Rebellion
Iris: All day, we wait for the perfect moment.
Thomas: It’s difficult. He watches us carefully. It’s almost like he knows. But that can’t be.
Michael: I glance over my shoulder every now and then to see if he’s still watching us. It’s a good few hours before opportunity strikes.
Iris: The Commander has turned his back to us. It’s now or never.
Michael: I give the signal, and we attack.
Thomas: We move as planned. We stampede toward him and knock him flat into the dirt. Easier than I expected.
(The Commander falls, as if pushed by an invisible force)
Iris: We kick him.
(All kick the air, and The Commander, still upstage and on the ground, reacts to the invisible hits)
Michael: Harder. Faster. The face, the stomach, arms, legs.
Thomas: He’s down, and he’s never getting up again. He screams-
Commander: -STOOOOPPPPP!!-
Thomas: But we ignore it. Who’s the weak mouse now?
Iris: I kick him so hard in the chest that his ribs crack against my foot.
Thomas: I grab my shovel and force it down onto each of his legs until they break. I feel his bones snap like twigs. Usually blood makes me squeamish, but not today.
Michael: We can’t stop now. He’s suffering. It’s time to end his suffering. He tries to swipe at our ankles but we kick his hands away. He retracts, like a puppy with a wounded paw.
Iris: I get a brick from the work site. The thickest, heaviest one I can find.
(Iris grabs a brick and hands it to Michael)
Thomas: He’s no longer screaming. He must be in shock.
Michael: This is it. I do the honours. I hold the brick over his mangled face, and drop it.
(Michael drops the brick on stage. As it lands with a loud thud, upstage is completely blacked out and The Commander disappears in the darkness.)
Michael and Iris.
Iris: My name is Iris.
Michael: I didn’t ask.
Iris: What’s yours?
Michael: What does it matter to you?
Iris: If we’re going to be working together, we might as well get to know each other a little.
Michael: My name is Michael.
Iris: Michael… Michael… Michael…
Michael: Excuse me?
Iris: I’m sorry. It’s just a trick I use, a memorization trick. I repeat the name over and over until it becomes second nature. So I’ll never forget your name.
Michael: And how long do you do this?
Iris: Not long. I mean, it’s only one word, and yours is so easy. I had a great uncle named Michael.
Michael: That so?
Iris: You try it.
Michael: Try what?
Iris: My trick.
Michael: But I’ve already forgotten your name.
Iris: Well if you’d had a trick, that wouldn’t have happened. It’s Iris.
Michael: Iris… Iris… Iris… Iris… That’s an easy one. Like the part of the eye. I should have no trouble.
Iris: Excellent. So now we know each other! I think by the end of this we will be very good friends.
Michael: I’m not here to make friends.
Iris: Why are you here?
Michael: What choice do I have?
Iris: You always have a choice.
Michael: Well, this is significantly better than the other. You know as well as I do.
Iris: It really isn’t so bad.
Michael: I truly wish I shared your optimistic perspective on… everything, but I just don’t. I’m sorry.
Iris: That makes no difference to me. We can still become friends.
Michael: I told you, I-
Iris: It will happen anyway, just wait and see.
The Penultimate Scene.
(Alex enters his dorm room to find Jason sitting and reading a textbook)
Alex: You’re here. Bar closed or something?
Jason: Hardy-har.
Alex: Are you actually studying?
Jason: Trying to.
Alex: Wow.
Jason: I’m just sick of you pestering me about it.
Alex: So this has nothing to do with a sudden interest in your academic success?
Jason: Nope. How was rehearsal?
Alex: We’re just about ready.
Jason: That’s dandy.
Alex: You don’t care, do you?
Jason: I figured it’d be nice to pretend like I did.
Alex: You’re at least coming to see it, right?
Jason: Sure. If I don’t get the boot first.
Alex: Stay on top of your shit and you won’t.
Jason: Easier said than done, my friend. Fuck, I don’t understand half of this shit.
Alex: Maybe attending a few of the lectures would have helped.
Jason: That’s three hours of my day sucked dry by a leech in glasses and a wrinkly grey suit. Three hours I could be using on more productive things.
Alex: Such as?
Jason: Shh, I’m trying to read this damn thing.
Alex: Uh huh.
Jason: Don’t you have somewhere else to be?
Alex: I’m done for the day.
Jason: Of course you are. Well fuck man, it’s not much use trying to do this with you looming around for the rest of the night.
Alex: Am I really that distracting?
Jason: Yup.
Alex: Well don’t stop now. You need this.
Jason: I know. But screw it.
Alex: Your motto.
Jason: Yeah. You know it.
Alex: I hope you know what you’re doing to yourself here.
Jason: Why the hell do you care so much?
Alex: I don’t. I’d just hate to see you…
Jason: What? See me what?
Alex: I don’t know, Jason. Look, I’m tired, I just want to-
Jason: See me what?
Alex: Fail, alright?
Jason: It might not be so bad.
Alex: What?
Jason: Failing.
Alex: What the hell are you talking about?
Jason: I’ve got the whole thing planned out buddy, don’t you worry.
Alex: What whole thing?
Jason: I’m just going to fail my final.
Alex: On purpose?
Jason: It won’t take much, I’m not exactly Charles Best.
Alex: Who?
Jason: Famous doctor dude. Guy who discovered insulin. See? I learned something.
Alex: Why would you fail?
Jason: Don’t you get it? I’ll be free. They’ll haul my ass out of here in a heartbeat. Then maybe my parents will re-evaluate what I should be doing.
Alex: That’s a terrible idea, and you know it.
Jason: If you’ve got a better one, shoot. We both know you’re the king of good ideas.
Alex: What does that mean?
Jason: Face it, Alex, you should be here either. You’re an okay actor. Your writing though, your plays… They take people away. They’re special. You’re special. And you left that behind.
Alex: This is what I want to be doing.
Jason: Let me guess… You wake up saying that to yourself because you have to work hard every goddamn day to prove to yourself that you made the right decision. Well guess what? If you have to prove it to yourself, it’s not the right decision. You wanna know how I know? Because I do the exact same thing. But you’re different. You have a way out. You can click your heels and turn it all around. Me? I’m stuck.
Alex: That’s not true. You can make your own decisions, you’re free.
Jason: You know what happened last time I tried to make my own decision? I told my father I was going to do theatre. He told me he’d beat the living shit out of me if I did. He wants what’s best for me.
Alex: That’s crazy.
Jason: No it’s not. Trust me, Alex, not everyone’s parents are as uncaring as yours. Some of us were given a firm push in the right direction and that’s why we’ll succeed while you fail.
Alex: It’s not the right direction if it’s not what you want. You call me a failure, meanwhile you’re sitting here talking about failing.
Jason: It’ll pass.
Alex: Right, a few shots and you’ll be back to normal, right?
Jason: Shut the fuck up. That’s not what it’s about.
Alex: You think I can’t connect the dots? You never even touched a drink in high school.
Jason: I was a disciplined theatre artist.
Alex: And you were great.
Jason: But that changed. I moved on, and so should you.
Alex: Moved on from what?
Jason: A silly dream with a dead-end.
Alex: Stop lying to yourself.
Jason: Take a look in the fucking mirror, Alex! Give it ten years, then we’ll see who’s really lying to himself.
Alex: You’re just as scared as your parents.
Jason: What did you say?
Alex: You’re scared. You’re fucking terrified.
Jason: They know what’s best.
Alex: Is that a good enough excuse to be miserable for the rest of your life?
Jason: If you have any sense, you’ll shut your fucking mouth right now. My father doesn’t want me to make the same mistakes he did. He almost ruined his life too, he-
Alex: He’s using you as a fucking puppet to see if he can get it right the second time.
(Jason shoves Alex)
Jason: Say one more thing about my father.
Alex: Take it easy.
Jason: My father is a better man than you could ever be.
Alex: If that’s how you feel about men who call their son a faggot.
(Jason attacks Alex, shoving him to the ground. The two fight.)
Alex: Get the fuck off of me!
Jason: You’ve got nothing, you piece of shit! Wait ten years, just wait ten years.
Alex: Fucking coward!
Jason: I hope this really fucking hurts! I hate you!
(Jason picks Alex up and throws him into a wall)
Jason: How’s that feel, Actor Boy?
Alex: I’ll kill you!
Jason: Go ahead! Do me a favour!
(Alex, about to attack Jason, stops himself upon hearing this.)
Alex: You don’t mean that.
(Alex, in pain and breathing heavily, sits down on the floor. There is a long silence.)
Jason: Did I get your face?
Alex: A few times.
Jason: Shit dude, your opening night-
Alex: I’ll be fine. You okay?
Jason: Yeah, yeah. I’m fine. You never were the strongest.
(Jason sits down next to Alex)
Alex: What the fuck are we doing?
Jason: What everyone else here is doing. Avoiding a life in a cardboard box.
Alex: Speak for yourself. I’m an actor, remember?
Jason: No you’re not. You’re a writer. And you’re good.
Alex: Yeah.
Jason: Don’t you ‘yeah’ me, dude. I’m twisting your arm until you get this through your head. You shouldn’t be doing this.
Alex: Look who’s talking.
Jason: Yeah, well at least I know it. Tell me something… Are you happy?
Alex: …Yeah.
Jason: You had to think about it.
Alex: I think you nailed me in the head a few times.
Jason: Don’t give me that. Ask me if I’m happy. I’ll say No without stuttering.
Alex: I wonder why.
Jason: Y’know, sometimes I sneak into your rehearsals. I sit at the far back in the dark so no one can see me. I just sit quietly and watch.
Alex: Do you miss it?
Jason: The day I don’t miss it is the day I’m dead. I’ve thought about auditioning for shit in the area, but I think it would just hurt too much.
Alex: You can always do plays, man.
Jason: Yeah, but it won’t take me anywhere. It’ll just be a constant reminder of the dream I gave up on.
Alex: It’s not too late. Fuck your… umm…
Jason: What?
Alex: I was going to say ‘fuck your parents’ but I don’t want you to kick my ass again.
Jason: (Laughing) You’ve had enough for one day.
Alex: Seriously, though. Who cares if it pisses them off? Forget about them. You can’t let stuff like that get in the way of what you really want.
Jason: I wish I was that easy.
Alex: It’s easier than you think. Trust me.
Jason: If it’s so simple, why haven’t I done it yet?
Alex: You know the answer to that more than anyone, man.
Jason: Why don’t you write anymore?
Alex: Look, I think-
Jason: Hey, this can’t all be about me.
Alex: I still write.
Jason: You’re great at it.
Alex: I’m alright.
Jason: No, you’re alright at what you’re doing now. Look, I know what you’re gonna say, but hear me out. You’re always telling me to get my shit together, to do something that’ll make me happy, that’ll make a difference in my life. You can’t honestly tell me you get that more from acting than from writing.
Alex: Acting makes me happy.
Jason: I know. Just think it over, alright? If I’m doing it for you, you owe me the same. Promise me.
Alex: Alright.
Jason: No. Promise me.
Alex: I promise.
Jason: Atta boy. Shit, you got me good in a balls a few times. Like that time we were in The-
Alex: The Crucible, right.
Jason: Fuck I miss it.
Alex: Then take it back. Nothing’s stopping you but you. Hey, maybe I should be a motivational speaker? Or a therapist!
Jason: You’re really driving your point home.
Alex: I’m kidding.
Jason: I know. Jackass.
Alex: I hate you like hell sometimes.
Jason: I’d be concerned if you didn’t. So what’s next?
Alex: That’s a good question. Guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
Jason: Alex?
Alex: Yeah?
Jason: I’m scared.
Alex: It’s like what my director told us at the beginning of rehearsals. If we’re not scared out of our minds, we’re not doing it right. We’ll be fine.
Jason: You know that for sure?
Alex: No. But that’s what makes it exciting.
The Future Is Now.
I didn’t think it would happen, but it did. I am one of 35 people accepted to Humber’s Theatre Performance Program.
I was so certain I fucked up my audition, so this was a huge and delightful surprise. Not only did I beat out hundreds of other hopefuls, but I now have a FUTURE. I’m going somewhere. I’m going to be studying classical and contemporary acting technique, voice, and movement. I’m also going to be doing LOTS of devised theatre as well as professional works. We also get to collaborate with Theatre Passé Muraille in third year.
If the 8 hour audition we had to do was any indication, this program is going to be insanely challenging. It’s very physical, and you have to be ready to create at the drop of the hat. I’ll have to spend the summer getting myself to a state where I can handle the physical and mental workout I’m sure to get. In our audition, we spent two hours running around a dance studio, creating things physically and vocally without stopping once. It was exhausting. After that, we had two hours to create a piece of devised theatre together out of nothing that incorporated movement, dance, singing, and dialogue.
I’m so excited. My life begins here.
Photo reblogged from Fuck Yeah Thespian Peacock with 764 notes
Joanne in ‘Company’. Enough said.
Source: fuckyeahthespianpeacock
Alex and Jason.
Jason: She’s gotta have boobs. Big ones. Fuck the tangerine tits, I want the real deal. Something I can sleep on at night. Firm too. Like… like two big fleshy eyeballs.
Alex: That’s a horrible analogy.
Jason: It’s 2am and Jack Daniels is coursing through my veins. That’s the best you’re gonna get out of me.
(Jack moves to stand from the table, but doesn’t even make it to his feet before he crashes to the floor)
Alex: Take it easy!
Jason: I’ve gotta piss like mad.
Alex: Will you get up?
Jason: Give me a second, huh?
Alex: Why do you do this to yourself, Jason?
Jason: What? Fall over?
Alex: No. Well, yes. I mean, kinda.
Jason: Well?
Alex: Every time we’re out, it never stops. You’re gonna drink yourself to death one day.
Jason: What a way to die, huh? That’s how I’d like to go!
Alex: Don’t talk like that. That’s not how you’d like to go.
Jason: What are you, my mother?
Alex: I really think you should stand up.
Jason: Okay, Mom! Don’t get your pussy in a knot. (He struggles, but eventually stands, working to maintain his balance) Holy fuck I’m dizzy.
Alex: Don’t you dare puke. You puke and I’m outta here.
Jason: Huh?
Alex: You know how I feel about that. Go to the bathroom already.
Jason: I love you man.
Alex: Go!
Jason: And so Jason the Conqueror sets off on a great voyage across the vast land to defeat the sea serpent… monster. Sea monster. Loch Ness. Hey Alex, I got Nessy in my pants! Batten down the hatches! Hey man… Are you listening to me?
Alex: I pretty much tuned you out an hour ago.
Jason: Well that isn’t very nice. I don’t have to pee anymore.
Alex: Then sit down.
Jason: Sit down, stand up, you’re all over the place. Make up your mind!
Alex: I want you to sit down.
Jason: Your command is… your wish is my command. (Sits back down at the table) Where was I? Right. So they’ve gotta be firm, but not like, surgery firm. I don’t dig the implants. If I wanted plastic I’d just get myself a blow-up doll.
Alex: Uh huh.
Jason: Ask me how big.
Alex: How big, Jason?
Jason: Huuuge! Like bags of sand. Like I could just shove my face in there-
Alex: I’m gonna stop you right there.
Jason: You’re no fun. Are you drunk?
Alex: No, I’m not drunk Jason.
Jason: Not even a little?
Alex: Nope.
Jason: Why not?
Alex: Because I have a huge exam in the morning to be ready for.
Jason: Hey, so do I!
Alex: Exactly.
Jason: You think I’m a fuck-up, don’t you?
Alex: I just think you’re being a dumbass.
Jason: Well I’m not one! Why do you think you’re better than me?
Alex: What?
Jason: That’s all you do, is… is think you’re better than me. Well who’s to say that?
Alex: I never meant to imply that.
Jason: See, there you go. You and your big words, imply? God you make me feel like shit!
Alex: Hey, calm down, alright? I think we oughta go home.
Jason: Yeah, you think. You’re always right, right?
Alex: Where’s all this coming from?
Jason: Years of restraint, buddy. Look, I was having a good time, and now I’m not. And it’s your fault.
Alex: You’re the one who got yourself piss-drunk!
Jason: That’s how I have fun.
Alex: Get serious. There’s something going on with you Jason, and the sooner you tell me what it is, the sooner I can help you.
Jason: You can’t help me.
Alex: You don’t know that.
Jason: I think I wanna go home.
Alex: Let me drive you.
Jason: Fuck that, I’m walking.
Alex: Dude, you’re ten blocks away and it’s the middle of the night.
Jason: I said I’m walking.
Alex: You can’t even stand, let alone-
Jason: Shut the fuck up and let me do what I want, alright!? Christ, it’s all the time with you. Nobody let’s me fucking do what I want. I get forced into everything, you know that? Just get off me.
Alex: Be careful, alright?
Jason: Don’t even fucking worry about me.
(Jason stumbles out and exits.)
Wow!
So, my play Jamie’s Gone was shortlisted for the Wayne Fairhead New Play Award. That’s pretty alright.
I’m one of four “nominees” from across all of Ontario and a winner we be announced this Saturday in North Bay at the Sears Provincial Showcase. I didn’t expect to get more than feedback sheets when the Wayne Fairhead committee sent me a letter, so imagine my surprise!
The three judges who graded my script seemed to like it a lot, giving it three separate scores and sheets of feedback. All three judges spoke really positively of my work which means a lot to me. They gave me great food for thought and said very kind things about the play. My three scores were 23/30, 23/30, and 26/30. My fingers are crossed for winning the award! It would be a really big deal for me. The winner also gets $500 plus a professional workshop of the play with professional actors… A fantastic bonus!
This exciting news was just what I needed to boost my day. Just getting nominated is amazing itself, but we’ll see what happens!
Post reblogged from Hipsters on Broadway with 35 notes
In Honor of Mr. Sondheim’s 50th Anniversary of writing music and lyrics….
Reblog with your favorite Sondheim (Music AND Lyrics) Song!
“Move On” - Sunday in the Park with George
The Ladies Who Lunch (Company)
Source: broadwayhipsters
Derek: Fuck off man.
Brodie: Let’s talk.
Derek: No. Fuck off.
Brodie: Listen man… It was so close. Really.
Derek: I don’t care.
Brodie: I came this close to choosing you.
Derek: But you didn’t. Fuck off.
Brodie: Don’t be mad about me.
Derek: Don’t make this about you. There you go again, making me feel insignificant, like always.
Brodie: That’s not what I meant. I just feel bad-
Derek: You could have saved me, you should have, but you didn’t. Thanks for your fucking friendship.
Brodie: It wasn’t entirely my choice. Look, Derek, you’ve gotta believe me here.
Derek: Believe what? I’m dead, you’re not, that’s it. You know, I would have saved you if it were up to me.
Brodie: You can’t know that. You could have just as easily done this.
Derek: I’m fucking dead, Brodie!
Brodie: You still have a chance.
Derek. Get serious. You were my chance. You screwed it up like you screw up everything else.
Brodie: That’s not fair.
Derek: You wanna know about fair, Brode? There’s no such thing. The world owes us nothing.
Brodie: Stop talking like this.
Derek: I’d rather this than lie right to your face. You’ve got that covered.
Brodie: What?
Derek: You had this planned from the start, didn’t you? You knew exactly who you were gonna save before you ever needed to, didn’t you?
Brodie: You’re crazy.
Derek: Tell me the truth for once, huh Brodie?
Brodie: You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.
Derek: You lying piece of shit! You never cared about me!
(Brodie punches Derek in the stomach and throws him on the ground. Derek lies there in pain)
Brodie: I loved you once. I don’t anymore. How’s that for truth? I don’t see anything in you anymore. You’re worthless.
Derek: Get the fuck out of my sight.
Brodie: Don’t worry about that. Enjoy the end, Derek.
Derek: I despise you.
Brodie: Big words for such a small man.
Derek: I watched the city crumble before me. The frail, aging structure just couldn’t support itself anymore and it came crashing down. I saw it all. The rocks and rubble sounded like rolling thunder as pieces fell off the archways and pillars, a cloud of dust like a golden fog hung in the air and made it impossible to breathe. They said it was only a matter of time. People pound across the bridges every day and there’s only so much something can take. The weight was just too much to bear this time, I guess.
You feel kind of helpless watching something like that, because there’s nothing you can do. A feeble attempt to hold it all up and you get crushed to death. This ain’t my vessel. It’s not my ship to go down with. Does it make me any less sorry? Not really. Sure is sad to see. The city had something to it. It was ‘almost there’ if you catch my drift. It was pleasant and all, and it surely served a great purpose… But something was missing.
Whatever it was, it doesn’t matter anymore. The city’s in ruins now. It’ll never stand again. That itself is the sad part. It was there for so long, and then it just wasn’t. It’s almost like it gave up. It sounds silly, but that’s what it’s like. Just makes you wonder… If something so large and mighty can fall apart, what hope do we have? I guess it’s only a matter of time before we all have to take our turn and die. The only ones who outlast the others are the ones that are scared. Don’t tell me I sound cynical, I call it being realistic. You can call it cynicism, and that’s why you’ll outlast me. You’re afraid of the truth.
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