(The lights are completely dark. This represents the Void, the timeless nothing that contains Middle-Earth. This is the home of Iluvatar, who is the creator of everything, even the Valar. All action on stage, until noted, is silent; only the Speaker in the Void talks aloud.)

Speaker in the Void: (voice comes from nowhere; suddenly. It is loud and mysterious.)
There is no time here... always dark... always in peace... the Void, where Iluvatar, Father of All, dwells. (Iluvatar enters SR, holding a lamp; this is the only source of light. He walks to the center of the stage and pauses, facing the audience.) At the dawn of time, or time as we know it, Iluvatar created the Valar, immortal, powerful beings, his children. (The Valar come on stage from both sides, standing next to Iluvatar.) He named among them Manwë, king of the Valar... (Iluvatar guestures and mouths the name "Manwë". Manwë steps forward.) Varda, queen of the stars... (Iluvatar guestures and mouths "Varda", who steps forward.) Mandos, keeper of the dead... (Iluvatar guestures and mouths "Mandos", who steps forward.) Yavanna the joyful... (Iluvatar guestures and mouths "Yavanna", who steps forward.) And Melkor, sly and cunning... (Iluvatar guestures and mouths "Melkor", who steps forward.) He gave to the Valar wisdom and power, then told to them a theme with which they were to build a world. (Iluvatar appears to be talking to the Valar, who have all stepped forward to join Manwë, Varda, Yavanna, Mandos, and Melkor, and are now facing Iluvatar on a diagonal.) The Valar then began to sing, and started to create the history and future of the new world. (The Valar mime singing; a soaring melody, without words.) But Melkor, who had evil thoughts brewing in his mind, brought chaos and evil into the song, so that Iluvatar had to begin a new theme. (On stage, Melkor's voice appears to rise above all others until Iluvatar cuts them off. He appears to lecture Melkor, who looks rebelliously back. Iluvatar then talks to the other Valar, and the singing recommences.) Again did they sing, and again Melkor put in war and strife. (The scene repeats itself, but Iluvatar appears more angry this time.) Iluvatar then began a third theme, and this time, though Melkor tried to wreak havoc once more, he was overwhelmed and forced to sing the theme as with the other Valar. (Melkor's voice tries to rise again, but the other Valar's rise louder, and the same thing happens again. Finally Melkor, looking sulky, brings his voice down and sings with the rest of the Valar. The song ends.) The new world's pattern was set, and Iluvatar sent some of the Valar to the land at the center of the world, the land called Middle-Earth, to make what they had sung come to pass. (Iluvatar points at SL, and Manwë, Varda, Yavanna, Mandos, and Melkor exit slowly SL, following Iluvatar's direction. Iluvatar and the other Valar exit SR. From now on, the action on stage has sound. Manwë, Varda, Yavanna, Mandos, and Melkor enter SR, but they are no more than shadowy figures, for Iluvatar took the light when he exited.)