Showing posts with label drama. Show all posts
Showing posts with label drama. Show all posts

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Living Your Story

Last night i was speaking to my friend about my life in general. In between our conversation, she stops me and tells me, "You look like a cute and excited little owl". Well i guess she made the comment about me being an owl, because i have really big round eyes (and basically weird owl-like hair o_O), and excited because i literally do get while telling my stories (as is evident in me ranting about useless stuff on my blog.) So after listening to my spate or run offs and butt ins and what not, my friend tells me - your story pretty much seems like a very fictional non fiction. I was like stumped - 'fictional non fiction?' Now what the hell could that mean.

It turns out most of our lives is what seems to be like a pre-destined script that goes on with its decisive pauses, dramatic entrances, sad exits, crazy times, unbelievable experiences and unexpected twists and turns. If we look back at our lives, we would be amazed at how it came into being. From the moment you cried as you gasped for your first breath, to the time you gasped for breath when your dad taught you to swim, to shifting from one location to another with the promise of a new start and everything in between and after - its all very fascinating to look at it after all these years. When i look back at my life, i'm glad that i got to see all the stuff i saw, feel all i felt, understand all i understood and then still keep a lookout for more.

One of my friends lamented about life coming back to square one time and again. But i believe that is the magic of life. It gives you chances. It gives you mistakes to learn. It gives you opportunities to utilize, fail and succeed. All that matters is which script you choose on the way. There might be certain detours or roadblocks on the way, but that doesn't mean you should stop halfway through. You battle ahead, and when you look back at all those moments, you will have a ball of time telling stories, like i did today. Who knows, in the future, you might find your friend telling you, "You know what, you look like an excited cute little gerbil". Until you do, keep living, keep your script in action.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

The Dog on the Beach

The following drama is the brainchild of Mr. Tejas Perumanna (a.k.a Mr. Mohandas), a brilliant teacher, artist, director, dramatist, magician and a wonderful human being. The original script was in Malayalam which has been adapted into English with permission. Even though it won’t have the magic of the original, we try to present the message – the message we all need to learn.

The idea to the following skit came forward during the beginning of 2005 when news clippings showed mass graves in which people were buried all together due to the catastrophic tsunami of December 26, 2004. The following scene has such a mass grave, covered yet so very shallow. The rest is for all of you to make out…

(Scene1)

Bodies strewn around. A stench so unbearable that you need to walk through it with your nose covered. A dog eating flesh of humans. An old man walks in and looks around.

Man: (startled) You filthy dog! What do you think you are doing? How dare you eat the flesh of humans?

Dog: (laughing) You call them humans? Why do you call them human? Why oh why?

Man: What do you mean u dirty scavenger?

Dog: Why do you ask me? Ask yourself. Are you not human?

Man: What have we not done for the welfare of others? What have we humans not achieved?

Dog: Oh you’ve achieved a lot! A Lot! Welfare - schelfare! Think back. Look at how you are now and how u were then –

(Scene-2)

4 people lined on the left hand side of the stage. The dog changes its mask and puts on a black one. And then goes towards the people on the left hand side of the stage.

Dog: (holds one hand up and shouts) Tell me my brothers. Why have we gathered here?

L group: (in chorus) To protect our relegion.

Dog: What is our aim?

L group: Create unrest till the land is ours

Dog: And how shall we do that?

L group: We shall kill them others for the sake of our people.

Dog: Then go! Leave no one! Kill them all! Go!

The stage clears as everyone except the dog runs out


(Scene3)

4 people lined on the right hand side of the stage. The dog changes its mask and puts on a red one. And then goes towards the people on the right hand side of the stage.

Dog: My people, them others threaten us! We need to react!

R group: Indeed we will

Dog: We’ve had enough of the atrocities!

R group: More than enough!

Dog: How shall we suppress them?

R group: We shall kill them for the sake of our people!

Dog: Then go! Let them be punished!! Kill them all! Go!

The stage clears as everyone except the dog runs out


(Scene 4)

Dog comes forward and changes the mask again. The two groups clash behind the dog. The dog laughs while the people behind him start killing each other until no one is left alive

(Scene 5)

Back to present. The old man walks up to the dog and the dog is still laughing.

Dog: So, do you remember now?

Man: Yes I remember. I remember everything

Dog: And you call them humans?

Man: No! No! They’re worse than…

Dog: Ah yes! Then, they were waiting to get at each others necks. Now look, how peaceful they are, all warm and cuddled up. No caste, no creed, no religion, no life.

Man: (holding the collar of one of the dead bodies lying on the ground) Why did you do this? Why? Why?

Dog: No use crying now and shouting to lifeless souls. Nature has itself taken them away. Do your change now, lest you don’t want to cry later. Now let me get back to where I was.

(Dog starts eating on the human flesh again. The old man walks forward. Looks up at the sky)

Man: (puts both his hands on in the air) Yes, we’ve done wrong! Yes, we’ve sinned! Forgive us, oh Lord!!


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