actually an essential part of the performance, and all of the performers except for the Director and the Lurker are originally seated in the audience. The plot follows Alex, a local reporter and his friends Bryce and Jennifer as they become aware of a production of the play "The King in Yellow" at a local community theater. When Alex investigates the production, he meets the Director, a mysterious foreigner who is evasive as to the plot or theme of the play. Research by Alex and his friends reveals the play has a scandalous reputation, and was banned in Europe in the last century due to the effect that it had on the audience. The further they investigate, the more they become entangled in the reality of the play, and their connection with the real world fades away. They discover that the purpose of the play is to bring something into existence that threatens to consume their lives.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0CQ7WWNB8
• ISBN13: 9798871161111
• Release Date: December 2023
• Publisher: Independently published
• Length: 131 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 0.5" x 5.5"