BAD DATERS AT PARADISE THEATER

 BAD DATERS.       (Now Closed)

BY

Derek Murphy

Directed by

Colm Summers

At paradise theater 

BAD DATERS Is an odd kind of romantic two hander with Kate Arrington and Shane McNaughton.

Staging is minimum and extremely effective. A long narrow platform in the center of stage. Audience

 sits on both side. Two individuals, Liam and Wendy have a date tonight. They appear and stand on the

 opposite side of the platform. Wendy is immaculately dressed. Amazingly stylish dark brown coat, 

Impeccable white blouse, light brown pants and fancy black sandals.

Her appearance is the indication that the lady is in total control of herself. 

 She is also carrying pepper spray and a loud whistle.

  She repeatedly cleans her hands with sanitizer. All the defense mechanisms are handy.

On the other hand, Liam, a nice looking young man dressed in jeans is a symbol of politeness, subdued

 and humble. Wendy has a ferocious tongue as well. No one thinks that they will ever be able to manage

 a second date but the playwright brilliantly handle all three dates.

In reality both of these characters are broken people. They have encountered heart breaks and tragedies

and are terrified to have closeness to an other person but they are extremely lonely and isolated and in

their own way trying to make an effort.

Liam's wife recently committed suicide and left him a note, "Make an effort," and Wendy's mother died

 in a car accident.

Deep down they desperately need to get out of their loneliness and self imposed isolation.

They have a second date which somehow eases a bit of Wendy's defenses, at least it minimize it

and Liam feels more comfortable with her control freak nature and eventually they gain the courage to

be a bit more comfortable with each other. 

These characters not only are hurting but seem not to like themselves and the dating for them is

overwhelming.

  It is a reminder of their psychic pain and psychological complexity.

They are awkward and distrust themselves but they pursue against all odds and eventually the grace

and intimacy they have been seeking shines within. The magic is in Derek Murphy's writing and being

Irish is part of that magic. The play is also brilliantly directed by Colm Summers.

The play is hilarious as well and very funny because no one has ever experienced dates like these ones.

Third date is a secret and it is quiet absorbing. Who knew that these bad daters could be so good.

REVIEWED BY

BINA SHARIF

Publisher/Editor: artsinternational.blogspot.com

She is a member of American Theater Critics Association: ATCA

email: binashariff@gmail.com

Mobile: 212-260-6207

 PEOPLE

PEOPLE ARE CONSTANTLY ON MY MIND

WHO ARE THEY?

I HAVE NO IDEA

PEOPLE HERE?

OR PEOPLE ABROAD?

ALL PEOPLE

WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO YOU?

NOTHING

SO, WHY DON'T YOU LIKE THEM?

I DIDN'T SAY, THAT I DON'T LIKE THEM. I SAID PEOPLE ARE CONSTANTLY ON MY MIND.

YOU SEEM ANGRY AT PEOPLE

HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT?

PEOPLE ON MY MIND CAN MEAN THAT I CARE FOR THEM

WORRY ABOUT THEM

LOVE THEM....

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

CAREER

THINGS WHICH MIGHT REDUCES YOUR GLOOM A BIT'

1: CONCENTRATE ON THAT. ONLY ON THAT FOR A WHILE

BECAUSE THESE VERY THINGS ARE CURATIVE...

2: THEN SPEND MORE TIME EVERY DAY ON THOSE CURATIVE THINGS, YOU MIGHT

HAVE DISCOVERED BY CHANCE...

3: THOSE VERY THINGS YOU SHOULD DEVELOP PASION FOR AND MAKE THEM PART OF

 YOUR DAILY EXISTENCE.

4: THOSE LITTLE THINGS ARE NOT A WASTE OF TIME.

5: THAT SHOULD BE YOUR CAREER.

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

MEANIGFUL

"YOU BEED SOMETHING MO SET AGAINST SUFFERING. 

NOT HAPPINESS BUT SUFFERING."    Jordan Peterson

"DEPTH OF CATASTROPHY-- DO SOMETHING WHICH GIVES YOU HOPE TO LIVE FOR." JP

"SOCIAL PRESSURE OF MAGNIFICANT, UNPARALLEL MAGNITUDE." JP

MUNDANE NORMALITY...

"SIT DOWN BREATH.

LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THAT." JP

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

CURATIVE THINGS

1: DRAWING

2: WRITING

3: READING

4: GOING FOR A WALK

5: GOING TO A CAFE

6: SEEING THEATER

7: DOING THEATER

8: PERFORMANCES/MONOLOGUES AT POETRY READINGS

9: TALKING TO SOME NICE, LOVING, RESPECTABLE PEOPLE.

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

TYRANICAL PEOPLE

PEOPLE ARE FUNDAMENTALLY TYRANICAL

IN KING'S COURT, THE FOOL IS THE ONLY ONE WHO TELLS THE TRUTH

AND IF KING DIESN'T LIKE IT HE BECOMES A TYRANT

IF YOU HAVE ENEMIES-THAT'S GOOD-THAT MEANS YOU HAVE STOOD UP FOR

  SOMETHING IN THE PAST."?

STAND UP FOR YOUR SELF AND STAND UP FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN.

DO NOT EAT LATER THAN 7PM

READ BEFORE SLEEPING

NO PHONE

SLEEP DOWNSTAIRS SOMETIME TO REST.

YOU NEED REST, YOU WENT THROUGH HELL

"YOU ARE ALL BANGED UP." Dr. Maccanne 

ASK FOR TICKETS

1: CORIOLANUS...TYFNA

2; MOTHER RUSSIA: SIGNATURE

 3:  SOHO REP

DIARY OF AN UNKNOWN WRITER

 DIARY OF AN UNKNOWN WRITER

DON'T COMPLAIN TOO MUCH

DON'T TALK TOO MUC

DON'T PRAISE OTHERS TOO MUCH.

DON'T HAVE MONOTNOUS WEARINESS

USE DIRECT OBSERVATION

HAVE HORROR OF VULGARITY AND CONTEMPT

REMAIN SILENT ABOUT MANY THINGS.

THE DIARY OF AN UNKNOWN WRITER

 DIARY OF AN UNKNOWN WRITER

"RATHER THAN BEMOANING WHAT IS LOST

WE SHOULD CHAMPION WHAT COULD BE GAINED," Hennah Essex

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

MUPASSANT

"I ENTERED LITERARY LIFE AS A METEOR, AND I SHALL

LEAVE IT LIKE A THUNDER BOLT."

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

"WITH THE FERTILITY OF A MASTER HAND PRODUCED

NOVELS, POETRY, SHORT STORIES, ROMANCES AND TRAVELS

WITHIN 10 YEARS ONLY TO SINK PERMANENTLY INTO THE

ABYSS OF MADNESS AND DEATH,"

THE VERY MOMENT THE SUCCESS CAME TO HIM. THE MALADY

THAT NEVER AFTERWARDS LEFT HIM CAME ALSO AND 

SEATED MOTIONLESS AT HIS SIDE, GAZED AT HIM WITH HIS

THREATENING COUNTENANCE,

TERRIBLE HEADACHES, INSOMNIA, NERVOUS ATTACKS, HIS SIGHT BECAME

EFFECTED.  SHUDDERING FITS OF FEAR, THE DREAD OF THAT HORRIBLE

SENSATION OF HALLUCINATIONS.

ANGUISH OF FEAR CAUSED NOT BY THE PRESENCE OF DANGER OR OF

 INEVITABLE DEATH, BUT BY CERTAIN ABNORMAL CONDITIONS, BY CERTAIN

MYSTERIOUS INFLUENCES IN PRESENCE OF VAGUE DANGERS.

"THE FEAR OF INCOMPREHENSIBLE TERROR AND MORBID DISTRESS.

OLD PORT OF ANTIBES BEYOND THE CAUSWAY OF CANNES, HIS YACHT

BE-AMI AWAITED. HE FELT HE WAS HOPELESSLY VANQUISHED LIKE

GERAD de NERVAL--HE ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. HE WASN'T SUCCESSFUL.

HIS MIND, "INDIFFERENT TO ALL UNHAPPINESS" HAD ENTERED INTO ETERNAL

DARKNESS"

BACK TO PARIS AND PLACED IN DR. MEURIOTS SANATORIUM WHERE AFTER

18 MONTHS OF MECHANICAL EXISTENCE THE "METEOR" QUIETLY PASSED AWAY.

HE HAD INDESTRUCTIBLE DISCIPLINE AND COLD LUCIDITY. 

H-EDOUARD MAYNIAL

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

"THE ODOR OF INVASION."

EXHAUSTED, WORN OUT, INCAPABLE OF THOUGHT OR RESOLVE, FATIGUED

AT THE MERCY OF UNREASONING SAVAGE FORCE PERMEATING ODOR-ODOR

OF INVASION WHICH CHANGED THE TASTE OF FOOD PERMEATED DWELLING AND

 PLACES OF PUBLIC RESORT MADE ON IMAGINE ONES IN FAR--FAR DISTANT LANDS AMID DANGEROUS TRIBES

 

DIRECTION: SINGING BIRDS

 DIRECTION: STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS

OF SINGING BIRDS.

1: After house lights dim

2: Kevin goes and sit downstage right

3: Burda starts

4 :Bulbul dressed in beautiful Asian clothes and jewelery scarf on her head

enters carrying a lantern enters from upstage left, walks slowly and then sit down

downstage left. Burda continues.

5: Burda ends

6: Bulbul starts to sing, Aey Jazba aey Dil, ghar mein chaoon.

7: at the end of the song, light comes up on her and she talks

8: I AM A SINGING BIRD FROM THE EAST. MY NAME IS BULBUL

9: Lights fade on Bulbul

10: lights come up on Kevin

11: He talks. I AM A SINGING BIRD FROM THE WEST. MY NAME IS CARDINAL

12: He sings western song

13: At the end of the song, lights fade on Kevin

14:lights come up on Bulbul

15: Bulbul does a short monologue...

DIARY OF AN UNKNOWN WRITER

DIARY OF AN UNKNOWN WRITER

THOMAS AQUINAS'S THEORY OF BEAUTY

THREE THINGS ARE NEEDED FOR BEAUTY

1: WHOLENESS

2: HARMONY

3: RADIANCE

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

PETER'S DICTUM

"ALL ART CONSTANTLY ASPIRES TO THE CONDITION OF MUSIC."

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

JAMES JOYCE'S SETTINGS-TOPICS-ISSUES-PREOCCUPATIONS WHICH DROVE HIM

ON TO HIS MATERIAL FOR HIS MASTERPIECE, ULYSSES

CITY

POLITICS

LITERARY POLITICS

AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL 

MUSIC

SOCIAL COMEDY

PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FACES

MARRIAGE BOND

TIES OF PRESENT AND PAST

REALISM AND SYMBOLISM

VERBAL FELICITY

VIVACIOUS AND LIVELY

LULLING AND INCANTATORY

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

TAKE THE THREADS WITH THIS ONE STORY, "THE DEAD." IS MADE AND FOLLOW THEM.

"BAWDRY HAS LIBERATING QUALITY."

"PERCEPTION OF HUMAN CONDITION AS A STATE OF EXILE." JOYCE

JAMES JOYCE IS A MASTER BECAUSE OF THE RICH TEXTURE AND MASTERY OF HIS

 WORK

IT'S RELIGIOUS SENSE OF MASTERY AND UNITY OF LIFE, IT'S CONVICTION OF THE

VALIDITY OF MYTH IN INTERPRETING THAT MYSTERYAND IT'S PERCEPTION OF THE

HUMAN CONDITION AS A STATE OF EXILE.

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

"IT'S SOMETHING FAILS US.

FIRST WE FEEL.

THEN WE FAIL."  JOYCE

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

"DARE AND ENDURE

ENDURE AND DARE." BS

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

"CONTACTS WITH THE ELEMENTS OR

PRIMITIVE FORCES CONSTRAINTS US

TO OVERCOME THE FEARS AND MEANNESS WHICH

ARE PART OF HUMAN NATURE."     Anonymous? ormaybe Ernest Junger?

exploration of his own dreams, life, intense poetic realization of hidden in ourselves,

basic experiences, 

"CHAOS AND NOTHINGNESS AND THE MEANS OF OVERCOMING IT

AND WITH VALUES TO SET AGAINST IT."  ?

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

"CHAOS AND NOTHINGNESS CAN'T GO AWAY

BUT FOR SURE CAN BE POSTPONED FOR THE DAY

BY DOING SOMETHING YOU REALLY LOVE TO DO

THAT WOULD KEEP CHAOS AND LONELINESS

AWAY FOR AT LEAST ONE DAY ND THEN THE NEXT

DAY AND THE NEXT..."  BS

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

"YOU MUST BE UN-NERVED BY EVERY OCCASION AND BY EVERYBODY-

OTHERWISE YOU WILL DESTROY YOURSELF AT EVERY MOMENT OF THE DAY

AND BY EVERYONE YOU ENCOUNTER. PREPARE YOURSELF IN ADVANCE TO

BE TOTALLY UN-NERVED BY EVERY ATROCITY."  BS

A----------------------------------------

"RUBBLE OF TE PAST."   ?

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

"HAVE THAT SMILE ON ALWAYS FOR IRRITANT PEOPLE.

THAT SMILE ONE MUST RESERVE FOR ANYONE-WHO CAN BE A

SOURCE OF ANNOYANCE OF ONE KIND OR OTHER.

THAT SMILE, SCEPTICLE, TOLERANT, LANGUIDLY AMUSED."  ?

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

EMPTINESS OF THE DAY

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

EMPTINESS OF THE AFTERNOON

OF  THE EVENING

OF THE NIGHT...

HOW TO FILL IT/

TRY

TRY-TRY YOUR BEST TO DO SOMETHING

ANYTHING WHICH INTEREST YOU

ANYTHING  WHICH YOU LIKE

WHICH YOU LOVE

WHICH YOU WOULD THINK ABOUT

TALK ABOUT

LAUGH ABOUT

REMEMBER

REMEMBER THINGS YOU LOVE

REMEMBER THINGS YOU LOVED

REMEMBER THINGS YOU LOST

MEMORIES ARE THE SOURCE OF SORROW

REMEMBER ANY WAY

TRY TO MAKE THEM PlEASANT

LIKE, PLEASANT, PLEASURABLE COMPANIONS..BS

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

'REVENANT: SOME MYSTERIOUS THING COMING FROM THE PAST

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

"THE PAST BEATS INSIDE ME LIKE A SECOND HEART."  John Banville's book, the sea

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

AGONISED INARTICULACY

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

"THIS SAFAR

THIS JOURNEY

HAD TO BE MADE

A JOURNEY WHICH IS NOT A REAL JOURNEY

BUT IT IS OF IMPORTANCE OF SOME KIND.

WHY AM I HEADING THIS WAY?

IT WAS NEVER MEANT TO BE...

I WAS SUPPOSED TO GO ON

I WAS SUPPOSED TO FOLLOW THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION

BUT PERHAPS THE WRONG DIRECTION

OR A DIFFERENT DIRECTION WAS MEANT TO BE

PERHAPS THE WRONG DIRECTION WAS THE RIGHT ONE?

PERHAPS NO ONE REALLY KNOW THE ROAD WE END UP FOLLOWING

OR THE ROAD WE ARE ON UNKNOWINGLY IS THE RIGHT ROAD

OR THE WRONG ONE...

BUT I HAVE WALKED MILES NOWCAN'T GO BACK...

ALL THE ROAD IN THAT DIRECTION HAVE VANISHED

WHERE IS THAT I AM GOING TO GO?

BCKWARD?

FORWARD?

THE FORWARD ROADS ARE OCCUPIED

THE BACKWARD ROADS ARE DESTROYED

WHERE IS THAT I SHOULD GO?

wHERE IS THAT I WANT TO GO?"        BS

______________________________-

"LIFE IS VERY CRUEL

OR ONE IS VERY CRUAL TOWARDS LIFE

WE ALL KNOW THAT IT'S ONLY ONE LIFE

AND RATHER A SHORT LIFE

AND WE STILL BEHAVE

AS IF IT'S OUR ENEMY

AND WE TREAT IT ABOMINABLY

IT IS NOT OUR LIFE WHICH IS CRUEL

IT'S OUR OWN CRUELTY WHICH SOAKS

IT INTO AN UNBLESSED AND A MISERABLE STATE.

BE A LOVER TO YOUR LIFE

NOT EVEN A GOOD FRIEND

BUT A SWEETHEART OF A LOVER.

REMEMBER THAT FROM NOW ON...

IT DOESN'T HELP

ALWAYS BEING A MOANER

IT DOESN'T HELP AT ALL

TRUST ME...

I HAVE BEEN A MOANER ALL MY LIFE

NOTHING BUT SELF MUTILATION...

MUTILATION OF THE SOUL

AND DESTRUCTION OF A GIFT

LIFE, MY LIFE, MINE AND ONLY MINE...

MAKE THE BEST OF YOURSELF AND OF THE WORLD

FROM NOW ON....   BS

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

"NAGGED AT ME STRIDENTLY." ?

"SUMPTOUS."

"BYZENTINE COPPER AND GOLD

UNDER ENAMELLED BLUE."  ?

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

FRAGRANCE OF LIFE

WHEN YOU ARE MISERABLE

PEOPLE GET MIRTH

AND ENORMOUS ENJOYMENT OUT OF IT

BE NOT MISERABLE

OR DON'T LET THEM KNOW

FRAGRANCE OF LIFE...?

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

 

"YOU CAN'T MAKE THIS UP."

 "YOU CAN'T MAKE THIS UP"

FRAGMENT 6

 FRAGMENT 6

EVERYONE IS FOCUSSED ON THE NEXT THING

YOU ARE FREE TO DO THE SAME THING

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

"NOBLY AND OBEDIENT TO YOUR OWN DAIMAN ( TO THE GOD THAT IS

WITHIN YOU".)                        Marcus Aurelius

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

REVERE TO HOLD AND REGARD IN DEEP RESPECT.          Aurelius

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

"CONVERT EVERY HINDERANCE TO AN AID."                      Aurelius

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

"IMPROVE YOUR DISPOSITION." "IMPROVE ACTION."        Aurelius

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

"POWWER IS INNATE-DEEPLY ROOTED-HUMAN ABILITY

THAT'S POWER. NOT MONEY, NOT STATUS, NOT REWARDS.

INNATE DEEPLY ROOTED ABILITY.

IF YOU ARE HUMAN YOU POSSESS POWER.

IF YOU ARE HUMAN YOU HAVE ABILITY

A LOT OF ABILITY...YOU HEAR?

STOP PUTTING YOURSELF DOWN.

ABILITY IS NOT WHAT OTHERS GRANT YOU

ABILITY YOU DO HAVE BECAUSE YOU ARE HUMAN.

AND IF YOU ARE NOT, OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE NO ABILITY."   

  SO THE QUESTION IS ARE YOU HUMAN OR NOT? "   ???

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

"IT'S IN DOING WHAT MAN'S NATURE REQUIRES."               Aurelius

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

'CLOSING THE GAP BETWEEN WHERE YOU ARE NOW AND WHERE HAPPINESS LIES.

MAKE LIFE CHANGES THAT CREATES REAL ENVIORMENT OF HAPPINESS FOR

 YOURSELF.

AM I SEEKING HAPPINESS FROM EXTERNAL CIRCUMSTANCES?

AND SEEKING ATTENTION FROM OTHERS."

IN MY CASE DOING BOTH...

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

A LOW LIFE, LOWER THAN MANY SHOWING OFF THAT SHE IS SOMEBODY IMPORTANT

WHILE SHE IS ONLY SELF ABSORBED AND SELF LOVING, SELFISH, RUDE, UNCOUTH,

UNSOPHISTICATED CONSIDERING HERSELF AN INTELLECTUAL ALWAYS GIVING

 LECTURES OF PSEUDO INTELLIGENCE AND WISDOM...WISDOM? THAT'S QUESTIONABLE

SO IS INTELLECT. OH! PEASE SHUT UP, SHUT UP. I CAME TO THIS CAFE TO READ MY

 BOOK, SHUT UP AND LET OTHERS CONCENTRATE ON WORDS OF VALUE.

GO HOME AND BE LOUD AS MUCH AS YOU WANT OR NEED TO FEEL SO IMPORTANT.

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

DON'T FEEL HURT BY EXTERNAL THINGS.

HOW SHITTY CAN THEY BE!

SMELLY ROTTEN EXTERNAL THINGS CAN'T BE THE SOURCE OF YOUR SORROW.

SORROW IS A VERY PRECIOUS FEELING. YOU NEED TO GO THROUGH IT...

THAT WILL TAKE CARE OF THE HURT.

NOT THE MEANINGLESS, USELESS,UNCLEAN EXTERNAL THINGS.

YOU MUST NOT THINK SO LOW OF YOUR SELF TO BE HURT BY SARCASTIC REMARKS

 UTTERED WITH FAKE SMILES.

WITH YOUR TALENT AND YOUR EDUCATION IT WOULD BE A SHAME  AND AN INSULT

TO THE POIGNANT FEELING OF BEING HURT.

GET HURT, IF YOU HAVE TO BY A GREAT POEM WHICH REMINDS YOU OF YOUR

 TREMENDOUS LOSS AND NOT BY SOME LOUSY THING OR A NAST REMARK.

BE ABOVE ALL THAT. IT'S DROPS OF OIL SLIPPING ON WATER...

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

"LIFE IS COMPOSED OF THREE THINGS.

BODY

BREATH

INTELLIGENCE.........AURELIUS

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

"CONSIDER WHAT PAIN IS..."       ??

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

FRAGMENTS 5

 FRAGMENTS 5

"WHY MUST YOU DISCONTINUE WHAT YOU LOVE?"

"WHAT DO YOU LOVE?"

NO ANSWER

"YES, WHAT DO YOU LOVE?"

NO ANSWER...

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

IT WILL COME

WHY ARE YOU WAITING FOR IT

IT WILL COME WHEN IT IS TIME

YES, WHY ARE YOU WAITING FOR IT?

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

A: YOU DON'T KNOW?

B:  THAT'S THE PROBLEM

A:  YOU DON'T KNOW

B:  UNBELIEVABLE

A: YES, IT'S UNBELIEVABLE

B: YOU DON'T KNOW

A: NEITHER DO YOU

B; WASTE

A: WASTE OF LIFE

B: EVERYONES?

A: NO, YOUR'S

B: YOUR'S AND ONLY YOUR'S

A: YOURS AND MINE...WASTE, WASTE, TOTAL WASTE

B:  NOT MINE. YOUR'S AND ONLY YOUR'S. WASTE, WASTE, WASTE. COMPLETE WASTE.

      NOW, DEAL WITH IT...IF YOU CAN. AND YOU CAN'T. THAT I DO KNOW. THAT'S WHY

      YOUR LIFE IS A WASTE. NOW LET ME SLEEP. I AM FAMISHED WITH THIS NONSENSE.

A:  IT'S YOUR NONSENSE

B:  YOU DON'T KNOW

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

AND WHAT IS THIS?

WHO KNOWS

AND WHY DO YOU ALWAYS ASK ME CONDESCENDING QUESTIONS? WHO ARE YOU?

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

GOOD START

BAD END

SO SIMPLISTICK

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

C: YOU ARE GETTING FAT

D: YOU ARE IN A BAD MOOD TODAY

C: ONLY TODAY?

D: EVERY DAY, EVERY DAY

C: SHAME ON YOU. DETERIORATING FAST EVERY YEAR.

D: YOU ARE IN A BAD MOOD TODAY...

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

F: WRITE A PLAY

L: REALLY?

F: YES, WRITE A PLAY

L: YOU WRITE A PLAY

F:  I AM NOT A PLAYWRIGHT

L: NEITHER AM I

F: WHAT ARE YOU THEN?

L: I DON'T KNOW

F: WHO KNOWS IF YOU DON'T?

L: YOU DO...YOU KNOW. YOU KNOW EVERYTHING. YOU TELL ME ONCE AND FOR ALL,

     WHO I AM?

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

AMAZING LIFE

NOTHING TO DO

NO WHERE TO GO

I WENT TO PEE, I WENT SOMEWHERE. I HAD SOMETHING TO DO. I HAVE AN AMAZING

 LIFE UNLIKE YOU.

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

UNENDING TRAUMA

THAT'S WHAT TRAUMA IS.

UNENDING

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

HOW TO GET OUT OF IT?

WHAT?

NEVER MIND

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

"PATHOLOGICALLY DEPRESSED."

"YES, TRUST ME.

 YOU ARE

"PATHOLOGICALLY DEPRESSED"

YOU ARE...

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

"GET RID OF DEPRESSION, GET RID OF TRAUMA."

 "HOW?"

  "GIVE IT TO ME."

    "DON'T YOU HAVE ENOUGH OF YOUR OWN.?"

     "OH! NO, IT'S NEVER ENOUGH. THAT'S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT TRAUMA AND   

      DEPRESSION."

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

"MENTAL ILLNESS IS IT?"

 " YES, YES, YES. OH! YES."

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

GHUP SHUP

CHIT CHAT

ONE DAY WITH THIS PERSON

NEXT DAY WITHAT PERSON...

IS THAT ALL?

THAT'S ENOUGH. ISN'T IT?

TO INDULGE IN WASTE OF TIME...

IT'S NEVER ENOUGH.

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

"IT'S  BORING THE SAME, THE SAME, THE SAME

  CRY OF DESPAIR WITHOUT A SOLUTION."

"PLEASE FIND ONE

"IT'S YOUR DESPAIR, YOU FIND OUT."

 IF I COULD, DO YOU THINK I WILL EVER ASK YOU

"GO TO HELL."

  "YOU ARE NOT BEING NICE.

"NEITHER IS YOUR DESPAIR."

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

LEARNED HELPLESSNESS

"APPROACH THE PROBLEM OF THE MOMENT WITH DETERMINATION, NOT DESAPAIR

U?

 "

FRAGMENT 4

FRAGMENT 4

A:   EMILY BRONTE WROTE,"WUTHERING. HEIGHTS" AND CHARLOTE. BRONTE WROTE,

      "JANE EYRE"  

B: NO, IT'S OPPOSITE. CHARLOTE WROTE, "WUTHERING HEIGHTS" AND EMILT WROTE,

   "JANE EYRE."

A: YOU WANT TO BET?

B:  YES

A:HOW MUCH?

B: ONE HUNDRED...

A" YOU JUST LOST ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS...

B: NO, I DIDN'T. I GAINED HUNDRED DOLLARS.

A: YOU ARE WRONG AND YOU ALWAYS INSIST ON BEING RGHT.

 I AM RIGHT AND THAT'S WHERE YOUR PROBLEM LIES. YOU ALWAYS WANT TO BE

    RIGHT.

B: BUT I AM RIGHT AND I AM RIGHT MOST OF THE TIME AND YOU CAN'T HANDLE IT...

A: YEH...YEH...YEH. I DON'T READ SO MUCH FOR NOT KNOWING THE NAMES OF

 AUTHORS OF SUCH FAMOUS CLASSICAL BOOKS

  PICK UP A BOOK ONCE IN YOUR IGNORANT LIFE,  THROW YOUR iPHONE IN THE

   GUTTER...YOU IMBECILE.

                                                     (B begins to cry and cry, then pick up his phone)

                                                                                THE END

FRAGMENTS 3

FRAGMENTS 3

ONE ACT PLAY CALLED, "JUST A WAY OF TALKING."

BY: BINA SHRAIF (Copyright:binasharif;2025)

M: SHE IS WITH A TALL MAN

N:AND?

M: AND WHAT?

N: SHE US WITH A TALL MAN AND WHAT?

M: NOTHING ELSE...SHE IS JUST WITH A TALL MAN

N: NOT A VERY INTERSTING STORY

M: WHO SAID IT'S A STORY?

N: I THOUGH YOU WERE A STORY TELLER

M:  YOU CAN THINK OF WHATEVER YOU WANT

N: SO WHAT'S THE POINT?

M: POINT OF WHAT?

N: POINT OF TELLING ME THAT SHE IS WITH A TALL MAN

M: NO PARTICULAR POINT, JUST A CONVERSATION

M: THAT'S NOT A CONVERSATION, THAT'S A STATEMENT

N: WHAT'S THE POINT OF MAKING STATEMENTS?

N: JUST A WAY OF TALKING

N: WHO IS TALKING?

M: I WAS TALKING

N: YOU WEREN'T TALKING TO ME

M: I WASN'T.

N: SO WHY SAY,"A WAY OF TALKING."

M: JUST TO DO SOMETHING, ONE HAS TO SAY SOMETHING

N: WHY SAY ANYTHING WHEN YOU HAVE NOTHING TO SAY

M: I HAD. SOMETHING TO SAY

N: LIKE WHAT?

M: I SAID, SHE IS WITH A TALL MAN...

N: YES, BUT INFORMATION IS IN-COMPLETE 

M: WHO'S INFORMATION?

N: YOURS

I WASN'T INFORMING ANY ONE

N: THEN WHY CALL IT. INFORMATION?

M: JUST A CERTAIN WAY OF TALKING. KEEPING BUSY.

N: THAT'S NOT A GREAT WAY OF KEEPING BUSY

M: WHAT IS?

N: DOING SOMETHING

M: SAYING SOMETHING IS DOING SOMETHING

N: DO YOU KNOW ENGLISH?

M: WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

N: DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE?

M: AS MUCH AS YOU DO I GUESS...

N: NO YOU DON'T

M:WHAT IS IT THAT I DON'T KNOW?

N: ENGLISH LANGUAGE

M: OK, TEACH ME

N: "SAYING MEANS SAYINGAND"DOING MEANS DOING."

M: ANY THING I SAY IS MY FORM OF, "DOING."

N: THATS NONSENSE

M: NO, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. WHAT YOU SAY, THATS WHO YOU ARE

      AND WHOEVER YOU ARE THAT'S WHAT YOU DO

N: YOU ARE CARAZY

M: BETER TO BE CRAZY THAN BEING SO F**KING CRITICAL

      WHO ARE YOU ANY WAY? ALWAYS ON MY BACK. GET OFF MY BACK

      YOU ARE  ALWAYS  OVERWHELMINGLY NEGATIVE ABOUT WHAT I SAY OR DO

      EVERY MOMENT OF MY LIFE YOU ARE TRYING TO PUT ME DOWN.

      GET OFF MY BACK, LIKE I SAID EARLIER ONCE. AND FORALL. GET OFF YOU 

      YOU MONKEY SCRACHING ME ALL DAY LONG WITH YOUR NEGATIVITY. GET OFF

      MY BACK OTHERWISE I WILL STAB YOU. I AM SO SICK OF YOU. I CAN'T BREATH

       YOU SAY ONE MORE THING AND YOU ARE DEAD...ONE MORE F**KING THING AND 

       YOU ARE DEAD, DEAD, DEAD. NOW SHUT THE F**K UP. SHUT UP, SHUT UP. I AM SICK

       OF YOUR RANT CLAWING MY BACK, SCRATHING MY NECK WITH YOUR VENOM AND

       AWFUL CLAWS. (Very angry now) YOU OPEN YOUR MOUTH ONE MORE TIME AND I 

       WILL STAB YOU WITH  A KNIFE..I HAVE A KNIFE, MY SHARP KITCHEN KNIFE (He picks 

        up a big knife) LOOK. HOW LONG AND HOW SHARP IT IS.ONE MORE WORD AND YOU

        ARE DONE WITH. (He raises his knife)

N:    LEARN TO LIVE PROPERLY AND SPEAK PROPERLY.

        YOU CAN'T STAB ME. I DON'T EXIST. YOU WILL BE COMMITTING SUICIDE.

M:  ( LIFT UP THE KNIFE AND PIERCES HIS OWN SPINE.

                                                                        END OF PLAY

FRAGMENTS: 2

 FRAGMENTS:2

IN- FACT, MOST OF THE TIME, NO BODY CARES AT ALL.

BECAUSE NO BODY IS PAYING ATTENTION. EVERYONE

IS IN THEIR OWN WORLD.

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

BREATH

MOVE

COMMUNICATE

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

SHE DOESN'T CARE

NO BODY CARE

SO WHY SHOULD YOU?

WHY DO YOU CARE?

YES, I KNOW, YOU STILL CARE

WHY SHOULD YOU?

I DON'T CARE BUT I STILL THINK ABOUT IT

ABOUT CARING?

NO NOT ABOUT CARING, ABOUT WHY NO ONE CARES

YES, NO BODY CARES.

YOU DO KNOW ABOUT IT

SO, WHY DO YOU CARE?

I DON'T CARE, I ONLY THINK ABOUT WHY NO ONE CARES

WHO THE HELL CARE, IF NO BODY CARES

YOU ARE SO RIGHT

BUT YOU STILL CARE

NO, I DON'T CARE AS I SAID IT EARLIER

I JUST KEEP THINKING ABOUT WHY NO BODY CARES

STOP THINKING ABOUT IT

THINK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE

WHAT ELSE?

SOMETHING, ANYTHING

BUT THEN I WOULD HAVE TO. STOP THINKING ABOUT THAT AS WELL

HOW MANY THINGS I SHOULD STOP CARING ABOUT?

ALL OF THEM

STOP THINKING ABOUT ALL OF THEM EXCEPT YOURSELF

THINK ABOUT YOURSELF

ONLY YOURSELF....

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

EVERYBODY IS FOCUSSED ON THE NEXT THING

YOU ARE FREE TO DO THE SAME...

THANKS FOR THE PERMISSION

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

NOBLY AND OBEDIENT TO YOUR OWN DAIMON

(TO THE GOD THAT IS WITHIN YOU.)

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

PECULIAR LEADING PRINCIPAL AND PECULIAR TREATMENT THEY FOLLOW.

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

YOU REMAIN VOLUNTARILY BELOW YOUR MARK,

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

IMPROVE YOUR DISPOSITION

IMPROVE ACTIONS

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

WHAT? WHERE? HOW?

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

"IT"S IN DOING WHAT MAN'S NATURE REQUIRES."    Aurelius

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

SENSE OF PURPOSE

WALKING

READING

WRITING

APT

HEALTH

DIET

DRAWINGS

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

"CLOSING THE GAP BETWEEN WHERE YOU ARE NOW

AND WHERE HAPPINESS LIES

MAKE LIFE CHANGES

THAT CREATES REAL ENVIORMANTS 

OF HAPPINESS FOR YOURSELF"                 ??

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

AM I SEEKING HAPPINESS FROM EXTERNAL CIRCUMSTANCES?

AND SEEKING ATTENTION FROM OTHERS?

BOTH...

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

A LOW LIFE, LOWER THAN MANY

SHOWING OFF THAT SHE IS SOMEBODY IMPORTANT.

WHILE SHE IS TOTALLY SELF ABSORBED.

SELFISH, RUDE, UNCOUTH, UNSOPHISTICATED-

CONSIDERING HERSELF AN INTELLECTUAL.

MY BUTT

SHUT THE F**K UP

LET OTHERS READ

STOP YOU BEHAVIOR OF SELF IMPORTANCE

GO HOME, YELL AND SCREAM

AND FEEL IMPORTANT.

THIS CAFE BELONGS TO EVERYONE WHO CARY A BIG BOOK

ALL DAY LONG AND CAN'T CONCENTRATE ON ONE SENTENCE

BECAUSE OF THE LIKES OF YOU.

STOP YAPPING

I PAID 8 DOLLARS FOR ESPRESSO...

I NEED TO EDUCATE NYSELF

BUT YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT THAT

YOU ARE SO SO EDUCATED ALL READY ON BULLSHIT

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

"DON'T FEEL HURT BY EXTERNAL THINGS

HOW SHITTY CAN THEY BE?

SMELLY, ROTTEN EXTERNAL THINGS CAN HURT YOU

UNBELIEVABLE

IMAGINE HOW LOW OF YOU TO THINK THAT!

WHAT A SHAM!

AND YOU SAY THAT YOU ARE EDUCATED AND TALENTED?

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

FRAGMENTS

 FRAGMENTS

Don't do what you promise not to do

Do whaat you always say, "You should do."

'Don't" I said

'Don't."

Don't you get it?

No, you don't get.

I am so mad at you

So mad...

I could kill you for that.

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

"Why must you discontinue what you love?"

"What do you love?"

"Yes, what do you love?"

"What do you love?"

Silence comes...Silence comes...Silence comes.

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

It will come

When it will come

Why are you waiting for it?

Death, I mean...

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

"Don't call her"

"Don't call him."

"Don't call anyone."

"What's wrong with you?"

"What the f**k is wrong with you?"

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

Good start

Bad end

so simple

so, so simple

Bad end

Just that

Bad end

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

"Getting fat."

"Fat enough."

"You are in a bad mood today."

"Only today?"

'"Only today?'

"Getting fat for days, months, years..."

"Shame on you. Deteriorating every month, every year."

"Shame on you."

'And shame on you, reminding me every day

every month, every year, Shame on you."

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

'WRITE A PLAY

F: Write a play

L: Really?"

F: Yes, write a play.

L: You write a play.

F: I am not a playwright.

L: Neither am I.

F: What are you then?

L: I don't know

F: Who knows then?

L: "You do. 

You know, you know everything

     You tell me, who I am. You always tell me

     "Oh! You don't know who You are?

Tell me, who am I? Who am I? Who am I?

Tell me for the last time and get the hell out of my life."

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

Unending trauma

Thats what traumas are for

Unending....

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

'Mental illness is it?"

'Yes, yes, yes."

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

"I am sick of you."

"And I am of you."

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

'Go to the beach."

"And?"

"And, Roast."

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

"They all die desolate."

"But you are living and desolate."

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

"So busy, so, so busy."

"And you?"

"Me?"

"Me busy?"

 "Me?"

"Yes, get busy like all of us.

  We are busy, working, working,

  get busy...Like us, us,  we are busy.

" Me? busy? with what? Doing what?"

   "Work...work, sweetheart, work.

 "Work? Work? Work? What work?"

  "Do the work you do. Work."

   "I write plays."

     "That's not work, that's bullshit, do the real work like us."

  "What kind of work do you do?"

" WE WORK, WE WORK. WE SWEAT."

   "OH! THAT KIND OF WORK. I HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR YEARS. IN MY PLAYS I DANCE

     AND DANCE MAKE ME SWEAT, I SWEAT A LOT...A LOT, A WHOLE LOT...ALL KINDS OF

     SWEAT POURS OUT OF MY POURS..."

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

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

  A: "Charlotte wrote Whuthering Heights."

B: " And Emily wrote, Jane Eyre"

  A: "You want to bet?"

  B  "Yes."

  A: "How much?"

  B: "One hundred dollars."

YOU DON'T KNOW

 YOU DON'T KNOW

(A short dramatic sketch)

By: Bina Sharif

copyright:binasharif 2025

A: You don't know

B: That's the problem

A: You don't know

B: Unbelievable

A: Yes, it's unbelievable

B: You don't know

A: Neither do you

B: Waste

A: Every one's waste

A: No, yours

B: And yours

A: Yours and mine. 

B: waste, waste...

A: And what is this?

B: Who knows, and why do you always ask me condescending questions?

     Who are you?

A: Yes, who are you? Who are you? Who are you?

B:  Silence comes...silence comes...silence comes.

B: 

 

WHEN SOMEONE DISRESPECT YOU

 WHEN SOME ONE DISRESPECT YOU...

WHEN SOMEONE DISRESPECT YOU, YOUR REAL INSTINCT IS

TO REACT,TO EXPLAIN YOURSELF,TO DEFEND YOUR WIRTH

BUT WITH YOUR REACTION YOU SACRIFICE YOUR CLARITY, 

YOUR CALM. A STOIC NEVER LET DISRESPECT PULL THEM

OUT OF CHARACTER BECAUSE REAL POWER IS NEVER LOUD

IT'S CONTROLLED.

FOUR RULES ONE MUST FOLLOW WHEN SOME ONE DISRESPECT YOU.

1: DON'T ARGUE FOR VALIDATION. THEIR OPINION DOES NOT

DEFINE YOUR VALUE, YOUR SELF DISCIPLINE DOES, YOUR SELF

CONTROL DOES.

2: DON'T MIRROR THEIR BEHAVIOR. YOU SACRIFICE YOUR CLARITY

YOUR CALM.

3:DON'T LET EGO SPEAK FOR YOU. IF PRIDE WANTS REVENGE,

YOUR WISDOM WANTS DISTANCE

4: DON'T WASTE YOUR ENERGY TO PROVE YOUR WORTH

YOUR VALUE, YOUR SELF DISIPLIN ,YOUR SELF CONTROL DOES

5: TRUE STRENGTH STAYS CALM AAND THE MOST POWERFUL RESPONSE

IS CHOOSING NOT TO REACT

FIVE HARSH TRUTHS OF LIFE

 FIVE HARSH TRUTHS OF LIFE

LIFE WILL HUMBLE YOU AGAIN AND AGAIN- UNTILL YOU UNDERSTAND IT'S RULES

1: STAY CALM

NOTHING IS PERMANENT. NOT JOY, NOT PAIN, NOT PEOPLE.

EVERYTHING CHANGES.

2: BE PRIVATE

NOT EVERYONE WANT THE BEST OF YOU. PROTECT YOUR PLANS

UNTILL THEY BECOME REALITY

3: VALUE YOUR TIME. IT NEVER COMES BACK. WHAT YOU WASTE TODAY

BECOMES TOMORROW'S REGRET.

4: HIDE YOUR SADNESS

NO ONE TRUELY CARES. THE WORLD RESPECTS STRENGTH

NOT COMPLAINTS

5: BE ALONE:

NOT EVERYONE WILL STAY FOR EVER AND SOLITUDE

TEACHES WHAT COMPANY CAN NOT

6: ACCEPTANCE

ACCEPTANCE IS NOT WEAKNESS. IT'S WISDOM. WHEN YOU STOP 

RESISTING THE TRUTH-LIFE STOP HURTING SO MUCH.

LIFE

 LIFE

Life is very cruel

Or we are very cruel towards life

We all know it's one life

And rather a very short one

But we behave as if it's our enemy

And we treat it horribly

We behave as it's not our life

It is not our life which is cruel

It's our own cruelty which soaks it

Into an unblessed and miserable state

Be a lover to your life...

Not even a good friend

But a lover...

A sweet heart of a lover...

Remember that!

From now on-remember

Don't always be a moaner

You have a lover now

A great lover...

A gift of god

Treat it well with care

And attention

Be thankful.

God blessed you with a hell of a lot.

Remember that...

'THE ONLY WORDS"

 "THE ONLY WORDS"

The only words

We say to a thing,

When we desire it,

Is that we say to it

Be,

And it is.

(from Qoran, Surat, The Bee.

OH! GAZA

 OH! GAZA

Oh! Gaza, you made me a writer

Just the pain and suffering of so many children of Gaza

Made me a writer

Now I am a writer

I was children'riter.s doctor before

Now the murder of children

Oh! so many, so many children

So many children of Gaza

So many children...

Made me a writer