I would just like to introduce you to our new Social Media Manager and Content Writer Olivia Seaton-Hill
Welcome to the team
Please find her first play content of Douglas Maxwell's play, Melody in the post below.
Friday 29 September 2017
Thursday 28 September 2017
Melody by Douglas Maxwell. Oberon Modern Plays
Characters (4. 1 male/3 female)
Melody (38)
John (19)
Olive (70)
Ashley (19)
Time and setting
The specific time of the play is not mentioned but it could be assumed that it is set in the early 2000’s as references in both the dialogue and stage directions mention technology of that time.
The setting of the play is Melody’s home which is on the West Coast of Scotland probably in the Ayrshire region. Again, this can be deduced from the dialogue used and the references made throughout the play.
Key words
Scottish
Comedy
Older
Women
Secrets
Revenge
Guilt
Love
Synopsis
Melody, her boyfriend, John, and her ex-partner’s mother, Olive, make up one dysfunctional family.
As John tries to make it as a TV personality, Olive complains about everything from the tea being too cold to not being allowed enough cigarettes. Meanwhile, Melody works several jobs in order to make ends meet and fund the removal of her multiple, and perhaps questionable, tattoos.
A stranger arrives in the form of Ashley, who is initially mistaken as Olive’s new home help lady. Ashley brings with her the secrets of Melody and Olive’s past. This is a past that includes kidnapping and returning a baby, which then sadly died in infancy.
As the confusion over Ashley’s identity is cleared up – she is the sister of the kidnapped baby – it becomes apparent that Ashley’s visit is one of retribution. As the four begin to bond in the cold, rickety, coastal home will Ashley’s visit have a different outcome?
Monologues and duologues etc...
There are no monologues in this play, but due to the sparse cast there are several good duologues.
Pages 23-25 (2 mins). Duologue. As Melody gets ready for work, her and John begin to wonder if Olive is still alive. Comically, they do their best to find out and put their minds at ease.Lots of Scots dialogue so would help to showcase a Scottish accent.
Pages 44-49 (4 mins). In her mission for revenge, Ashley attempts to seduce John. Initially oblivious to her come-ons this is a duologue that teaches us a little bit more about these characters. John reveals a bit about himself and his home life, Ashley reveals the true reason why she is here.
Pages 69-71 (2 mins). This duologue shows a softer side to Melody as she tries to appeal to Olive’s better nature. In true fashion, Olive keeps provoking Melody until she finally gets some sort of reaction from her.
Links to the Writer: Douglas Maxwell
Coram Boy by Helen Edmundson. nick Hearn Books (NHB)
Accents West Country, RP and cockney London
Place London and Gloucester
Set Mainly in Gloucester Cathedral, Ashbrook House and various London locations such as the Thames
Specicify There are specific references to the places the play is set in, there may be variations of the accents
Characters
Alexander 15
Thomas 10
Meshak 10-14
Otis/ Gaddard 35-45
Mrs Lynch 40-50
Dr Smith- choir master 50-65
Miss Price 20-30
Claymore- local magistrate 50-65
Lady Ashbrook 40-50
Sir William 50-60
Isobel-10-13
Melissa 15
Adult Isobel 18-21
Adult Thomas 18-21
Adult Meshak (Mish) 18-24
Aaron 8
Toby 10
Adult Alexander 23
Adult Melissa 23
Handel 57-65
Key words
Classical music
Choir
Family disputes
Gentry
Poverty
Opportunist
Murder
Coram
London
Gloucester
Slavery
Rich
Poor
Abuse
Parents
Musician
Responsibility
Duty
Love
Teenage pregnancy
Naivety
Lies
Hanging
Child labour
Handel
Genius
Heir
Synopsis
Coram boy is adapted from the original novel written by Jamila Gavin.
Alexander Ashbrook is a musical protégée and the heir to Ashbrook House. Alexander's future responsibilities clash with his love of music. Sir William Ashbrook bans Alex from his music when it becomes apparent that he would rather pursue music instead of fulfilling his family responsibilities as the next Lord of Ashbrook House. In a heated disagreement Alex runs away and is not seen for eight years.
Before Alex leaves he falls in love with his cousin Mellissa and gets her pregnant. Alex is unaware of her pregnancy in his eight year absence. Mellissa has the baby but to save the family from shame she is told that the baby was still born. The baby is given to opportunist, Otis, who hands it to his mistreated Coram Boy Meshak to dispose with. Meshak in his guilt for doing evil deeds for Otis, secretly keeps the boy alive and names him Aaron.
It is discovered that Otis had been using the ground of Ashbrook House to bury babies, through a money making scheme, telling poor mothers that there child will have a much better life, which they pay for as well as handing over there children. It appears that Otis is caught and is then hung at the gallows.
Eight years on new protégé Aaron is discovered by classical genius, Handel and is taken under his wing. Aaron sounds and looks very much like Alexander. Aaron is placed in a choir lead by Thomas, Alexanders best friend. Thomas takes his choir back to Ashbrook House where it becomes clear that Aaron strikes a similar resemblance to Alex.
Events unfold, Alexander returns, And discovers Aaron, he is reunited with his family and Mellissa not before a dramatic return of Otis who takes Aaron and is about to escape with him. Thomas, Alexander and Meshak save Aaron and friend Toby from Otis.
Arron begins life with his father and Mother and Toby is adopted as his brother.
Monologues and duologues etc...
There are no notable monologues or duologues in this play due it being adapted from a novel, is rapid scene changes and multiple characters
Thursday 21 September 2017
Market Boy By David Elderidge
Market Boy by David Eldridge. Methuen
Time 1985-1993
Accents Essex, London, Cockney
Place Romford Essex
Set Romford Market
Specicify
The play jumps from Market to to next very quickly, there is room for Sotto voice and mine, and suited to large groups. It's specific to Essex.
Suitable for. A-level students and above
Characters
Boy 13-18
Mum 40-50
Mouse 20-25
Don 20-25
Snooks 20-25
Trader 30-40
Girl 15-18
Meat man 40-55
Toby 35-55
A whole host of other minor characters
Key words
Romford
Essex
Sexism
Margaret Thatcher
Unemployment
Drugs
Eighties culture
80s
Market
Male xhivanists
Politics
Pride
Englishness
Changing times
Love
Parents
Mum
Loss
90s
Pride
Broken families
Being stuck
Single mindedness
Synopsis
Market Boy is a response to harsh 80's and the changing times of the early 90s.
Boy is employed on a busy shoe stall in Romford Market. He is initiated and taken through his paces by boss, Trader and his workers Mouse, Don and Snooks.
The stall is visited by various types of women of all social classes including Margaret Thatcher. It is clear to say that the males who work on the stall shovanists .
The play is very fast pace and the scenes are moved on swiftly with 80's music.
There are regular historical references related to the stalls Roman History. The references to Drugs and "Zammo" (Grange Hill) is a nice touch and the occasional appearance of Margaret Thatcher provides much comedy and contrast to the Romford accent and goings on. This counteracted with a visit from the Labour Party, the play must be around election time.
Boy falls for girl and asks her out in naive ways that lacks in romance, but eventually wins her over. He eventually loses her as he becomes arrogant and heavy as market life pulls him down.
Trader is clearly Boys father figure in an unconventional way. Despite sleeping with Boys Mother, sacking him and talking to hi. like he is nothing at times, it is evident that there is love and respect between them.
The play ends in a homage to the characters times after the 80s crash some succeed some fail and some are no longer with us.
Monologues and duologues etc...
Pages 20-21 (1min) In this short Monologue Trader shows off his charming nature and ways with women "if you tell women they are pop stars, they love it"
Pages 73-74 (4 mins) Meat man speaks of his love and pride of Romford Market, and of being English. This monologue is spoken over 'Land of Hope and Glory' crescendoing with the whole market singing a long.
Meat man starts discussing two beautiful fillet steaks he selling to Boy and goes off on a tangent in celebration in all that is available to buy on the various stalls and how Alain it is to be English, he ends with a praise of changing times in 1988 and treated Margaret Thatcher like royalty, saying "God bless her son, God bless Margaret"
Links to the writer: David Elderidge
Written by Josh Ashley-Smith
The Pride by Alexi Kaye Campbell. Nick Hearn Books (NHB)
Characters (5 in total) 1 female, 4 males
Philip 30-35
Oliver 30-35
Sylvia 30-35
The Man/Peter/ doctor 35-45
Key words
Homosexuality
Tradition
Relationships
Changing times
Changing opinions
Sex addiction
Promiscuity
Cheating
Affairs
Stigma
Prejudice
Naughties
Fifties
Time 1958/2008
Set
-1958 apartment, living room and hall way. -2008 same apartment with modern touches such as a tv, lamp computer.
-2008 a modern London office at Blissful magazine
-1958 the park, park bench in autumn
-2008 Sylvia's flat and hallway modern
-1958 a doctors surgery desk, two chairs maybe an examination couch
-2008 the park bench
Place London
Specificity could transfer to other big cities in England and he world. Could work well as a piece in counties less tolerable of homosexuality
Synopsis
The Pride discusses and examines the changing attitudes towards homosexuality in 1958 and 2008.
The play intertwines between traditional 1950's and liberated, sometimes overtly liberated 2008.
In 1958 Philip and Sylvia are married and typically homosexuality is not a subject often discussed let alone tolerated. When Sylvia brings home her manager to meet her husband Philip, events change. Though it was illegal to practice homosexuality in England then it because clear that Oliver is Gay. Events transpire and Phillip eventually has an affair with Oliver over a period of 4 months.
Due to the illegalities of it, Phillip had buried his homosexual tendencies from the age of 13 when he discovered that he liked boys rather than girls.
Eventually Sylvia leaves Philip, and Philip checks in for therapy treatment that will "supposedly" cure him of his homosexuality. Even Philip finds his feelings to be disgusting and wrong. He is yet to understand and accept that his sexual preference is natural to him.
In 2008 there are similar characters, but rather they are the 2008 versions of.
Oliver is overtly promiscuous amongst the Gay community, taking the any opportunity to have anonymous sexualised encounters with other men. It backfires after his boyfriend Philip discovers what he is doing. Consequently their relationship ends and Oliver discovers that he he is deeply in love with Philip, though it may be to late to get him back. Olivers sex addiction shows the opposite end of the spectrum compared to 1958. Because he is able to do what he wants, he has abused this freedom and is the very thing stopping I'm from functioning in relationships and life. Sylvia pointing out that it's ok to have a normal homosexual relationship without having to cheat.
Sylvia is an actress, dating an Italian named Marco and struggles to maintain a relationship focus with her best friend, Olivier at her beck and call. She eventually comes straight with Oliver, no pun intended, asking him to back off a bit and allow her to grow in relationship with Marco.
Eventually Philip returns to give it a go with Oliver.
Both time settings highlight the extremes that homosexuality has gone through. The ridiculous attitudes of the fifties and the arguably to liberalised 2008 show the struggle and fight that homosexuality has done through and is still going through.
Monologues and duologues etc...
Pages 13-22. Three Hander.
(7 mins) 1958. Sylvia introduces her manager Oliver to her husband Philip. They exchange pleasantries about life and Oliver's travels over drinks. It's all very civilised, traditional and keeping with the period.
Pages 35-43 (7 mins) Duologue
2008, After letting himself in, Philip catches his newly ex boyfriend Oliver in the middle of a sexual role play with a man dressed as a Nazi.
Philip is not so shocked having already discovered that Oliver cheated on him previously, after giving a stranger a blow job.
Oliver tries to win Philip back by declaring his love for him, and admitting that he is a sex addict, addicted anonymous meets with men.
Pages 44-53. (7 mins) Duologue
Sylvia and Philip of 1958. Sylvia challenges Phillips behaviour towards Oliver. Phillip has a hung that Oliver is a homosexual, so keeps him at a distance. Phillip of course is doing this because Oliver triggers his desires for other men, in a time where homosexuality is illegal.
Oliver turns up drenched at Phillips door. Sylvia is away for the week.
Oliver tells Phillip that he is in love with him, after a previous unseen sexual encounter. Phillip tries his best to get rid of Oliver and deny his advances. In the end of the scene Phillip collapses in Oliver's lap and in an emotional reaction he rips Olivers clothes off and rapes him. This is a result of Phillips life long denial as a homosexual.
Pages 78-81 (varied in length depending on how you cut it down) Peter is the founder of Blissful magazine which is aimed at straight men aged 18-30. He delivers a Monologue pitching an idea he has for the magazine. He is taking to Oliver (2008) who is a journalist. He asks him to write a column about homosexual sex, giving straight men an insight in to a life that have not experienced. There are some touching and funny moments within his speeches.
Pages 89-97 (6 mins) Oliver turns up at Sylvia's door with a bloody lip after being "accidentally" hit in the face by an anonymous sex partner. This Duologue is a profound exchange between the two. Sylvia tries to talk Oliver out of his promiscuous lifestyle and in to one of more self respect and love. At the same time breaking the news that she has spoken to 2008 Philip, announcing that he will be joining them at 'Pride' in the morning. Oliver is thrown and excited by the news of seeing his ex. Sylvia drops a bomb at the end by saying telling Oliver that she needs to not see him so much, with him being very overbearing at times and needy, instead she wishes to spend more time with her boyfriend.
Pages 97-102. (7 mins) This duologue takes place in a doctors surgery. 1958 Philip is talking to a doctor about treatment he is about to receive. The treatment is a type of therapy that helps treat his homosexuality or "perversive behaviour". It is a clear reflection of the attitudes of the time when even the homosexual is disgusted with himself, no acknowledging that it is what he truly feels is ok and something natural to himself.
Page 101. (3 mins) The doctor within this duologue delivers a monologue, discussing the treatment that Philip of 1958 will go through to "cure" his homosexuality, including: being locked In a room with no windows, being exposed to homosexual, pornographic material, being injected three times throughout the night casing him to throw up violently, whilst suggesting he throws up on the floor as a reminder of the treatment. Presumably this process is to remind Philip of the traumatic experience he is about to go through, which should trigger him in to seeing his natural homosexual feelings as something unnatural.
Pages 104-105. (2-3mins) Sylvia of 2008 sits with Oliver 2008 after the 'Pride' march. Her monologue discusses people's attitudes towards the word 'Gay' and how people use it Ina derogatory way. She then discusses, quite profoundly that being gay doesn't mean you have you have continue in ways that homosexuals used to operate before it was legalised. She encourages Oliver to not hide in parks having anonymous secret sex, nor that he needs to sleep around. But he was s able to be gay and live in an open caring way with no secretes or self sabotage.
The writer. Links to other plays
Alexi Kaye Campbell
Alexi Kaye Campbell
Written by Josh Ashley-Smith
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