And so, the playwright, after many (many) re-writes of her play, ponders the next move assisted by the play characters who have a big invested interest in her decision.
SCENE: Writing desk with computer set-up. Large coffee mug nearby
AT RISE: Playwright sits in front of computer staring at screen, evaluating if/and or what changes are required to play
PLAYWRIGHT
I dunno. Somehow, something doesn't feel right... Maybe I should just delete this play altogether
FEMALE CHARACTER 1
Say what? You've been re-working this play for how many years and now you want to erase all traces of us as if we never existed? What did we ever do to you?
PLAYWRIGHT
That's the thing. You haven't done anything to me or for me
FEMALE CHARACTER 1
And that's our fault? Let's not forget who created us in the first place
MALE CHARACTER
May I interject?
FEMALE CHARACTER 1
It's never stopped you before. Go for it
MALE CHARACTER
Seems to me that she hasn't really created a viable outline, which could offer a direction to follow. We all need guidance, a path that will lead us to enlightenment
FEMALE CHARACTER 1
Oh do tell. And what, if anything, have you contributed in helping her along, other than your bon mots and trite writing quotations
MALE CHARACTER
Officially, I don't exist having been eliminated in the last edit but hope springs eternal that I shall be resurrected in a future story line. After all, I am the only male character and the romantic lead
FEMALE CHARACTER 1
Don't be so sure. Given the amount of times the story line has changed, you could just as easily be converted into a female role
MALE CHARACTER
Actually...thinking back...two months ago I assumed the role of Prince
FEMALE CHARACTER
A prince? I don't remember any plot involving royal characters
MALE CHARACTER
Nothing so regal. Prince was a blood hound in her attempt at writing a dinner murder mystery...
PLAYWRIGHT
...which ended up going nowhere. Maybe this just isn't going to work. Maybe...I should forget about this play, altogether.
FEMALE CHARACTER
Don't be so quick to give up!
FEMALE CHARACTER 2
Absolutely! You're on to something! This re-write will be the one. Hang in there
PLAYWRIGHT
It seems that I'm in a constant state of re-writes. Sometimes you have to see the writing on the wall and call it a day
MALE CHARACTER
Have you sent out the latest version of the play to theatres?
PLAYWRIGHT
Yup. Never heard back, as usual. It's getting to the point where I'm questioning whether I have any ability in writing plays. Perhaps it's just hopeful dreaming. Why go on in the face of reality that the odds of my play being produced are probably a gazillion to one, given the number of playwrights who are doing the exact same thing
FEMALE CHARACTER 1
Don't forget that one of your plays did have a reading. That means something
PLAYWRIGHT
But it's still not the same as a full production in a theatre with an audience.
MALE CHARACTER
You're not serious about - you know - that ominous delete button...it was merely a momentary feeling of weakness. Right? You wouldn't do that to us.
FEMALE CHARACTER 1
We're here for you! Hang in there! Our future depends on it, in the true sense of the word
PLAYWRIGHT
Could I abandon you all after all these years, members of my literary family?
MALE CHARACTER
Far be it for me to ask a favor at this point but would you, perhaps, consider re--writing the Prince character? I mean, if it's possible. Barks, growls and tail wagging aren't among my best traits.
PLAYWRIGHT
Thing is...this play really has possibilities. It has all the essential elements that make it entertaining. Maybe a few changes and edits here and there before sending it out to make its way in the theatre world. Right?
ALL PLAY CHARACTERS:
We're with you all the way, girl!
PLAYWRIGHT
Maybe just this one more theatre...or two...three at the most
Showing posts with label play characters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label play characters. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Playwright's ruminations - the fix is in
Sitting down in front of the computer, chin in hand and thinking about playwriting. Again. Note the word, "thinking" but not the actual act of taking fingers to keyboard and producing some worthwhile dialogue. Still further delayed the process by going over finished plays and assessing whether they need fixing or editing, something I'm prone to do in both my writing and painting. Frequently, the end result is ruining any progress on whatever project I'm "fixing."
I'm an inordinate "fixer" of all my artistic undertakings, which really don't require further adjusting. Recently, I applied what I swore were the absolute final strokes to a black and white painting first started three years ago, which has been "fixed" over the years. Perhaps this will be the reality and then again, who knows.
In as far as my plays are concerned, some have been altered to the point where all objectivity has been lost as to the strongest version. Most often, the changes are relegated to small dialogue adjustments or altering what appears to me to be a weak a scene. In the end, a decision has to be made which version is the best version to submit, followed by a period of self-doubt and whether my plays are actually produce-able. Perhaps this is a common pattern with writers in general in that the selection of the right words is paramount to the whole story line. In as far as dialogue is concerned, the character has to utter words and phrases that suit her/his mannerisms, personality and mien and therein lies the challenge.
Although the actual act of submitting plays is a positive move, there is also the self-doubt that creeps in waiting for updates on their fate. Negative thoughts like:
- perhaps the wrong version was sent - whatever that is
- maybe I don't have what it takes to be a "real" playwright
- given the volume of experienced and produced playwrights, many of whom are familiar names to
the public and within the theatre community, do my literary gems stand a chance?
And so the uncertainty continues but something drives me to persevere. The possibility, whatever the odds that there is a theatre "out there" somewhere that will see something special in my plays is enough to keep me going and press on. Meanwhile, some fine tuning of the dialogue and changes to the story arc is required to Dead Writes. Really.
P.S.: Just read that Larry David's new play, "Fish In the Dark" has broken another box office record during its third week of previews at the Cort Theatre It should only happen to me but first one of my plays has to be produced! Be that as it may... Mazel-tov, Larry...or Mr. David. Good to note that good comedy will always draw a crowd. FISH IN THE DARK, which also stars Rita Wilson, Rosie Perez, Jayne Houdyshell, Ben Shenkman and Lewis J. Stadlen, heading a cast of 18, is running for an 18-week limited engagement through Sunday, June 7. Opening night is Thursday, March 5.
Wanna see it...wanna see it...
I'm an inordinate "fixer" of all my artistic undertakings, which really don't require further adjusting. Recently, I applied what I swore were the absolute final strokes to a black and white painting first started three years ago, which has been "fixed" over the years. Perhaps this will be the reality and then again, who knows.
In as far as my plays are concerned, some have been altered to the point where all objectivity has been lost as to the strongest version. Most often, the changes are relegated to small dialogue adjustments or altering what appears to me to be a weak a scene. In the end, a decision has to be made which version is the best version to submit, followed by a period of self-doubt and whether my plays are actually produce-able. Perhaps this is a common pattern with writers in general in that the selection of the right words is paramount to the whole story line. In as far as dialogue is concerned, the character has to utter words and phrases that suit her/his mannerisms, personality and mien and therein lies the challenge.
Although the actual act of submitting plays is a positive move, there is also the self-doubt that creeps in waiting for updates on their fate. Negative thoughts like:
- perhaps the wrong version was sent - whatever that is
- maybe I don't have what it takes to be a "real" playwright
- given the volume of experienced and produced playwrights, many of whom are familiar names to
the public and within the theatre community, do my literary gems stand a chance?
And so the uncertainty continues but something drives me to persevere. The possibility, whatever the odds that there is a theatre "out there" somewhere that will see something special in my plays is enough to keep me going and press on. Meanwhile, some fine tuning of the dialogue and changes to the story arc is required to Dead Writes. Really.
P.S.: Just read that Larry David's new play, "Fish In the Dark" has broken another box office record during its third week of previews at the Cort Theatre It should only happen to me but first one of my plays has to be produced! Be that as it may... Mazel-tov, Larry...or Mr. David. Good to note that good comedy will always draw a crowd. FISH IN THE DARK, which also stars Rita Wilson, Rosie Perez, Jayne Houdyshell, Ben Shenkman and Lewis J. Stadlen, heading a cast of 18, is running for an 18-week limited engagement through Sunday, June 7. Opening night is Thursday, March 5.
Wanna see it...wanna see it...
Friday, September 05, 2014
Play-ing around: plays prepare to leave home
Whereas the plays are bid goodbye
"Parting is such sweet sorrow that I shall say goodnight 'til it be morrow."
William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
SCENE: A work space with a computer set up
AT RISE: A playwright sits in front of a computer, proof reading plays. A rebellion is in the works
CAST:
THE PLAYWRIGHT and characters from her plays
SADIE GREENBERG , character from "Make Me a Wedding!"
KEN, Barbie's ex-significant-other
BARBIE, famous vinyl/plastic fashionista
JOE MCKENNA, from "Old Soldiers"
SHERLEEN, from "The Bra"
ROBBIE PORTMAN, from "The Shrubs"
GARRY GOAT, from "A Thief on the Beach"
PENNY FLOWERS, from "The Lemon"
PLAYWRIGHT
One last change...dot the 'i's' and cross the 't's"... Just thinking...perhaps 'and' would be better than 'in addition to...'
SADIE GREENBERG
Oh pleeze! When are you gonna stop making excuses not to send us out? I've been planning this wedding going on twenty years now and the wedding will cost me a mint
PLAYWRIGHT
It's gotta feel right. The words have to flow like a river-let of water tumbling down rocks...
KEN
Did somebody mention water? What's that I hear? Surf's up, everybody!
BARBIE
Oh Ken! Not everything is about surfing, you silly surfer boy. There are more important things in life like being a famous fashionista and being cosmetically perfect. Joe - be a good soldier and move my vinyl arm up to my head so I can stroke my perfect coiffed hair
GI JOE
Yeah. Whatever she says. Here babe - is that okay? How am I doing?
JOE MCKENNA
Crap - that's how you're doing. Who are these minor characters, anyway?
BARBIE
Come again? I'll have you know our story lines got lots of hits when she wrote us in. You can put my arm down now, Joe. I'm a legend, y'know!
JOE MCKENNA
In your own mind. Anyway....the playwright will do anything to keep us to herself. We need to see the world! I'm tired of always hanging out at the bar with a bunch of old, decrepit soldiers discussing on our decaying bodies
SHERLEEN
What are you complaining about! I've been stuck at a bra counter in a store for going on ten years, now, discussing a broken bra strap for heaven's sake. I mean, c'mon - why doesn't she just let me throw it in the trash and get a new one? And I'm only a short play
ROBBIE PORTMAN
You guys should chill out and do what I've been doing for a while now...
JOE MCKENNA
...a while would be how long? Five years...ten years...
ROBBIE PORTMAN
Can't really say. She's edited me so many times, I lost count. Anyway, as I was sayin', I've been spending my entire life in a hammock, drinking beer. It ain't so bad
GARRY GOAT
Has anybody got any trash they don't want? What about some unguarded picnic food? I'll eat anything!
PENNY FLOWERS
How about a cell phone I can use? My car has been stuck in an intersection for years now...
PLAYWRIGHT
Enough! All I hear are complaints from you all! I want to make you the best characters along with a strong story line. That takes time
SUE ELLEN
There has to be a point where the plays have to stand on their own merit and the only way that can be achieved is to submit them to theatres. Keeping things to yourself isn't healthy. Trust me on that
PLAYWRIGHT
I hear you all loud and clear. This is it. You're all being sent on your way as these words come up on the computer screen. With a click of this mouse...
PENNY FLOWERS
Hang on! Maybe I could borrow a phone from somebody. I mean, perhaps we shouldn't be too hasty
JOE MCKENNA
Yeah - she's right. A few more edits couldn't hurt
PLAYWRIGHT
You all made your feelings very clear and you're right. It's time to share you all with the world. In any case, there is always the possibility that you could end up back home, unfortunately
SADIE
Oh well, then...hit the submit button. What do you have to lose?
PLAYWRIGHT
(she sighs deeply)
Indeed...
Wednesday, June 05, 2013
Old Soldiers - the short story - gets a reading
As anyone who has read this blog will attest, my quest to give my one-act play, "Old Soldiers" 'legs' so to speak, borders on the obsessive. There is something about the characters and the story line that has become part of my psyche and touched my soul. They have become as close to me like extended members of my family.
In the way of background information although I've probably shared this in a previous posting, the story line it is based on an interview with army veterans conducted a while back for my newspaper column, focusing on their Remembrance Day memories. Somehow, it caught my imagination and slowly developed into a short story, actually more towards a novelette.
Over the years it was tweaked and eventually put into cyber storage. The characters, though, wouldn't be forgotten, which led to the creation of the one-act play.
As a member of a small writer's group, we read our latest projects out loud for critique and comment, resulting in helpful feedback. Old Joe McKenna and his army buddies decided they wanted to come out of cyber storage and be heard. Who am I not to grant them the opportunity? The original story is dramatic with serious overtones, whereas in the play version the characters have been flushed out to make them individuals in their own right and to propel the story along.
In reading the story, it was so quiet you could have heard the proverbial pin drop. The characters were ready for their public debut and as line after line was recited, their story played out in my mind. Needless to say, Joe and his buddies were enthusiastically received and there were calls by everyone to extend it into a book. The listeners wanted more and there was a half-hour discussion and suggestions offered as to where the story line could go. In explaining that I was working on a play version, they also wanted to hear the play read out loud. I'm very superstitious in sharing in as far as my new plays are concerned although it is a valuable opportunity to gauge their reaction to the contents. We'll see.
Meanwhile, Joe and the guys have left the room, happy that they had a chance to be heard. It's the least I could do.
In the way of background information although I've probably shared this in a previous posting, the story line it is based on an interview with army veterans conducted a while back for my newspaper column, focusing on their Remembrance Day memories. Somehow, it caught my imagination and slowly developed into a short story, actually more towards a novelette.
Over the years it was tweaked and eventually put into cyber storage. The characters, though, wouldn't be forgotten, which led to the creation of the one-act play.
As a member of a small writer's group, we read our latest projects out loud for critique and comment, resulting in helpful feedback. Old Joe McKenna and his army buddies decided they wanted to come out of cyber storage and be heard. Who am I not to grant them the opportunity? The original story is dramatic with serious overtones, whereas in the play version the characters have been flushed out to make them individuals in their own right and to propel the story along.
In reading the story, it was so quiet you could have heard the proverbial pin drop. The characters were ready for their public debut and as line after line was recited, their story played out in my mind. Needless to say, Joe and his buddies were enthusiastically received and there were calls by everyone to extend it into a book. The listeners wanted more and there was a half-hour discussion and suggestions offered as to where the story line could go. In explaining that I was working on a play version, they also wanted to hear the play read out loud. I'm very superstitious in sharing in as far as my new plays are concerned although it is a valuable opportunity to gauge their reaction to the contents. We'll see.
Meanwhile, Joe and the guys have left the room, happy that they had a chance to be heard. It's the least I could do.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Joe McKenna has run into a problem and the playwright is angsting
I'm in angst - again.
In spite of a concerted effort to finish my "Old Soldiers" play in the hope of entering it in the BBC International Playwriting Competition, I've encountered a new and unexpected problem. Content is fine. Flow is fine. Story line is interesting.
"Now what, Eleanor?" Joe is asking me. "How much longer are you going to keep us waiting? We ain't gettin' any younger."
I know, Joe! I know!
Today for whatever reason, I decided to check the rules in as far as the number of pages and characters allowed.
"All scripts submitted must be a minimum of 45 pages of A4 paper (or equivalent) and a maximum of 65 pages (note, a rough guide is a minute per page; please read and time your play before you send it). The play should have a maximum of six central characters (there may be up to 3 small "doubling" characters too, who don’t have more than a few lines each). Your script must be accompanied by a short synopsis which outlines the complete story of the play. This must be no more than 400 words."
The way that I view it, there could be and then again, maybe not, more than six main characters. Thing is...it's all in one's definition of "main characters." Do main characters re-occur throughout the play? How does one define a "minor character?" There are, give or take a character, nine characters in total. The play opens with the four old army buddies, who definitely fall into the main character category. Then there are other lesser but not necessarily main characters who come-and-go but contribute to the over-all plot of the play. Eliminating one or two in my mind, would ruin the flow of the play. Everyone has a part to play - excuse the pun.
I've reached the 45 page mark, which is in itself an accomplishment. Really in a quandry as to how to proceed. Usually, when in doubt, I would send off an e-mail and ask for a clarification but after a check on the BBC site, this isn't an option. Maybe the best thing to do is to finish the play, submit it and put it in the hands of fate. Do I have a choice?
In spite of a concerted effort to finish my "Old Soldiers" play in the hope of entering it in the BBC International Playwriting Competition, I've encountered a new and unexpected problem. Content is fine. Flow is fine. Story line is interesting.
"Now what, Eleanor?" Joe is asking me. "How much longer are you going to keep us waiting? We ain't gettin' any younger."
I know, Joe! I know!
Today for whatever reason, I decided to check the rules in as far as the number of pages and characters allowed.
"All scripts submitted must be a minimum of 45 pages of A4 paper (or equivalent) and a maximum of 65 pages (note, a rough guide is a minute per page; please read and time your play before you send it). The play should have a maximum of six central characters (there may be up to 3 small "doubling" characters too, who don’t have more than a few lines each). Your script must be accompanied by a short synopsis which outlines the complete story of the play. This must be no more than 400 words."
The way that I view it, there could be and then again, maybe not, more than six main characters. Thing is...it's all in one's definition of "main characters." Do main characters re-occur throughout the play? How does one define a "minor character?" There are, give or take a character, nine characters in total. The play opens with the four old army buddies, who definitely fall into the main character category. Then there are other lesser but not necessarily main characters who come-and-go but contribute to the over-all plot of the play. Eliminating one or two in my mind, would ruin the flow of the play. Everyone has a part to play - excuse the pun.
I've reached the 45 page mark, which is in itself an accomplishment. Really in a quandry as to how to proceed. Usually, when in doubt, I would send off an e-mail and ask for a clarification but after a check on the BBC site, this isn't an option. Maybe the best thing to do is to finish the play, submit it and put it in the hands of fate. Do I have a choice?
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