Wednesday, 29 November 2017

The Exam by Andy Hamilton. (2005) Collins

Key Words 
Exams, family pressure, expectations, failure, stress, success, friendships, affairs, dating, teenagers, ghosts, teachers, students.
Play Length 1 hour


Time 00's

Accents General London 

Place Unspecified School and family houses, living room, kitchen etc..

Set Three desks and three chairs

Specificity As the play is simplistic in its set with minimal characters, it could be located anywhere. The is play gender specific as there are references to Mother/Father, Mr/Mrs. The play could be done anywhere in England, it does have some London references but generally it is specific to English culture.

Characters 13 (7 males/ 6 females)

Chas 15-16
Andrew 15-16
Bea 15-16
Mr A 45-55
Mrs A 45-55
Mr B 45-55
Mrs B 45-55
Mrs C 40-50
Dad 40-50
Ex 20-80
Miss Baxendale 30-45
Mr Biggs 30-45
Auntie Jean 40-50

Synopsis

Andy Hamilton’s comedy, 'The Exam’ is his only notable written play, having written more for screen, radio and literature.  The play exposes the pressures of being a teenager, exams and parents.

Andrew finds the expectations of his father, heavy, which prompts him to either throw up or freeze. Bea wants to rebel against her nickname ‘two brains’ as a result of her high intellect and Chas who sees the ghost of his dead father, would just be happy to get a C.

The interjections between the parents spotlit advice and the classroom, offers a refreshing balance, which results in some hilarious comedic exchanges. The parental perspectives are all different, but offer an interesting take on family structures and behaviour. 
  
An aside to the main characters sitting exams, is the ongoing affair between Miss Baxendale and Mr Biggs. Both argue and deliberate their “secret” in plain sight of the students, who gossip on every occasion Miss Baxendale leaves the classroom. 

Having completed his exam, Andrew takes the paper home to show his parents, presenting them with a picture of a well drawn, Harley Davidson. The picture is much to the surprise of his father as it is abundantly clear that he has failed his exam. Bea returns to her parents in a buoyant mood having made the eventual choice to successfully complete the exam and with the knowledge that she has a date with Chas on Saturday. To his surprise, Chas receives a compliment from his mother, which is in line with his fathers Ghosts advice, “give her a break, she’s doing the best she can”.

‘The Exam’ is watchable, comedic and like many other National Theatre, Connection plays, it lasts the test of time.

Monologues and duologues etc...

Pages (18-19)
Key Words Tourette's, friendship, hospital, comedy, teenagers
Length  3 mins
Character(s) Chas
Type Monologue
Synopsis Chas tells a funny story about how he and his mate used a made up Tourette's condition to get away with swearing at a man. When the man discovers that they are lying he chases them up a scaffolding tower and the boys escape in a dusty skip chute,  inevitably landing Chas in to Hospital.

Note: there is some interjecting dialogue in between Chas's Paragraphs. So the speech needs to merged slightly.

Snippet

Chas So last week Wednesday this chubby bloke walked past and I shouted 'You big fat git' and well he didn't take to it very well, got a bit upset. But then Spike weighs in and goes' Calm down, mate, no offence, he didn't mean it, he's got Tourette's...We ended up two storey's high with this man down below...Like a sodding monkey he was. Coming straight for us...I spotted one of those chutes that hang down off scaffolding...The bloke in casualty said that I'm lucky I didn't kill myself.

Links to writer

If you wish to purchase Andy Hamilton's play 'The Exam' you can do so at Amazon and Collins books.

Alternatively please follow the link below:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_1_11?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=the+exam+andy+hamilton&sprefix=the+exam+an%2Caps%2C366&crid=1O6W2D8YJN72M&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Athe+exam+andy+hamilton

https://collins.co.uk/search?ssv=the+exam+andy+hamilton

ISBN: 0-00-720725-5
Written by Joshua Ashley-Smith


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Tuesday, 28 November 2017

Mojo, Jez Butterworth, Plays: One. (2013) By Jez Butterworth. Nick Hearn Books (NHB)

Key Words

Fifties, 50's, 1950's, Soho, London, gangsters, Rock and Roll, club, Rock and Roll, murder, dark comedy, agendas, Jew, lies, secrets, guns, being stabbed in the back, drugs, music, friendship, 

power struggle    
                                                                   

Tom Hollander played the original Baby

Time 1950's
                           
Play Length 1 hour 45 mins 

Accents General London, Cockney

Place Atlantic Club, Soho, London

Set A 1950’s London Rock and Roll nightclub.

Specificity The play is stereotypically masculine. The play may be interesting if performed by an all-female cast or men playing the weaker roles and women playing the stronger roles. The play is specific to London within its dialogue. The play is suitable for anyone over the age of sixteen.

Characters 6 Males

Baby-22-29
Silver Jonny- 17 
Sweets-22-25
Potts-22-25
Skinny-22-25
Mickey-30-35

Synopsis
The play is a dark comedy that takes place at the height of rock and roll, in the late 50s. Ezra, a silent character who we never see, is the owner of the 'Atlantic' club, Soho. His rock and roll prodigy Silver Jonny is hot property and rivals want a piece of the action.  

When it is discovered that Ezra has been brutally sawn in half and dumped in to a bin outside, Sweets, Potts, and Skinny, led by Mickey have a freak out and close the club. They take refuge upstairs, lock the doors and hide in fear for their lives.

They are joined by Baby, Ezra's unstable son, and next in line to own the club. Baby discovers that Mickey has played a part in assisting Ezra's murder being promised that he could keep the club by Ezra's murderer and local gangster Mr Ross.

Baby discovers the plot and confronts Mickey. Skinny and Baby have always had tension, Skinny being Mickeys sidekick is shot in the head by Baby at the end and dies. 

Monologues/duologues/stand out scenes with more than one character

Pages 5-12 
Key Words Comedy, nerves, swearing, graphic stories, sexual acts, tea 
Length 5 mins
Type Duologue
Synopsis Potts and Sweets discuss the private meeting next door which they are not invited to. It’s between Ezra their boss and Sam Ross a rival gang leader. They are negotiating the trade of Silver Johnny, a teenage, Rock and Roll prodigy. There are some hilarious exchanges between them.
Snippet

Sweets: You know Beryl? She goes to me tonight, she goes ‘When silver Johnny sings the song my pussyhair stands up’.
Potts: Relax.
Sweets:  I know. I know. Her pussyhair.
Potts: We just sit here
Sweets: I know. Her fucking minge. Her fur. It stands up
…
Potts: These girls. They shit when he sings…Mickey knows. They shit. He seen it.
Sweets: They what?
Potts: It’s a sex act. It’s sexual

Pages 82-84
Key Words Fear, childhood, butchery, Dad, Wales, cafe, Murder, knives, cows, white van
Length 2 mins
Type Monologue
Synopsis Baby reminisces over a childhood experience where his dad takes him to wales for the day to kill a cow for his struggling cafe.  it's dark, comedic and psychopathic.

Snippet

Baby: I was about nine…and dad tells me were driving to the country for the day. I notice that in the front of the cab there’s this big bag of sharp knives, a saw and big meat cleaver…I thought this is it, he’s going to kill me…We drive until it goes dark…Suddenly Dad slams his foot down and we ram this great fucking cow clean over the top of the van…

Links to writer: Jez Butterworth

I f you wish to purchase Mojo, you can do so at Amazon or Nick Hearn Books

Alternatively, please click on the links below:


or


Other Butterworth plays

 The Winterling, Jerusalem, Ferryman

 ISBN 978-1-84842-226-1

Written by Joshua Ashley-Smith
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Monday, 27 November 2017

13 by Mike Bartlett (2013). Bloomsbury Methuen Drama.

Key Words
War, nuclear, revolution, Middle East, society, politics, government, Iran, Britain, explosions, activist, protest, 21st century, leadership, soldier, ignorance, repetition, dreams, fantasy, future, large cast, inevitability

Play Length 1 hour, 45 mins

Time 2000’s

Accents Various London Accents

Place Various locations in London, Trafalgar Square, a park, possibly speakers corner at Hyde Park, Number 10 Downing Street.

Set Flexible. The Writer specifies that the play should be done in the round.

Specicify/accent is the play specific to a certain place/dialect/gender/age, or can this be tailored to the actor(s)?

Characters (25. 13 male/ 12 female)

John-30-45
Dennis 35-50
Liam 25-45
Martin 25-45
Amir 20-35
Paul 30-45
Terry 25-35
Stephen 35-50
Mark 35-45
Zia- 20-35
Martin 35-45
Rob 20-35
Sir Christopher 50-60
Sarah 35-50
Ruth 40-50
Carol 25-45
Rachel 25-35
Ruby 11
Holly 18-22
Sally 30-45
Esther-25-35
Alice 25-35
Edith 60-75
Shanoon 20-35
Fiona 25-35

Synopsis

The play evolves itself around London and the on going unrest in society. There is much disillusionment  regarding, the economy, politics, terrorism and nuclear war.

The play climaxes in a heated conversation between Ruth, the Conservative Prime Minster, on the verge of sending troops to Iran and John, here activist opposition who has the general public on his side. John has a radical and new ideas that go with more peaceful solutions and tries to convince the PM (also mum to his friend who has past away) to try other tactics. In the end, she disagrees and sends troops to another pointless war in the Middle East.

There is confusion. At the end of Act One there is a massive Nuclear explosion that suggests the world has ended. The play continues, is it the case the rest of the play is a flashback, or the survivors of the Nuclear bomb or some sort of after life? Either way Londoners after the attack are all presented with similar dreams and life is has changed.

Monologues and duologues etc...

Page 13-14
Key words
Length 1 min
Character(s)
Type Monologue
Synopsis Stephen is a university lecturer. His monologue is the start of a lecture and posses questions around Gods existence and choice.

Snippet

Stephen: I have here a box. Inside is the Lord Almighty himself. You have a choice. Do you open it?...burn in his omnipotence...don’t open the box...live a life of horror and worship.

Page 29 
Key Words speech, hard work, politics, Conservatives, change, future, cohesion
Length 1 min
Character(s) Ruth, British Prime Minister
Type Monologue
Synopsis
Ruth, the Prime minister delivers a speech aimed at raising moral in Britain. The economy and employment are at an all time low. The imminent threat of yet another Middle Eastern war has added tension to society and more problems that Ruth needs to address. 

Snippet

Ruth: I’m not an old Etonian, I’m not one of the boys. My Father was a postman...we stand for opportunity...that’s what I’m all about. Nothing was handed to me on a plate.

Page 63
Key Words ideals, belief, society, leadership
Length 1min. 15secs
Character(s) John
Type Monologue 
Synopsis John is slowly becoming a public activist and is developing a following. He talks publicly about change and what he believes needs to happen.

Snippet

John: There are things we want... We want to narrow the gap between rich and poor...this is just not how the world works anymore...we sleepwalk from weekend to weekend...We want you to remove the barriers...All that’s needed in the end is belief.

Page 79-80
Key Words War, Iran, speech, biased opinion 
Length 1min, 15secs
Character(s) Stephen
Type Monologue
Synopsis 
Stephen, no longer a lecturer has taken to pubic speaking. He is in favor of the inevitable war with Iran. Stephen takes the opportunity to public condemn the atrocities going on in Iran.

Snippet

Stephen: Ladies and Gentlemen, the Iranian regime is, simply put, brutal. They have clung onto power, rigged elections, kidnapped, tortured, repressed and murdered their own people in their thousands.

Pages  91-92
Key Words Peace, speech, love, advice, hope, togetherness, cohesion, revolution 
Length 2 min, 30 secs
Character(s) John
Type Monologue
Synopsis
John speaks of radical change in British society, it is revolutionary, asking the public to stand up and change in peaceful, effective ways. John also appeals to the people of Iran to stand up to the oppression that they face by their government, in the hope that this will prevent other countries involvement. 

Snippet

 John: Men and women of Britain!...There can be no progress without belief. Belief in the capacity of mankind, belief that we can be better...Today we say to the government that storming in with troops and taking over a country is not how we do things anymore...in our name we can demand freedom for Iran.

Pages 99-100
Key Words Confusion, cheating, death, loss, prayer, future, regret, lack of self respect, mistakes
Length 1 min, 20 secs
Character(s) Mark
Type Monologue
Synopsis Marks talks about his complete lack of self respect and his desperate need for something meaningful to step in to give him hope.

Note: There is a very small piece of interjecting dialogue from John    

Snippet

Mark: I’m not sleeping, I’m not working, in fact I’m not doing anything at the moment...So like basically my whole life is basically, fucked...I’m talking about not speaking to my dad because of an argument and then him dying. I’m talking about the love of my life who I cheated on.

Pages 122-124
Key Words Tough decisions, conscience, protection, judgement, leadership, war, nuclear, Iran, Britain
Length 2 mins, 15 secs 
Character(s) Ruth, Prime Minister
Type Monologue
Synopsis Ruth discusses the reality of making hard decisions with the knowledge that with her 'go ahead' it will inevitably mean that people will die. But it will save more lives overall in preventing nuclear war.

Snippet

Ruth: You know what I believe in?...The grey area, the bit in between...Nothing is on earth is completely pure...Good and evil?. No. Children’s Words...The Golden rule. Look after your own first... As the elected representative of this government, it is my first duty to protect the people of this country...Tonight we begin and that’s it.


Pages 133-135
Key Words War, snap decisions, soldier, mother, Iran, suicide bomber, death, gunfire, army, loss
Length 2 mins, 40 secs
Character(s) Rob
Type Monologue
Synopsis Rob, a soldier delivers a touching and heartfelt about his decision he has had to make as a soldier. Having to shoot a women who was suspected to be a suicide bomber.  

Snippet

Rob: Decision made, we were sent in...there’s this women and she’s coming towards me and she’s wearing this fucking massive black thing...I’m under orders to not let anyone near this because you they might be suicide bombers...I opened fire and shoot her across the chest and one goes in her head...turned out she didn’t have a bomb.

Links to writer

My Child, Cock, King Charles III

If you wish to purchase ‘13’ you can do so at Amazon or Bloomsbury Methuen Drama.

ISBN: PB: 978-1-408-17191-2

Written by Joshua Ashley-Smith


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Monday, 20 November 2017

Plenty. Written by David Hare. The Faber Library .23. (1997). Published by Faber and Faber

Key words
Espionage, undercover, mental illness, World War Two, WWII, secrecy, marriage, mundane life, revolver, French Resistance, teenager, France, Europe, downfall, under appreciated, changing times, false love, lust. Suez Canal Conflict

Play length 1.45 mins

Portrait of David hare by Paula Rego (Flickr)
Time 1940's, 1950's, 1960's

Accents General English, RP, general French, middle class London

Place Blackpool ,St Benoit, Knightsbridge, Whitehall, Pimlico, Embankment, Brussels

Set Office furniture, house furniture. Much is achieved through lighting

Specicify/accent  ‘Plenty’ is historical fiction. The events could have happened, it’s a play specifically about a woman’s secret life as British operative. The play is gender specific and should be left well alone. As the play is specific to Europe in its dialogue. It should be set mainly in England. There could be a possibility of peroming it in France. The play is aimed at anyone aged 16 and above. 

Characters

Susan 17-40
Alice 16-40
Lazar 20-50
Sir Leonard Darwin 40-50
Brock 25-30
Mick 20
Louise 17-19
Dorcas 17
Frenchman (1) 30
M. Aung (male, husband, Asian)
Mme. Aung (female, wife, Asian)
Begley 22
Sir Andrew Charleson 45-55
Frenchman (2) 50
BBC Announcer 20-60

Synopsis Susan is a secret operative working for the British Government during World War Two. Her sole responsibility is to liaise with the French Resistance and smuggle other operatives in to France. 
Following World War Two Susan is also assigned to work on the Suez Canal Conflict 

After living the secret life of an operative, Susan finds  herself in a dead end job and at the hands of male chauvinism, being sexually harassed by her manager Mr Medlicott, at her new nine to five job. 

 Susan marries Brock, and struggles with the idea of being a house wife and living in the unequal society of the nineteen sixties. She eventually falls into insanity and threatens to shoot herself if she doesn’t get her way. 

The end of the play is anticlimactic and sad as Susan is seen under house supervision, by her friend Alice and husband Brock.due to her declining mental health. 

'Plenty' is a sad tale of changing times and the demise of women, after their valiant efforts, through national trauma and turmoil. 

Monologues and duologues etc...

Page 3-11
Key words Espionage, French Resistance, WWII, female lead, France, undercover, operative
Length 6 mins
Character(s) Susan, Lazar, Frenchman (1)
Type Duologue

(Note: there is one interjecting page when Frenchman (1) argues with Susan and then leaves)

Synopsis Susan is young and British. She also works as an undercover operative for the French Resistance. In this Duologue Susan meets Lazar in an unplanned meeting, Lazar is a secret operative who parachutes secretly in to France. Lazar has missed his target, landing 80 mikes away from his target. Susan helps Lazar find his feet and points him in the right direction.

Snippet

Susan: your French is not good
Lazar: Where am I?
Susan: Please be quiet. I can’t hear when you speak. (Pause.) There’s a Road. Through the woods. Gestapo patrol....there’s meant to be a drop...we need the drop badly-explosives and guns
Lazar: Would you like a cigarette?
Susan: Thank you very much
Lazar: how has it been?
Susan: Well...the Germans are still here. 
Lazar: You mean we are failing?
Susan: Not at all. It’s our brief. Keep them here...blow up their bridges, devastate the roads...divert them from the front.

Page 17,18,19, 20
Key words heart attack, secrets, lies, undercover, affairs, relationships, lust.
Length 3 mins
Character(s) Susan
Type Monologue 
Synopsis Susan discusses her affair with Tony who has just just fallen dead in a Hotel corridor. Susan discusses how their relationship was part of their undercover work, appearing as husband and wife made things easier.

Note: This Monologue is merged from Susans two main paragraphs over pages 17, 18, 19, 20.

Snippet

Susan: it was easier to say we were man and wife, in fact I was barely his mistress...Those of us who went through this kind of war, I think we do have something in common...the people who stayed behind seemed childish and a little silly...it was an innocent relationship...we’d known some sorrow together... and it seemed a shocking injustice when he fell in the lobby.

Page 25-26
Key Words Mundane, sexual harassment, boredom, manager, unfulfilled, stuck
Length 2 mins
Character(s) Susan
Type Monologue 
Synopsis After living the life of a secret operative, Susan finds herself stuck in a dead end job with her manager sexually harassing her. Her heroics of WWII are far gone now. 

Note: this monologue has been merged as there is some interjecting dialogue in between from Alice.

Snippet

Susan: The days get heavier and heavier as the days go on...Mr Medlicott has moved into my office...I care in one morning and found the partition had gone...He puts his head down and does not lift till lunch...I am frightened of what the next step will be... the sexual pressure is becoming intolerable. One day there was a condom in his turn up. Used or unused I couldn’t say. But planted without doubt. 

Page 74-80
Key Words Mental Health, downfall, exposure, hierarchy, changing times
Length 5 mins
Character(s) Susan, Charleson
Type Duologue
Synopsis Having lived an exciting life as a Secret Operative, Susan habitually reverts to her old self, which can be demanding and difficult. She has met her match with Charleson, the Chief Clerk of the Foreign Office and manager of Susan’s, Husband, Brock. Susan meets Charleson with the intent of convincing him to promote her husband Brock. It is clear that she is historical and showing signs of mental illness. As a result of Susan’s intervention, we find out that Brock has been let go from the Foreign Office and Susan is sectioned. 

Note: there is a brief interjection from Begley on page 80.

Snippet

Susan: Sir Andrew, as you know, I take very little part in my husbands professional life
Charleson: indeed
Susan: ...but for he first time in my husbands career I am beginning to feel
some need to intervene... I’ve come to ask exactly what my husbands prospects are
Charleson: We offered him Monrovia...Monrovia is not an insult...and Brock refused...Mrs Brock believe me , I recognise your tone...But in this matter I must tell you , Mrs Brock, it’s more than likely you’ve met your match
Susan: I must thank you for your Frankness...I must however warn of my plan. If Brock is not promoted in the next six days, I am Intending to shoot myself

Other Hare plays 

 Skylight, stuff Happens, The Judas Kiss

 ISBN: 0-571-19120-7

 Written by Joshua Ashley-Smith



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