This play idea is based on two characters a friend and I created in our Intro to Theatre class. I now hope to expand them into a 10-minute play idea. I don't really know proper play structure that well, but here's a draft I've been working on:
SCENE 1
(Marc is sitting on a rocky path leading up a mountainside. Ned comes running up the slope to his friend.)
NED
I have something to tell you.
MARC
What, my friend, what news from the north?
NED
A storm is brewing.
MARC
Really . . what kind of storm?
NED
What do you mean, what kind of storm? One with lightning, rain, dark clouds . . you know, the usual.
MARC
I picked the wrong day not to bring my umbrella.
NED
It’s okay, we will go to the top of the mountain and construct some sort of shelter out of fig leaves and bark.
MARC
Right, like Pippen always said "the closer you are to danger the further you are to harm."
NED
Pippen really said that?
MARC
Either Pippen or Aristotle, maybe Gandalf . . . or something like that - anyway! To the top of the mountain?
END SCENE 1
SCENE 2
(The top of the mountain.)
MARC
You idiot! There is no bark and there are no fig leaves, or leaves, or fruit of any kind up here. What are we going to do now?
NED
We can do a rain dance . . .to make it NOT rain?
MARC
YES, but we’ll have to sacrifice a virgin to appease the rain gods.
NED
Where are we going to find a virgin . . . ?
(Ned and Marc babble over top one another, the only discernible thing that comes out is that neither of them are virgins, or at least they want the other to think that.)
MARC
All right, well it’s obvious we’re not going to find a virgin here, so I’ll start building an altar, out of stones and stuff, like Moses, and you . . . go find us a virgin.
NED
O-o-okay, if there’s one thing I’m good at it’s spotting virgins.
(Ned leaves to find a virgin as Marc begins to construct an altar. While he is building, Marc notices something suspicious off in the direction Ned left, but continues building until Ned returns.)
The dialogue is witty and interesting, but I have no clue what it's really about -- probably because it's just a snippet so far.
ReplyDeleteI have two recommendations for you:
1. Don't change locations in a 10-minute play. Figure out how to keep them in the same place.
2. You're cheating yourself out of some excellent lines in the babbling over each other part. I would definitely write out exactly what they say. You could probably come up with a good page or two just on that exchange.
Let me read the next draft...
Thanks, Scott. Yes, I did consider the "don't change locations thing" - with this it may be difficult and for this particular project I didn't really care about it changing, BUT if I have more serious considerations for it, I may attempt that - so thanks!
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you for pointing out the part of the babbling dialogue. My friend and I actually knew what this exchange was and could improvise it, but you are right, if I write it down properly then it will be executed hopefully to my wishes :). I'll be putting up the rest of it this weekend!