Fritz James Fritz Plays: One (NHB Modern Plays)

1. Auflage 2023
ISBN: 978-1-78850-722-6
Verlag: Nick Hern Books
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: 6 - ePub Watermark

E-Book, Englisch, 368 Seiten

A playwright known for dazzling structural inventiveness combined with emotional intelligence and wit, James Fritz is a unique voice in British theatre. His work, reflected in these six plays covering the first decade of his career, confronts the fault lines in our culture with thrilling imagination, an unflinching moral seriousness and a warm, compassionate sense of humour. Four Minutes Twelve Seconds (Hampstead Theatre, 2014; Trafalgar Studios, 2015; winner of the Critics' Circle Award for Most Promising Playwright) is a 'morally terrifying drama' (Evening Standard) that unpicks the trust between parents and their teenage offspring in an age of selfies and sexting. Ross & Rachel (Edinburgh Fringe, 2015; Off-Broadway, 2016) is a 'dialogue for one' that takes an incisive look at the myths of modern love. 'Shockingly good... a virtuosic piece of writing, playful, post-modern and devastatingly serious, all at once' Time Out Parliament Square (Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, and Bush Theatre, London, 2017; winner of the Judges' Award, Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting) is a searingly powerful exploration of what one individual can do to effect change. 'There are few playwrights working in Britain today whose work is as slick and unsettling as James Fritz's' Exeunt Lava (Nottingham Playhouse/Fifth Word, 2018; revived 2022) is a funny, tender and moving story about friendship and reconnection in the aftermath of catastrophe. 'Compassionate, warm and funny... Fritz's plays find reservoirs of humour in places you wouldn't expect' The Stage Skyscraper Lullaby (Audible Original, 2022) is a powerful drama, first written as an audio play, about two parents trying to come to terms with the disappearance of their toddler, a haunting examination of the ways we cope with tragedy, complicity and remorse. Also included is a previously unpublished short play, twins (Arcola Theatre, 2015), as well as a playful and illuminating introduction written by the author.

James Fritz is a playwright whose work includes: The Flea (Yard Theatre, London, 2023);Lava (Nottingham Playhouse/Fifth Word, 2018; revived 2022);Parliament Square (Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, and Bush Theatre, London, 2017);Start Swimming (Young Vic Taking Part, Edinburgh Fringe, 2017);The Fall (National Youth Theatre at the Finborough Theatre, London, 2016);Comment is Free (Old Vic New Voices, 2015; BBC Radio 4, 2016; winner of the Imison and Tinniswood Awards for audio drama, 2017);Ross & Rachel (MOTOR at Assembly George Square, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, 2015; 59E59 Theaters, New York);Four Minutes Twelve Seconds (Hampstead Theatre, 2014; Most Promising Playwright, Critics' Circle Awards);Lines (Rosemary Branch Theatre, 2011).

Autoren/Hrsg.

Fritz, James

Leseproben

Two parents.

DI This is Jack’s shirt.

DAVID Yeah.

DI There’s blood down it.

DAVID There is.

DI Blood. On his shirt.

DAVID No flies on you, are there?

DI Where is he?

DAVID Now –

DI Where is he?

DAVID In his room.

DI Is he okay?

DAVID He’s fine.

DI There’s blood on his shirt.

DAVID He had a nosebleed.

DI It’s a nice shirt. A nosebleed?

DAVID A nosebleed.

DI No he didn’t.

DAVID How’d you know?

DI He don’t get nosebleeds.

DAVID Well this time he did. A gusher.

DI Tell me what happened.

DAVID A gusher.

DI Tell me what happened.

DAVID Diane

DI David.

DAVID Do you really want to do this now?

He was jumped by some lads.

DI Oh my god.

DAVID Coming out of school. Nothing serious.

DI He was fighting?

DAVID Nothing serious.

DI He was fighting.

DAVID He didn’t do anything. Says he didn’t know them.

DI Who were they?

DAVID Says he didn’t know them. Some lads from St Thomas’s. Picking on the posh kids.

DI He ain’t posh.

DAVID He wears a blazer.

DI They make him.

DAVID St Thomas’s don’t wear a blazer.

DI And that makes him posh does it?

DAVID You know what it’s like. He’s fine. Bloody nose. Nothing to write home about.

DI Nothing to write home about?

DAVID Worse things happen at sea.

DI Jack! Come here, would you?

DAVID Leave him.

DI I want to see he’s alright.

DAVID He’s embarrassed.

DI Embarrassed? What’s he got to be embarrassed about?

DAVID Well it’s embarrassing innit.

DI You said that to him?

DAVID No! I would never. But you know.

DI We should call the police.

DAVID Come on…

DI They attacked a schoolboy.

DAVID He’s hardly a schoolboy.

DI He’s seventeen.

DAVID From what he says they were round the same age. It’s kids’ stuff.

DI Don’t matter.

DAVID They’ll laugh at you.

DI The school then. Should at least phone the school.

DAVID It didn’t happen at school.

DI I mean that was why we sent him there, to get away from this. They’ll want to know, they can put measures in –

DAVID Measures?

DI Up security. Send a letter round.

DAVID Just teenagers, innit? Teenagers fight with teenagers. Happened when we were at school, it’ll happen when his kids go to school as well. Circle of life.

DI This ain’t The Lion King.

DAVID I know.

DI It’s West Croydon.

DAVID I’m well aware of that.

DI Your son has been attacked. You might not give two shits –

DAVID I do give two shits.

DI You might not give two shits –

DAVID I give a lot of shits but –

DI But I do. I knew once he got to this age living round here

DAVID You can’t blame the area.

DI I can blame the area. I can blame the area and I’m calling that school and I’m making sure that they do something about it. He’s my little boy. I don’t care how old he is.

DAVID There you go again.

DI There I go where again?

DAVID ‘My little boy.’ ‘My baby.’ No wonder he’s a target.

DI Just a quick call.

DAVID It’s not a good idea.

DI Don’t know why you’re so against this.

DAVID It’s not that.

DI Is there something I don’t know?

DAVID There’s nothing you don’t know.

DI Oh god there’s something I don’t know. What’s happened?

DAVID You’re paranoid.

DI I can always tell.

DAVID You can never tell.

DI Your face.

DAVID What face?

DI What’s wrong?

DAVID There’s nothing wrong. You always say there’s something wrong when there’s nothing wrong but you saying something’s wrong makes me act like something’s wrong. There’s nothing wrong. I just don’t think it’ll help anyone calling up the school. Jack’s fine.

DI I’m calling them right now unless you give me a reason not to.

DAVID Come on.

DI I mean it David.

DAVID Alright. Just. Just put the phone down, for god’s sake.

It weren’t just some boys from St Thomas’s.

DI Then why’d you say it was?

DAVID Jack promised me not to say anything. He knew you’d kick off.

DI I knew it. What’s he done?

DAVID He’s not done anything.

DI But he knows who hit him?

DAVID Yes.

DI Who was it?

Who. Was it?

DAVID If I tell you, you’ve got to promise not to lose it.

DI Jesus.

DAVID Promise me you won’t go mental?

DI Alright.

DAVID Okay.

It was.

It was Ian.

DI Ian.

DAVID That’s right.

DI

I have no fucking idea who that is.

DAVID Yes you do, of course you do. Ian. Cara’s brother?

DI Cara Jack’s girlfriend?

DAVID Yes Cara Jack’s girlfriend. What other bloody Cara –

DI What’s Cara’s brother –

DAVID What other Cara could I possibly be –

DI What’s he doing hitting Jack?

DAVID They broke up.

DI Hitting anyone of any age for that matter –

DAVID Did you hear me? They broke up.

DI Who did?

DAVID Who d’you think? Jesus Christ.

DI Jack and Cara? He didn’t say. He didn’t tell me. Why’d he tell you?

DAVID I asked.

DI You asked? He didn’t tell me. When’d this happen?

DAVID Couple of weeks he said.

DI Well. That’s a shock. I’m shocked. That’s a shock.

DAVID I spose.

DI I mean I’d like to say I saw it coming but no. No, that’s definitely a shock. Although I can’t say I’m not relieved. Aren’t you relieved? I’m quite relieved. I know he was keen on her but she was a bit. What’s the word? I’m trying not to be rude.

DAVID I know what you’re trying to say.

DI You know what I’m trying to say. She was always a bit of a –

DAVID Doesn’t matter now.

DI I hope he’s alright. Is he alright? Did it end badly?

DAVID I don’t know, do I?

DI And that’s why her brother hit him?

DAVID I can imagine it’s got something to do with it.

DI Hang on. But Ian’s...