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
or
Other Butterworth plays
The Winterling, Jerusalem, Ferryman
The Winterling, Jerusalem, Ferryman
ISBN 978-1-84842-226-1
Written by
Joshua Ashley-Smith
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