NEW PLAY: PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE.

 "PAST,  PRESENT, FUTURE"

A NEW PLAY

BY

BINA SHARIF

copyright:binasharif 2023

STAGE:

THREE AREAS DEMARKTED BY LIGHTING,  DOWNSTAGE, OTHERWISE EMPTY SPACE EXCEPT TWO CHAIRS ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF A TABLE IN THE MIDDLE WITH TWO MICROPHONES ON EACH SIDE,  UPSTAGE LEFT.

Directions:

Lights going out, Music, (Arabic) coming on...30 seconds

Lights up, a woman standing,  dim lightspot on her downstage right

TIME:  PAST

The woman is holding a placard with words such as written on it:  FIRST IRAQ WAR, 1991

(She begins to recite a war poem) 

MY ONLY CHILD

(At the end of the poem, lights fade on her, Arabic music comes on. she moves to another area,

 downstage center)

TIME : PAST

Music fades, lights up, focused spot, hazy, bluish, slightly golden light

(She picks up anpther placard with words,  AFGHAN WAR, 2003

I AM SILENT (War poem)

(at the end of the poem, Arabic lament comes on, lights fade, she moves to downstage left with a placard

words written on it are:  SECOND IRAQ WAR: 2003

TIME: PAST

I

POEM OF IQRA

(At the end of her poem, Arabic music comes on, lights fade, she moves upstage and sits down.

music plays for about 50 seconds.

TIME:  PRESENT

INTERVIEW???

(A BRITISH TALK SHOW HOST JOINS HER UPSTAGE LEFT AND SITS DOWN ON ONE OF THE CHAIR AND ADJUST THE MIKE)

PAUL BARTLETT:

Thank you for joining me at the last minute on a short notice

MONA STEVENS

Thank you for having me.  (To be written)

( At te end of the scene, lights fade, Paul leaves, music comes on...20 seconds, music fades, lights come up, Mona is still sitting at te same chair...)

TIME:  PRESENT

HUMANITARIAN PAUSE

(lights fade, music comes on, music fades, James, ( both roles are being played by the same actor who previously played Paul) stands downstage center, special spot, bright light)

TIME:  PRESENT

PEACE MONOLOGUE

(lights fade on James,  a different character played by the same actor)  music starts, plays for 30 seconds, Mona takes downstage center spot

TIME: PRESENT

MONA'S LAMENT FOR HER SISTER'S DEATH

(The monologue is interupted often by bursts of music, maybe Jhouk jaoon, or Allah's names, lights fade, she moves upstage left and sits. James join her at the table upstage left.

TIME: PRESENT

THIS AND THAT

JAMES

MONA.

(Lights fade, music comes on, James leave, Mona goes back and sit down

MONA

TWO STATE SOLUTION

(James  come and join Mona)

TIME: PRESENT

ANOTHER HAPPY DAY

(Lights fade, Paul leaves, Mona moves downstage center, spot light, music fades, lights up)

TIME: PRESENT

DIALOGUE, A.K.A. TO MY MEMORY A LETTER SENT

Mona stands still for a while, trying to open an imaginary door, trie again and again but hesitate at the same time, another woman, Didi comes on singing a lament like dirge and stand next to Mona.)

DIALOGUE:

END LINE, LET'S SLEEP, A LONG LASTING SLEEP, IT'S BEEN A LONG JOURNEY.

(Lights fade, end of play)

END OF PLAY