Stage Setting: En Garde. sketch by douglas brent smith
Showing posts with label theatre. Show all posts
Showing posts with label theatre. Show all posts
Stage Crew
Stage Crew - sketch by douglas brent smith, 1980
From journal #16, on the cutting edge, 1980.
This appears to be a set design, possibly for The Great Brain Robbery, but I'm not certain since at the time I had been in rehearsal for and developing "en grade" at the Playwright's Center on Kinzie Street in Chicago. It did not get any farther than a staged reading, which was impacted by a massive snow storm so our audience was only four or five people.
This could also be just a random drawing. It is smeared from water damage caused by the fire on Elm Street at Dorinda's rented home in Lewisville, CO in 2008.
Sketch: Early Mustard Seed Theatre Company
sketch from journal #12, never doubt, 1978.
This is a drawing of Peter Hoff (now known as Zeke Peterhoff, and me, wearing our Mustard Seed Theatre Company T-shirts and apparently juggling with our minds.
Good times.
The Mysteries of Love
Study for the set design for "The Mysteries of Love" by douglas brent smith
So far, this play has not been written.
Bottle Rocket
"Is that what I think it is?"
(she slams the oven door and grabs the bottle rocket out of the boys hand. She throws it toward the window but it bounces off the screen and lands amid the other fireworks.)
"Is that cherry pie?"
(she opens the oven and grabs the pie. It's hot and she nearly drops it but manages to set it on the floor.)
"Yes. That was a close one."
(a chain reaction of fire work sparklers light up the kitchen. Small popping sounds and Gilles. She grabs the boys hand and leads him in a gallop out of the kitchen. They both narrowly miss stepping in the pie on the way out. As soon as they are gone the whole kitchen explodes.)
"Shhhhh."
(She returns with a fire extinguisher and gets the exploding fireworks out. It's a mess. She picks up the miraculously in tact pie and carries it out. Wisps of smoke float gently around the kitchen. Pause.)
"Delicious."
-- douglas brent smith
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Context:
Written from a scene prompt, page 337 from "The Playwright's Handbook" by Stuart Spencer.
Funny Props
This picture (above) is no doubt the result of a stalking retail site (you know who) sorting thru my purchases (and views) and deciding that yes, Doug you need this: this marvelous pair of glasses.
I don't. Not at the moment. But I'll keep it in mind if a role requiring that lands in my lap.
It reminds me of other funny props that I've worked with: mouse ears, beaver ears, a bell, a wine bottle, real food (beef stew from a can, yum), and that's not even mentioning the many props I've used with children's theater when I toured with Child's Play.
What were your most unusual tools of the trade? Did you master them? Did they bring you fully into your role and make you seem more alive?
Funny props are more than funny. They facilitate fun.
-- doug smith
Theatre: "The Box Show" (with a nod & wink to Samuel Becket)
A person starts surrounded by and covered with boxes of all sizes. These are boxes that must be unpacked for that person to be free.
The boxes contain limiting thoughts, assumptions, cultural restrictions, religious constraints, bigotry, fears - lots of fears, illness, affliction, authority, rules, regulations, anarchy, chaos, regional assumptions, ethnic blurring, ethnic purity, ethnic ethos, ethics, non-ethics, commandments, sermons, skewed exegesis, historical oppression, satire, sarcasm, judgment, broken relationships, damaged relationships, power, powerlessness, pain, lost love, stolen love, broken love, broken promises, broken dreams, forgotten dreams, forgotten lessons learned, forgotten family, estranged family, substance abuse, sugar stars and swings, animal distancing and objectivizing, sexism, racism, greed, slander, lust, deference, danger, risk, confusion, misunderstanding, brokenness, separation, turning away, turning against, ignorance, stagnation, sloth, sorrow, and maybe more.
What is the worst box? What should be done about each box?
Is there a single universal box cutter?
Should some boxes be sealed and forgotten: released?
How does one release?
Can you make money releasing?
Music plays. Choose your music carefully because music changes everything. Or, don't.
And then, and then (another ACT) we find useful positive, powerful boxes: the love of others, the joy of a baby's smile, spring mornings, birds singing, learning to play the guitar, running, swimming, helping others, learning to get a sound out of a flute, learning to get an answer from a person, serving others, releasing, breathing, meditating, praying, redemption, salvation, sanctification, saving, preserving, remembering, faithfulness, dedication, creative flow, courage, compassion, clarity, centeredness, shelter, warmth, relief, rolling into change, a first kiss, a hundredth kiss, endless kissing, kindness, forgiveness, release.
Theatre of learning. Theatre of dreaming. You.
"I was trapped in a box. But, the box was inside another box. It reminded me of a bib that I wore as a toddler sitting in my primitive wooden high chair: it was a picture of a chef eating a massive plate of spaghetti. He was wearing a bib that had a picture of a chef eating a massive plate of spaghetti - and also wearing a bib of a chef eating a massive plate of spaghetti.
"Did this make me enjoy spaghetti more? Or did it distort my sense of time and space? Or did it more accurately describe time and space than anything after which is why I remember it so many years later? What do you think?
"Have you unpacked all of your boxes? Are you sure?"
-- doug smith
This is an open-source, public domain performance piece. You may perform it in any medium and alter it in any way. Please do acknowledge the use with attribution to the author, douglas brent smith. Thanks.
Treasure Island, Episode 1 of 3
I had the delight of participating in this Zoom production of Treasure Island. Here is Episode 1 of 3:
it's my friday
it's my friday is a play by douglas brent smith.
this is part of a series of plays i'm writing with the theme of dreams and dreaming. please feel free to use this play as audition material or performance. small theaters are invited to produce this with my blessing and permission. i would like to be acknowledged as the playwright, of course. and if you charge admission, it would be sporting of you to share in the revenue, wouldn't it? Here's a pdf copy if you'd rather work with that: It's My Friday
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(Lights come up on the deli counter of a natural grocery store in Boulder, Colorado. Two deli clerks staff the line – Jodie and Dan. There are two more people in the kitchen upstage – Jesus and Juanita. The supervisor, Angela, is off stage. Two customers wait for service.)
Jodie (to Dan)
I thought you were going to be off today.
Dan
I was, but Alex called off sick.
Jodie
What a surprise.
Dan
(to a customer) Hi there! How can I help you?
Customer 1
I need a half pound of no-salt no-gluten no-preservative extra lean turkey – not quite shaved but really, really thin.
(Dan cuts a slice and shows it to her)
Dan
How’s this?
Customer 1
Oh, it’s not for me, it’s for my dog. I’m vegan. But that looks fine. Could you put a little extra paper in there so that I don’t have to actually touch it?
Dan
Sure.
Jodie (to Customer 2)
Hi there! It’s a great day in the deli! How can I help you?
Customer 2
What’s good today?
Jodie
I really like the quinoa surprise salad and today it’s on sale.
Customer 2
What’s the surprise part?
Jodie
Corn flakes.
Customer 2
Corn flakes? That doesn’t seem very healthy.
Jodie
They are naturally not sweetened and well, they taste good and they’re crunchy.
Customer 2
Corn? Corn? Do you realize how evil the corn empire is? How they put GMOs in everything and force small third world farmers into submission and offer only one sinister seed? Don’t they train you around here?
Jodie
I hear you. I stopped eating GMO’s too, but this is non-GMO corn from the non-evil supplier – a small local farmer whose organic fields are carefully protected by massive buffer zones and reverse engineered counter wind mills that blow any GMO seeds out of the area and back to the evil farm of origin.
Customer 2
Really?
Jodie
Pretty sure.
Customer 2
I do miss that crazy, tasty corn flake crunch.
Jodie
Would you like to try some? You can totally have some guilt-free.
Customer 2
Sure.
(Jodie gives a sample)
I don’t taste the corn.
Jodie
It is light on the palette.
Customer 2
Just let me have the kale salad.
Jodie
Absolutely.
Customer 1
Of course, Zeus may be getting tired of turkey. How is your bologna?
Dan
Sorry, we don’t have any bologna.
Customer 1
No baloney?
Dan
No baloney. It’s kind of a policy.
Customer 1
Oh, this is so hard when you’re vegan and have a carnivore dog. What do you think she would like?
Dan
Dogs everywhere seem to go for the roast beef.
Customer 1
Really? That seems so unnatural though, I mean what dog would ever hunt a cow? How would they, you know…
Dan
Bring it down?
Customer 1
Yes. Perish the thought. Better give me some roasted chicken.
Dan
That’s probably best.
Customer 1
It seems more natural.
Dan
The circle of life…I’m sure that Zeus could totally catch a chicken. How much would you like?
Customer 1
Just a quarter pound. Shaved. Zeus is developing a tooth issue I think.
Dan
One quarter pound. Shaved. Coming up.
(gives her the item)
Anything else for you?
Angela (entering)
What else can we get for you?
Customer 1
That’ll do.
Angela
Thank you very much!
(turns to Dan)
Always ask what else you can help them with. Get more in their basket. Do more than provide what the customer asks for – provide them with what they really need. Fix your hat. And stand up, you’re taller than that.
(Angela leaves to the kitchen, we can still hear her). Como estas! Bien! Bien! Mucho trabajo!
Customer 3
I need some pepperoni.
Jodie (checking)
Sure, let’s see… Oops. It looks like we’re all out of pepperoni.
Customer 3
What?
Jodie
No more. So sorry.
Customer 3
How can you be all out of pepperoni? I really need that!
Jodie
Sorry. I guess it’s been a big pepperoni week. We should have more later in the week.
Customer 3
I need it right now! How can you be all out? You are ruining my life!
(Pause. Jodie and Dan are silent. A take as they sheepishly look at each other. Then Angela bursts back in, grabs some pepperoni from the pizza station and gives it to the customer quickly)
Angela
Here you go. Is that enough?
Customer 3
Yes. That’s just right. I knew you couldn’t be completely out. (to Jodie) How come you didn’t know that?
Angela
No charge. It’s on me. What else can I help you with?
Customer 3
Sauce? And cheese?
Angela
Making a pizza?
Customer 3
Yes, for a party.
Angela
How about some of these mushrooms, finely chopped, for another topping?
(before the customer can finish nodding “yes” Angela has them chopped, wrapped, weighed, and tagged.)
What next?
Customer 3
That’ll do.
Angela
Thanks for coming in today!
(to Dan and Jodie, with a brisk but friendly pat on each of their backs)
Find a way kids – you can do better. (she leaves)
And I do expect better!
Jodie
What just happened?
Dan
Another Angie miracle I guess. Don’t trip on her cape.
Angela
(from off) I heard that. Don’t get fresh.
Dan and Jodie
Thank you!
Angela
Get busy!
Customer 4
Excuse me.
Jodie
Hello there! How can I help you?
Customer 4
I’m having a party in an hour and I need forty two sandwiches – some roast beef, some chicken, some turkey, some vegan, some vegetarian, some gluten-free and ho yes, no nuts or dairy on some but not all because some people do like those things and…how fast can you do that?
Jodie
Did you say forty-two sandwiches?
Customer 4
How fast can you do that?
Jodie
Wow, uh, that’s a lot. With special requests it could take…
Customer 4
Are you going to help me or not? Now there’s only fifty-six minutes until my party and I also need some things from the bakery.
Jodie
Sure, well – let’s get exactly what you want while I get some extra help, OK? Could you please write exactly what you want, including the quantities, on this catering form while I go to get some help?
Customer 4
You want me to write all those down? That will take a long time. I’ve only got fifty-five minutes left.
Jodie
Well, yes, I know – and that way we’ll know exactly what you want and be able to make that for you.
(Dan is busy helping another customer)
Customer 4
Well, you’d better do it fast. And they’d better be good. I can’t disappoint my guests!
(Jodie goes to the kitchen) Jesus, could you please give us a hand for a few minutes?
Jesus
Sure.
(he comes out)
Whatever you need Sobrina.
(Jodie grabs phone to page for help)
Angela to the deli. Attention team members – Angela could you please come to the deli to help with a special order?
(to Jesus) This customer has forty-two sandwiches to make and we could use some help.
Jesus
No problema Sobrina – we’ll get them done. Let me grab some more bread.
Customer 4
Alright, I’ll also need forty-two mixed, fresh cookies, some of them nut free, some gluten free, some sugar free.
Jodie
No sugar free cookies, sorry.
Customer 4
No sugar free?
Jodie
Well, they are cookies…and we don’t use any artificial sweeteners.
Customer 4
Have you ever heard of apple juice? Or some other fruit? Where’s your creativity?
Jodie
That’s a great idea. And, we certainly could do that with fruit juice. We’d just need more time.
Customer 4
(handling the catering list of sandwiches to Jodie) Huh! Anyway, here.
Jodie
Did you include what cookies you want in your list?
Customer 4
You want me to write that too?
Jodie
How about we get this started while I grab someone from bakery to help you with the cookies?
Customer 4
Hurry! Before you ruin my party!
(Jodie hands the catering form to Jesus, who is just back with several loaves of bread. Jodie then pages for bakery help)
Customer 4
And make sure you wash your hands before you touch my food!
Jesus
Si Senora. It is my pleasure to. (he puts down the wrapped bread, washes his hands)
(Angela appears, sees Jesus in action, jumps beside him to help. They are partially hidden from their arms down but appear to be cranking out sandwiches and wrapping them incredibly fast. Dan continues to help another customer. Jodie starts making sandwiches as well but not nearly as fast as Jesus and Angela)
Angela
We’ll have these ready in a moment. Dan, be sure to find out what salads she needs.
Dan
Absolutely.
Customer 4
All I need are the sandwiches. And the cookies. Just please get them done. Oh wait. What’s in the kale salad?
Jodie
Kale, orange, lemon, pecans…
Customer 4
No nuts! Are you paying attention to me? Are you trying to kill my guests?
Angela
The watercress salt is nut free, gluten free, sugar free, salt free and yet amazingly delicious. Would you like to try some?
(Dan offers the customer a sample. The following series of customer lines blends together and overlaps.)
Customer 4
Hmmm. No, no, no. I need something with more taste.
Customer 1
I forgot something…
Customer 2
This isn’t exactly what I wanted.
Customer 3
Is the store manager here?
Customer 4
I need something with more taste!
(Black out. Pause. Lights come up on Jodie and Dan cleaning. The store is closed)
Jodie
Can you believe that night?
Dan
Another day in paradise.
Jodie
Well, at least it’s my Friday.
Dan
Lucky you.
Jodie
Yes, sir, two whole days off in a row. I can’t even remember the last time that’s happened.
Dan
Me, either. Wow, two whole days. Doin’ anything special?
Jodie
Biking or hiking for sure. Then maybe check out the music festival on Pearl Street. Then, who knows. It may be my Friday but it’s not pay day.
Dan
I hear that.
Angela
More work, less talk! I want to be out of here in 15 minutes. Dan, let Jodie get this – you help with the salad bar.
(Dan leaves. Angela heads for the kitchen)
Who’s on these dishes? Holy crap what a stack!
(Black out. Dream-like music plays softly. Non-sensible and incoherent page announcements are heard in German, French, and Farsi. Pause in the darkness we hear a montage of voices, overlapping: )
Various Customers
Well if you can’t cut it any thinner than that then I don’t want it…where’s your manager…I said a half a pound, how much are you cutting there…Faster! Faster! Faster! That better now have any gluten in it…why do you sell so many fattening foods? How can you be out of rotisserie chickens? You know all of this is cheaper at Safeway…they’ve got lots of chickens at Lucky’s…I want more I said! Faster! Who is in charge of this place! Did you wash your hands first? Is this Kosher? Is this organic? What’s the difference between natural and organic? How long have you worked here? Faster! Could I have a sample of that salmon? Where are the forks for the salad bar? Where’s the rest room? I told your manager that you’re not going fast enough!
Angela’s voice
Dan – Dan – roll over! You’re sleeping on the wrong side!
(Lights up. Same people as before but there’s just something a little odd about their chef coats and their hats are different colors. There are now signs/chalk boards on the wall saying “Got a question? Shut up” “We’re doing our best so back off!” and “If you mention the price it’s not for you!”)
Dan
Who’s next? Welcome! How can I help you?
Customer 1
I need a couple of sandwiches.
Dan
Sure! What can I make for you?
Customer 1
I need seventy-five sandwiches in ten minutes or less.
Dan
Sorry. You’re in the wrong place. Crazy ass miracles are handled next door in the hospital.
Customer 1
What?
Jodie
Bye bye! Run along now…
Customer 2
Is there corn in this salsa?
Jodie
Well, let’s see – it’s salsa so, of course there is!
Customer 2
Do you know about the corn conspiracy? About GMOs and monoseeds and the Evil Farm Empire?
Jodie
I don’t really care about all that. Do you want the salsa or not?
Customer 2
Well! I don’t want anything from you.
Dan
Run along there. Scoot. Skedaddle. Vamos. Scram!
Customer 2
Wait till I tell your boss!
Angela
Tell me what you want, I’m right here.
Customer 2
Did you hear that?
Angela
Absolutely. And I am so surprised! Kind of shocked even. What are you still here? Adios!
(Customer 2 leaves, slips on the way and falls. Dan runs to her rescue)
Dan
Are you OK? How can I help? Should I get a doctor?
Customer 2
I think I hurt…I think I hurt my back.
Dan
Let me fix that for you.
(he makes a minor touch to her back and the customer springs up, totally fine)
Customer 2
Wow, I’ve never felt better in my life.
Jodie, Dan, and Angela
Me, either!
(Customer 2 leaves, dancing to a polka playing over the sound system)
Customer 3
I need some pepperoni.
Angela
No you don’t.
Customer 3
What?
Angela
You mean you want some pepperoni. No one really needs pepperoni. How much do you want?
Customer 3
About fifty pounds.
Angela
Then you’re a moron. You can’t buy that much pepperoni here. Here’s a quarter pound. Hit the road. Oh, wait. Here’s some cheese and some sauce and some dough.
Customer 3
I didn’t ask for that.
Angela
I didn’t ask you if you did. Now split.
(Customer 3 starts to leave, a big box starts to fall right above and would hit the customer except Jodie jumps, grabs it, falls to the ground saving the customer, and then bounds up smiling)
Jodie
Oops. Overstocked!
Customer 4
Excuse me. I notice that you’re all out of chickens. What on earth am I going to have for dinner?
Jodie
How about, oh I don’t know...SOMETHING ELSE?
Please, indulge me for a moment and look at this case. It is full of food. Pick a few things. Mix up your life. Go out on a limb. There are people starving in the world who would do anything for any of these.
Customer 4
How rude. Does your boss know you talk like this?
Angela
Yes. Yes I do.
Customer 4
Well, I never!
Jodie
Guess you do now.
(page announcement: Attention team members. Please report to the break room at your assigned time for Customer Service training…but only if you want to…Today’s topic is “Drop Kicking that Troubling Talker” ha ha ha ha ha ha ha)
Shifty
Caught another one!
Angela
Another shop lifter?
Shifty
Yep.
Angela
Did you kick her out of the store?
Shifty
I will. I will eventually. But for now I have her tied up in the walk in. About an hour in there ought to cool her off.
(Paging voice: Attention Team Members – please report any rude or irrational customers to the store manager and we will have them removed immediately. Ha ha ha ha ha ha)
(Black out. Sound of an alarm clock going off. Radio voice “Good Morning Colorado! It’s another beautiful day in paradise – time to start your day, get on your bikes, and cut off a motorist or two”. Pause. Brief waking-up music. Lights up on the store.)
Dan
You’ll never believe the dream I had last night.
Jodie
Yes I would – I had a wild dream, too. Maybe we had the same dream because you were in my dream.
Dan
And you were in mine. Hey, I thought yesterday was your Friday?
Jodie
It was. Alex called out sick.
Dan
Again?
Jodie
Again. Guess he got a new game. Anyway, I needed the hours. Things are tight financially.
Dan
Another day in paradise!
Jodie
Another day in paradise.
(Black out. Curtain.)
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| photo by Tim D'Antonio |
Here is a pdf file copy of the script: It's My Friday
(c) 2016 douglas brent smith
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