Adam Szymkowicz's Blog, page 21

Jack And Jill Plays - Part 52 - So Hard.

new very short play. All rights reserved. That means you must get my permission should you want to do anything with this very short play.

(JACK and JILL. JACK is opening a bottle of wine.)

So Hard

by Adam Szymkowicz

JACK

It's so hard.

JILL

I know.

JACK

Day in. Day out.

JILL

I know.

JACK

I can't go on.

JILL

What would you do instead?

JACK

Give up? Join the circus.

JILL

Circus work is hard work. Harder than what you do.

JACK

Retire, then.

JILL

You have to work a long time first and make a lot of money.

JACK

Yeah. Become a bum then.

JILL

You don't want to do that. You know what you should do?

JACK

No, what?

JILL

Just keep working and stop complaining.

JACK

Yeah.

JILL

I'm tired of it.

JACK

I know.

JILL

Now will you open the bottle of wine?

(JACK finishes opening the bottle. He pours two glasses. They toast. They drink.)

JILL

Right?

JACK

It's pretty good.

JILL

It's really good.

JACK

Maybe I could be a sommelier.

JILL

No.

JACK

What about you?

JILL

I thought you'd never ask. I'm going to start making oven mitts.

JACK

Oven mitts?

JILL

Yeah.

JACK

Oven mitts?

JILL

Yes. They are all terrible. We can do better. As humans. We can do so much better.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Enter Your Email To Have New Blog Posts Sent To You

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Support The Blog

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mailing list to be invited to Adam's events

Email:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Adam's Patreon

Adam's New Play Exchange Profile (Plays to Read)

Books by Adam (Amazon)

View more on Adam Szymkowicz's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on October 07, 2017 09:00

Jack and Jill Plays - Part 51 - Another Year

new play. don't reproduce or produce without my permission.

Another Year

by Adam Szymkowicz

(JILL is reading a letter or writing a letter she wrote.)

JILL

All The Things I Never Said

One

Some days I can't stand you.

Two

Your kindness makes me cry sometimes.

Three

I wish you would clean out the fridge without me asking.

Four

I don't want to talk about it.

Five

Can one human ever really know another, like really know?

Six

I don't think I'm enough like what I wish I was.

Seven

I'm not enough.

Eight

I can never be what you want me to be.

Nine

Just give me five minutes.

Ten

I just want to take a shower.

Eleven

Make your own food.

Twelve

Are these bad shoes?

Thirteen

I'm gonna stop drinking.

Fourteen

I'm never going to stop drinking.

Fifteen

I hate that I'm mortal.

Sixteen

Don't wake me up. Just don't.

Seventeen

Another year has passed and I'm no different.

Sigh.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Enter Your Email To Have New Blog Posts Sent To You

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Support The Blog

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mailing list to be invited to Adam's events

Email:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Adam's Patreon

Adam's New Play Exchange Profile (Plays to Read)

Books by Adam (Amazon)

View more on Adam Szymkowicz's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on October 06, 2017 10:19

Jack And Jill Plays - Part 50 - Forbidden Fruit

a new play. Don't do anything with it before you ask me. Thanks.

Forbidden Fruit

by Adam Szymkowicz

(JACK and JILL and SNAKE in the garden. JACK and JILL are not wearing a lot.)

SNAKE

So you gotta eat the fruit.

JACK

I don't want to eat the fruit. I mean are there cookies.

JILL

Eat the fruit.

SNAKE

Eat it.

JILL

It's good for you. Look. I'm eating it too.

JACK

I know. I just don't want to.

SNAKE

Eat it!

JILL

For once will you just make a better choice? I'm tired of all the bad choices you make.

JACK

Fine. Fine. Look. I'm eating it. See?

JILL

It's good, right?

JACK

It's good.

SNAKE

I'll see you guys later.

(Exit SNAKE.)

JACK

Wait a minute. Were we allowed to eat this fruit?

JILL

Why wouldn't be allowed to eat fruit.

JACK

I feel like someone told me something about the fruit over here.

JILL

Maybe.

JACK

I'm almost sure.

JILL

Do you feel different after eating it?

JACK

A little. Like I know better that I don't know anything.

JILL

Harmless.

JACK

Are you cold?

JILL

A little.

JACK

We should put something on.

JILL

Okay.

JACK

You think we could get in trouble? For eating it?

JILL

I know! We'll write a note. Take this down.

(JAKE gets paper and writes.)

JILL

This is just to say

We have eaten

The fruits

that were on

the tree

and which

we think we were probably

not supposed

to eat

Forgive us

They were pretty good

and we feel

only a little different

JACK

Good. I'll put it under the rock.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Enter Your Email To Have New Blog Posts Sent To You

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Support The Blog

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mailing list to be invited to Adam's events

Email:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Adam's Patreon

Adam's New Play Exchange Profile (Plays to Read)

Books by Adam (Amazon)

View more on Adam Szymkowicz's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on October 05, 2017 10:00

Jack And Jill Plays - Part 49 - Prague

this is my play. all rights reserved. (so like if you want to do something with it, ask me first.)

Prague

by Adam Szymkowicz

(JACK and JILL sitting on the grass.)

JILL

I feel like this moment right here--

JACK

This moment?

JILL

Yeah. It might be one I remember forever. It all depends on what you say next.

(A long pause.)

JACK

That's too much pressure.

JILL

Or maybe I'll think of us and remember sitting on the grass, listening to the birds, not doing anything.

JACK

Maybe.

JILL

When I'm so busy someday maybe I'll remember this.

JACK

I'll remember Prague.

JILL

Prague. Sure. Prague. (pause) I am sorry.

JACK

Let's not talk about it.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Enter Your Email To Have New Blog Posts Sent To You

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Support The Blog

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mailing list to be invited to Adam's events

Email:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Adam's Patreon

Adam's New Play Exchange Profile (Plays to Read)

Books by Adam (Amazon)

View more on Adam Szymkowicz's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on October 04, 2017 10:51

Jack And Jill Plays - Part 48 - Raccoon

a short play. don't do anything with it unless you ask me first, you know?

Raccoon

by Adam Szymkowicz

(JACK is playing with a slinky. Enter JILL.)

JILL

Hey Jack.

JACK

Hey Jill.

JILL

Did you know we'll all die someday?

JACK

I didn't know that. Can we come back as raccoons?

JILL

Yes.

JACK

Cool.

JILL

Also--

JACK

What?

JILL

I'm sleeping with Sarah.

JACK

Oh. I always liked Sarah.

JILL

Me too. Me too. That's why we did some nasty together. It's over now of course. Which is why I'm telling you.

JACK

To upset me.

JILL

To feel better.

JACK

Oh.

JILL

But yeah, I guess I upset you, huh?

JACK

Yeah. You did do that. Ow. It feels like pain. A little. Ow. Mmm. Oh. I'm gonna go then.

JILL

What?

JACK

I'm moving out.

JILL

Why so?

JACK

Betrayal.

JILL

Oh.

JACK

I dislike betrayal.

JILL

I see.

JACK

So I'm moving out.

JILL

I shouldn't have told you.

JACK

I don't know. Yeah. Maybe. I've been thinking about The Stranger and I think. I think. He just shouldn't have shot the Arab.

JILL

I see that. I see that. Sure. So you'll move out?

JACK

Yeah. I feel like I should yell things but I don't feel like it.

JILL

Okay.

JACK

I'm taking the TV.

JILL

Yeah. I get that.

(JACK exits dejected.)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Enter Your Email To Have New Blog Posts Sent To You

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Support The Blog

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mailing list to be invited to Adam's events

Email:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Adam's Patreon

Adam's New Play Exchange Profile (Plays to Read)

Books by Adam (Amazon)

View more on Adam Szymkowicz's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on October 03, 2017 10:41

Jack And Jill Plays - Part 47 - What Happened?

another short new play. you must ask my permission if you wish to do anything with it. Thanks!

What Happened?

by Adam Szymkowicz

JILL

It's the end of an era.

JACK

Is it?

JILL

I remember when. Before. Way back.

JACK

Yeah.

JILL

Do you remember?

JACK

I remember some things.

JILL

We were so young.

JACK

Yeah.

JILL

And full of beans.

JACK

Yeah.

JILL

What happened?

JACK

I've been thinking about this and I think . . . now hear me out . . I think we became who we were supposed to be.

JILL

Huh. Maybe. Okay. Maybe. But also, maybe not yet.

JACK

Soon?

JILL

Maybe soon.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Enter Your Email To Have New Blog Posts Sent To You

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Support The Blog

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mailing list to be invited to Adam's events

Email:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Adam's Patreon

Adam's New Play Exchange Profile (Plays to Read)

Books by Adam (Amazon)

View more on Adam Szymkowicz's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on October 02, 2017 09:00

Jack And Jill Plays - Part 46 - Transformation

Play by me. All rights reserved. Contact me if you wish to produce or reproduce.

Transformation

by Adam Szymkowicz

(JACK and JILL are wrestling. It's sort of like WWE. Ridiculous moves. Posturing. It goes on for a while until one of them wins. You decide who that is based on what makes sense for your actors or whose turn it is or whatever.)

WINNER

Ha!

LOSER

I know.

WINNER

Ha! HA!

LOSER

Yeah yeah. Two out of three?

WINNER

No. I can't do that again.

LOSER

Then maybe I win. You default.

WINNER

I won. We can all agree I won.

LOSER

Whatever.

WINNER

I won.

LOSER

Want to play chess?

WINNER

No.

LOSER

You're afraid to lose?

WINNER

Yeah. I need this to feel good about myself right now.

LOSER

Okay. Fine. I'm going to go eat a cookie.

WINNER

I want a cookie. Maybe I shouldn't.

LOSER

You shouldn't.

WINNER

I think I'm going to wake up tomorrow a completely new person.

LOSER

Really?

WINNER

Yeah.

LOSER

Me too.

(As they exit.)

WINNER

Don't take my thing. You always do that.

LOSER

We can both have a transformation.

WINNER

I guess.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Enter Your Email To Have New Blog Posts Sent To You

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Support The Blog

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mailing list to be invited to Adam's events

Email:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Adam's Patreon

Adam's New Play Exchange Profile (Plays to Read)

Books by Adam (Amazon)

View more on Adam Szymkowicz's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on October 01, 2017 10:00

Jack And Jill Plays - Part 45 - Lasagna

New short play. Ask my permission if you want to do anything with it.

Lasagna

by Adma Szymkowicz

(JACK whittling a stick, barefoot. Enter JILL.)

JILL

Whatcha doin'?

JACK

Whittlin'.

JILL

Huh.

JACK

Yup.

JILL

The world moves past you and you sit there without any shoes on.

JACK

Yup.

JILL

I could do that.

JACK

Sure.

JILL

But I won't.

JACK

Yeah.

JILL

Wanna hear about my studies?

JACK

Sure. How are your studies going?

JILL

Good. I'm moving towards something. Refining my mind. Moving forward.

JACK

That's good. I'm making this stick pointier.

JILL

Are you making dinner?

JACK

I could make dinner but if I'm making dinner, it's lasagna.

JILL

Okay.

JACK

Okay.

(Exit JILL.)

JACK

Hey! You still there? Hey! You ghost! Are you still there? No? No?

(JACK listens really hard. Sounds of wind. Jack looks up.)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Enter Your Email To Have New Blog Posts Sent To You

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Support The Blog

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mailing list to be invited to Adam's events

Email:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Adam's Patreon

Adam's New Play Exchange Profile (Plays to Read)

Books by Adam (Amazon)

View more on Adam Szymkowicz's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on September 30, 2017 11:36

I Interview Playwrights Part 1000: C. Denby Swanson

C. Denby Swanson

Hometown: Austin, TX

Current Town: Austin, TX

Q: What are you working on now?

A: A Sloan/EST science-play commission called NUTSHELL, a one-woman show about Frances Glessner Lee, who is considered the “mother of forensic science.” She built the Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death, these precise miniatures of crime scenes, which are housed at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore and still, as Frances intended, used to train homicide detectives. I’m also writing a memoir and TV pilot about my first year as a foster parent. I fostered for five years and adopted my son in 2014.

Q: Tell me, if you will, a story from your childhood that explains who you are as a writer or as a person.

A: When I was a kid, like 6 or something, I was visiting my maternal grandparent’s house in East Texas, and a family friend came over. She was an opera singer. I thought she was quite glamorous. She asked me what I wanted to do when I grew up and I wanted to impress her so I said that I wanted to be an actor. My grandmother got angry and told me I was NOT going to be an actor, I was going to be a journalist. And I thought, Oohhh, if I grow up to be an actor it will make her mad! THAT IS SO COOL. Now I MUST be an actor. I went to HSPVA, the arts magnet high school in Houston. Then I was a theater major in college. My intention was to be an actor. My grandmother died my senior year. That’s when I found out that she had toured East Texas doing productions of Shakespeare. When she married, she gave it up and never spoke about it again. And I am actually a writer.

Q: If you could change one thing about theater, what would it be?

A: More yes.

Q: Who are or were your theatrical heroes?

A: Caryl Churchill, Irene Fornes, Adrienne Kennedy. And then Suzan-Lori Parks 365 Days/365 Plays. What kind of theater excites you? Small, intimate, unexpected, physical, impossible theater. The company I worked for in the 90’s, Frontera@HydePark Theater, did a production of Naomi Iizuka’s POLAROID STORIES, and I felt spiritually renewed every time I saw it.

Q: What advice do you have for playwrights just starting out?

A: My 7th grade science teacher, Mr. Cole, urged us to observe 10 things a day. Which I still do. Other than that, I heard someone ask Suzan-Lori Parks how to start a play and her answer was just, you know, “Start.” Start. Do it. Say yes.

Q: When not writing on a computer, what's your go-to paper and writing utensil?

A: I like the Miquelrius journals with graph paper and a fine-tipped blue ink pen. I doodle a lot and draw lots of arrows.

Q: When on computer, what's your font?

A: I used to experiment with fonts but then I became a parent and now don’t have the time or energy to mess with anything other than Times New Roman.

Q: Plugs, please:

A: My “killer comedy” THE NORWEGIANS is available through Dramatists Play Service. And I have several plays for young people available through Playscripts. I just finished a workshop of a new play I’ve been working on with Stephen Bittrich and David Marantz, a one-man holiday-themed dark comedy called I AM MY OWN SANTA, which received Seed Support from ScriptWorks, the Austin playwright services organization. We’re working on some production options. My new one-act for young actors, THE SUBSTITUTE TEACHER’S TALE, is being produced this fall in Dallas. I wrote the play for the students of a former student of mine about my high school English teacher, Mrs. Catley, and her love of the Canterbury Tales. I like the legacy of writing about an important teacher for a student who is now a teacher with students of his own.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Enter Your Email To Have New Blog Posts Sent To You

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Support The Blog

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mailing list to be invited to Adam's events

Email:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Adam's Patreon

Adam's New Play Exchange Profile (Plays to Read)

Books by Adam (Amazon)

<div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogs... src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogs..." border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogs... src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogs..." border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogs... src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogs..." border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogs... src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogs..." border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogs... src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogs..." border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogs... src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogs..." border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogsp..." height="1" width="1" alt=""/>

View more on Adam Szymkowicz's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on September 30, 2017 05:00

Jack and Jill Plays - Part 44 - Dusty

another short play. All right reserved-- don't produce or reproduce without my permission.

Dusty

by Adam Szymkowicz

(JACK and JILL facing each other, not quite seeing each other)

JACK

The wind kicks up and I can barely see through the dust. I know she's there, but the dust. The dust!

JILL

There's a buried city in my head. So many stories, memories, worries, wishes, hopes, anger, disappointment, joy, loss, so much drama all enacting but one click and it's all over.

JACK

I'm a cowboy and I pull up my kerchief over my nose and I put on the goggles so I can see. She's there. I know she's there. One day the dust will settle and I'll find her again. I just have to keep going.

JILL

Jack?

JACK

Jill, I hear you. Where are you?

JILL

Somewhere you can't follow.

JACK

Jill!

JILL

Jack! ... Jack!

JACK

Jill!

JILL

nn.

JACK

But she's gone.

JILL

One click and it's over. The electric impulses die. Life was... whatever life was. It continues for others. But for me.

JACK

The dust and the dust and the dust and the dust.

JILL

And then the rain.

JACK

But nothing gets washed away.

JILL

You'll remember me, won't you?

JACK

I still have teeth marks on my arm.

JILL

Remember me.

JACK

I'll try.

JILL

And then the wind blows once more and I'm gone.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Enter Your Email To Have New Blog Posts Sent To You

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Support The Blog

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mailing list to be invited to Adam's events

Email:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Adam's Patreon

Adam's New Play Exchange Profile (Plays to Read)

Books by Adam (Amazon)