Monthly Archives: February 2020

Jacques Cousteau Statue by Ron Jordan

Aye, Calypso!

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Brief: Write a play in which you meet one of your idols.

Excerpt:

JACQUES:                  Do you know why these were made without handles?

MELISSA:                   I do. It was so the submarine officers on watch could wrap their hands around them for warmth.

JACQUES:                  Warmth is something we all need when we are at sea.

(he places the mugs on a low table between them, and pours tea from a pot into each)

Do you need milk or sugar?

MELISSA:                   I used to. Not so much anymore.

JACQUES:                  I find I like the bit of astringency that comes with black tea. It’s bracing. Reminds you you’re alive.

Notes:  Some of Jacques’s lines are taken from actual quotations.

Follow the link below to read the entire play.

06 – Aye Calypso!

Jacques Cousteau Statue by Ron Jordan

Robot head looking front on camera isolated on a black background

From the Logs of BASIL

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Robot head looking front on camera isolated on a black background

Brief: Write a monodrama (A play for only one performer.)

Excerpt:

The Cousteau has just completed a humanitarian mission to the planet we refer to as Aquaria  Three, though the native population – a race of sentient marine mammals not far removed from the Terran cetacean species – has a different name for their world. The organic beings among our crew have been unable to reproduce the name, but I have managed a close approximation that the locals told me was ‘close enough for krill.’

Notes:

This piece is a sort of prequel or companion to a short story written a couple year’s ago: A Winter Tale

Follow the link below to read the entire piece:

05-From the Logs of BASIL

Martian demon via 123rf.com

A Match Made in Purgatory

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Martian demon via 123rf.com

Brief: Write a play using one or more of some pre-defined characters, using some or all of the provided traits.

Notes: I didn’t feel that any of the suggested characters were speaking with me so I went to the THEY FIGHT CRIME generator and stole two that I liked, but used a couple of traits from the pre-defined characters.

Excerpt:

HOBBES:                    Then how did you mean it?

CALVIN:                    I’m Aristide. Calvin Aristide. Metal dude on my right is Sparky.

HOBBES:                    (ruffling her wings in irritation) And this information matters to me… why?

CALVIN:                    (annoyed) The Agency didn’t tell you? I’m your new partner.

HOBBES:                    The Agency hasn’t bothered to contact me in weeks. They still blame me for what happened with the last guy. It wasn’t my fault he decided to go to Kestrel Five without me. I mean, who does that?

(beat)

Figured they’d call me in, put me on permanent sabbatical, not assign a new partner. Do you drink?

CALVIN:                    Well, not blood…

 

Follow the link below to read the entire play:

04 – Match Made in Purgatory

Mirror, Mirror via 123rf.com

Mirror, Mirror

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Mirror, Mirror via 123rf.com

Brief: Choose a random phobia from a list, and use it to inspire a play. I chose Eisoptrophobia: the fear of mirrors or of looking into them, or of seeing your reflection.

Excerpt:

QUEEN:                     My hunter. I had him, in my home, in my bed.

THERAPIST:              And the mirrors?

QUEEN:                     Their voices were quiet for a time. And then they were not.

THERAPIST:              When did the mirrors start speaking to you again?

QUEEN:                     Jeremiah mentioned that the girl was becoming a beautiful woman.

THERAPIST:              And?

QUEEN:                     He said she was the only person more beautiful than me.

 

Follow the link below to read the entire play:

03 – Mirror, Mirror

Madrid Motto

Agua y Fuego

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Madrid Motto

Brief:  Write a play that is a love letter to part (or all) of Europe.

Excerpt:

Ignacio:            I had some tea from the replicator, thanks. And you’re underestimating with “chilly.” The last hour of the trip, I couldn’t feel my fingers… or my chin.

Naomi:            I guess I’m just acclimated. Well, don’t worry; you won’t have to visit the surface anytime soon, and once you’ve passed quarantine, you’ll have access to the hot springs.

Ignacio:            Hot springs? I didn’t think Europa had geothermal heat?

Naomi:            Europa doesn’t. Nuevo Madrid does. We cycle our waste energy through a couple of the springs within the complex, filter out any traces of radiation – don’t worry, there’s nothing harmful. Well, there was that one person who grew gills…

Follow the link below to read the entire play:

02 – Agua y Fuego