I attended a couple of workshops on adapting Shakespeare recently. The first (with Sapidah Kian) was focussed on creating a piece of physical theatre. The second (with Mark Wilson) was a broader, conceptual approach. During this one we had some time to do some writing. Here the five little ambiguous scenes I wrote. I call it 'Australian Politics'.
SCENE 1
A: It comes.
B: It can't.
A: Too late. It comes.
B: I'm not ready.
A: What do you need? It comes.
B: I don't know.
A: Prepare. It comes.
B: You must stop it.
A: I can't. It comes.
B: How did it star?
A: You were there...and now it comes.
B: What should I do?
A: There is nothing you can do. It comes.
B: When will it get here?
A: You don't know?
B: Do you know?
A: I know it comes.
B: Is that enough?
A: Enough for now.
B: Is now enough?
A: Enough for who?
B: You.
A: You?
B: I need more. It's too soon.
A: Will it ever be the right time?
B: Never.
A: Forever.
SCENE 2
A: Who's turn is it.
B: I threw last.
A: But I threw first.
B: That is irrelevant.
A: We must count backwards.
B: We don't need to go back that far.
A: We must see the whole picture.
B: Just be in the moment.
A: How will we ever know we are right?
B: How can we be wrong?
A: I don't know what to do .
B: We can't just do nothing.
A: But what if we make a mistake?
B: Hesitation is a mistake.
A: Care is required.
B: Stillness is death.
SCENE 3
A: Where are we going?
B: Where are we now?
A: We're not where we were supposed to be.
B: Where is that?
A: Not here.
B: You are here.
A: I am not staying.
B: Where are you going?
A: I don't know.
B: Then how do you know it's not here?
A: What's not here?
B: Whatever it is you are looking for.
A: Who says I am looking for something?
B: You do.
A: I am looking for somewhere.
B: Where are you going?
A: I don't know.
SCENE 4
A: Look at that.
B: What do you see?
A: Can you see it?
B: Point to it.
A: It's there. See?
B: I can't see anything.
A: Open your eyes.
B: I'm scared.
A: You don't know what I am pointing to.
B: That's not what I am afraid of.
A: What are you afraid of?
B: I don't know.
A: Take a risk.
B: Can you die of fright?
A: Can you?
B: My heart is racing.
A: You have nothing to be afraid of.
B: You don't know that.
A: I know you are afraid right now.
B: Yes.
A: If you open your eyes you will see there is nothing to fear.
SCENE 5
A: Just what I was looking for.
B: That's mine.
A: Have you bought it already?
B: Not yet.
A: Then it's not yours.
B: I had my hands on it.
A: Now I have my hands on it.
B: Be a doll.
A: I am nobody's puppet.
B: Let go.
A: Make me.
B: Is this how you behave in public?
A: Is this how you speak to an adult?
B: I want it more than you.
A: How can you possibly know that?
B: It will look better on me.
A: I am not buying it for myself.
B: You are not buying it at all.
