Tuesday, November 14, 2017

November 2017 Writing Challenge - #13 - The Empty Space

Peter Brook’s The Empty Space aside… start a play with an empty stage.

Keep it empty… save one thing. 

Not a human

You can have things, people, sounds, effects etc OFF THE STAGE

But on the stage… only the one thing.

The thing can transform into different or deteriorated versions of itself.

Keep dramatic and theatrical structures.

Stasis

Inciting incident - likely the cause or arrival of the thing…

Rising Action

Climax

Denouement

New Stasis 

Idea for things:

bomb
bra/underwear
Dog
Snake
Ice sculpture
Fire
Water
Stage light.

BONUS:

have a fourth wall.

************

Still casting about for a throughline on this one...

**************

                          DUNCAN
Why would you just wait around for someone to change their mind?

                          JEFFREY
I'm not just waiting around.  He's my friend.  Friends spend time together.

                          DUNCAN
You gave him a love potion he used on someone else.  Take a hint.

                          JEFFREY
So what exactly do you do?

                          DUNCAN
What exactly - ?

                          JEFFREY
When you like somebody, you know, rather than just wait around for them to change their mind, what do you do?

                          DUNCAN
I tell them I like them, I ask for their phone number, I engage them in conversation, I assume they don't need to be hit over the head.

                          JEFFREY
This is new for me.

                          DUNCAN
What?

                          JEFFREY
Being the one someone is interested in.

                          DUNCAN
Well, it's fading fast if you don't get your act together.

                          JEFFREY
And what exactly would constitute getting my act together?

                          DUNCAN
I have to tell you everything?

                          JEFFREY
No.

                          DUNCAN
Well?

They kiss.

                          DUNCAN (cont'd)
Finally.

                          JEFFREY
You could just ask, you know.

                          DUNCAN
Chemistry lessons?  You need chemistry lessons?

                          JEFFREY
Apparently.

                          DUNCAN
If I'm standing this close to you -

                          JEFFREY
Yeah.

                          DUNCAN
Which, in my capacity as a store employee, is clearly unprofessional -

                          JEFFREY
Yeah.

                          DUNCAN
So far inside your personal space as to be uncomfortable -

                          JEFFREY
Yeah.

                          DUNCAN
That probably means I want to lay hands on you.

                          JEFFREY
Oh.

                          DUNCAN
So, you would be within your rights to kiss me.

                          JEFFREY
I see.

                          DUNCAN
Unless I tell you not to.

                          JEFFREY
Are you telling me not to?

                          DUNCAN
No.

                          JEFFREY
Good to know.

They kiss again.

                          DUNCAN
Teaching you how to be less socially awkward is going to be frustrating.

                          JEFFREY
But it's kinda fun, so far, right?

                          DUNCAN
Don't push your luck.

They kiss again.



(to be continued)

No comments: