CHOCOLATE

or

A SUICIDAL METAMORPHOSIS FOR SURVIVAL

            AN  EXPERIMENTAL DRAMA FOR AN ABSURD MULTIMEDIA THEATRE

                                    BY TAREK ALI HASSAN

Tarek Ali Hassan

16 Zenab Kamel Street, Dokki,12311

Cairo, EGYPT

Email:tarekaliha@aol.com

Telephone: 0020237491481

Fax: 0020233372303

synopsis

Chocolate is a multimedia experimental play freely using mirrors and mirror image theatre. It makes full use of the Freedom from strict adherents to reality of theatre of the absurd as long as the meaning and the energy is transmitted. The play is painted and evolved by the participants as it happens. There are fundamental blocks of meaning and drama depicting the state of contemporary human beings even in the most democratic societies where democracy is being subtly eroded.

The concept of run run run run to nowhere in particular

The concept of the mysterious origin voice/power directing happenings and dynamics.

The concept of the status quo as a mysterious fecund all powerful unassailable machine.

Then comes the central concept of the play which revolves around the human brain's  unlimited ability to adapt, rationalise and falsify anything with a little help from the mysterious higher authorities. Anything to avoid the pain of doubt, deviation, reality validation outside the given box. The parallel of expert's slowly guided and manipulated by "THE VOICE" to diagnose shit as chocolate! Dissidents are dealt with in such a way that they are a salutary example to the rest of the population.

The final outcome is of  our contemporary societies convinced that they are basking in the joys of freedom and prosperity having in fact lost all freedom and all pathways to real joy. Decision-making having been imperceptibly usurped by secret nonelected and none accountable agencies. In this situation the mass of human beings are easily manipulated into confrontational situations where humanity is transformed into warring factions facing each other with mutual anihilation intent and threatening war at every juncture. The climax of this is the mirror image depiction of groups of humanity undergoing automated behaviour symbolised by non-stop mechanical movement. All of these groups facing each other in mirror image performance"our cause is right and we shall fight" "we are good and they are evil" frantically active from both sides of the virtual mirror. They are various contrasting groups representing the various"civilisations"which are supposed to be in inevitable clash trajectory.The play ends by everybody taking the symbolic green pill tranquiliser, antipsychotic, anti-depressive.

The background contrast counterpoints of lovers depicting the endless variations of lovemaking according to the participants imagination using all media available represents finally the hope and the dream of societies that of life, love and environment loyal and above all adhere to life as an inalienable value reference.

The play allows an unlimited scope for imagination and invention in the fields of multimedia, music, sound, light, dance, acrobatics..

PARTICIPANTS

RUNNERS and their approved Progeny

THE VOICE

THE MASKED --AND UNIFORMED-- CREATURES

THE FERTILE MACHINE (with an array of its usual servants; metamorphosed scientists, religious leaders, experts, politicians and artists etc. )

BANKER representative of Universal Bankers Ltd.

HIS MAJESTY KING VALUE THE BEST (supplier on demand of tinned

value--BEST--and fog)

EXPERTS (and of course judges) --temporal and secular-- (all      reliable except:

                    THE UNSTABLE EXPERT)

                   MAN WITH A WHITE COAT AND SYRINGE

                  ASSISTANT TO MAN WITH A WHITE COAT AND SYRINGE (for   treatment of above and of dying children)

                 WAITER

MASSCOMMUNICATIONS MEDIA

MEN OF THE PRESS AND SCREEN etc. AND WOMEN etc.

REMEMBRANCE OF THINGS PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE (on film, tape,

slides, Video and other devices)

(MAKERS OF OBSCENITY in the distant background)

At the back and a little raised so as to be conspicuous all the time

two or more pre or post-conditioning human beings portray in any and every way they can imagine, their potential for making love to self, "other self" and environment.

The stage is lit gradually.

Loud drumming rhythm is followed by sounds of rush hour traffic, racing cars, sirens, immense sucking noises as of giant vacuum cleaners and running feet.
 

THE VOICE (It must be amplified and dehumanised. It should come from the back of the auditorium so that when those on  stage address IT or HIM or HER they

face the spectators and consenting members of the social order.)

THE VOICE (Making a soft background)

: run run run run run run run
 
  

There is a mad rush of RUNNERS onto the stage from every conceivable place and direction. They are "frantically" active, but their activity must be seen to be distinctly purposeless.

When they run in, the sounds of their feet are amplified.
 

THE VOICE (To be heard distinctly over the background)

     into escalators

                            running down

I                          into platforms

                           running out

                           smile run

                          running in

run smile

hearty laughter

on time

trains on time

cars on time

on timetable eat

into jams

into fans

into pickets

into tickets of dried rice

pull yourself

pull yourself

pull yourself together and run

hearty laughter

boring in

stomach ulcer

swallow pie and vomit out

ulcerating stomachs heads and beds

hearty laughter

THE VOICE : run run run run

into escalators running down
   

RUNNERS (suddenly freezing completely still and in a wild shout:)

: WHY?

(silence)

THE VOICE (Softly)

: run run run run run run
   

A soft "run run" sound is re-established as background and to it is added machine sounds. The mass of sounds is suddenly interrupted by the words when it is temporarily silenced:
  

THE VOICE : RUNNERS UP

(Made to sound very loud and sharp

and followed by a short silence)
   

Every time the words "RUNNERS UP" are sounded, the RUNNERS jump upwards straining to catch something which presumably lies above their heads but which neither they nor the spectators can see.

The above sequence is repeated with increasing intensity and speed almost to the point of hysteria when the action is abruptly frozen.
 
 

Silence.

THE RUNNERS : WHY? For WHAT?

(Now a groan rather than a shout.)  

THE VOICE : for vacuum creation

                         to protect the system

(At each word the runners twitch and convulse as if they were afflicted with St. Vitus' Dance.)

                        For safety and protection
 

The STATUS QUO system machine is wheeled in by the MASKED CREATURES who are completely covered except for two holes for the eyes a la Klu Klux Klan. As the machine is wheeled in, THE RUNNERS fall to their knees and obsequiously try to demonstrate their submissiveness to it.

: guaranteed by bankers and steel insurance

Soft background starts: four point four per cent growth.....

Projection on background of huge pictures of typical huge columned bank buildings and of typical stock exchange "happening" followed by Rhodesian tobacco auction with sounds.

: for the giant churning machine guaranteed

Projection of various seals of guarantee.

: for certain cream separation
   

THE RUNNERS (Though THE RUNNERS seem to be joining THE VOICE in a confident and unquestioning affirmation, THE RUNNERS continue to convulse as they speak.)
 
 

THE VOICE : guaranteed for certain cream separation

for perpetual running circulation of

joyful--

make a joyful noise unto the Lord--

vacuum fecundation

At "make a joyful noise", flash in sound of analogous bit from Walton's Belshazzar's Feast and the film projection changes to pictures of the Pope blessing endless masses of needy humanity.
 
  Silent pause.

THE VOICE (Establishing a soft background)

: credo credo credo credo. . . .
   

Everyone on stage acquires a deeply pious attitude and a solemn

religious procession starts headed by the machine, the MASKED MEN and then THE RUNNERS. They leave the stage from one side and come back through the other, again and again and again. . .

Over the "credo" background THE VOICE speaks and THE RUNNERS answer.
 

THE VOICE : cream is sick

not thick

THE RUNNERS : cream is sick not thick

THE VOICE : cream is floating

THE RUNNERS : cream is floating

THE VOICE : HORRIBLE

THE RUNNERS : HORRIBLE

THE VOICE : cream is poison

THE RUNNERS : cream is poison
 

Suddenly two of the MASKED KKK CREATURES grab hold of one of THE RUNNERS, who at once indulges in pitiful screams as if he were a toy object. A third MASKED (KKK) CREATURE flashes a powerful light into his face.
 

THE VOICE : what is your bible?

THE RUNNER : (Like a schoolboy terrified of headmaster as he is being questioned.)

: cream chokes vacuum dangerous inflation to the nation instant cremation ablation certification

desensitisation desalination

dementification for quick separation

                        guaranteed by insurance five and a half

per cent secure in endless vacuum plantation
 

The answer seems satisfactory for THE RUNNER is released immensely relieved, to join the others.

The projection changes to pictures of MASKED MEN and KKK- like creatures, big brothers staring from television screens, faceless men sitting at huge desks and putting innumerable files into filing cabinets.

THE RUNNERS : cream is poison

his is the word

his his his

it it it

his is the word

them them them

THE VOICE (Slowly, hypnotically and

convincingly.)

:   us us us US

: qualified in the sky

 qualified in the sky

 qualified in the sky

 qualified in the sky

qualified in the sky

highly qualified

(Silence).

Suddenly there is a very loud flourish of trumpets and drums

THE VOICE speaks with a sense of urgency working up to a sharp climax.

THE VOICE : vacuum polluting floatation

sequestration

healthy good for the nation

super-nuclear flirtation animation

CLEANSING THE BODY POLITIC

CLEANSING THE NATION

PURIFICATION

(Very loud and very sharp:)

: OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

THE RUNNERS arrange themselves in disciplined lines and indulge in regular "action" which they keep up to the end. They do not really change their positions in spite of the frantic activity and if they do, e.g., move two steps forwards, they immediately annul the change by moving two steps backwards. THE MASKED KKK CREATURES when not engaged in other important activities pass between THE RUNNERS correcting their movements and helping them with their instructions. Projection at the back of endless pictures showing endless lines of humanity moving like sheep towards something which the film, for some obscure reason, fails to clarify.

THE MASKED KKK CREATURES start the machine using a manually operated starter. After some trials and tribulations, loud sounds, backfiring, severe shaking, and the emission of various fumes and by-products, which cause everybody to nearly cough their lungs out,

THE FERTILE MACHINE eventually reaches a regular running pattern making a fairly regular background noise. Periodically, however, the machine develops very bad "shakes" and has to be supported by THE MASKED KKK CREATURES who freely use THE RUNNERS easily sacrificed for this purpose as and when necessary. Sometimes they use THE RUNNERS under the MACHINE as supporting pads or next to the MACHINE as supporting walls. At other times they boil some of THE RUNNERS in a large cauldron adapted for the purpose, when the need for grease or glue arises to oil or to stick together various parts of the FERTILE MACHINE, when fuel runs short they dry up THE RUNNERS and use them to fuel the the MACHINE

The FERTILE MACHINE itself has two obvious openings:

a top one from which the unwanted are drained and, according to previously worked out instructions, are burnt or put in antiseptic,

the bottom opening emits, after being fed with a specified number of coins and pressing a special button, thousands of --specifications say--

"any number required" of toy human beings, like an inexhaustible automatic candy machine.

THE VOICE : drain the unwanted compartment F

top left and proceed according to instructions 33c

code deadly witch operation

gamma b174

One of THE MASKED KKK CREATURES climbs the machine and pulls a

rope from the compartment F at the top. Pictures of human beings are seen to be hanging from the rope as it is being pulled out. Some of the pictures are recognisable while others are blurred.

One of the MASKED KKK CREATURES stands ready with a lit torch

while another stands also in readiness with a large jar marked

"disinfectant".

A very rapid and automatic procedure develops in which the sequence of events is as follows:

THE MASKED KKK CREATURES on top clearly displays the "picture" extracted

from the sequestration compartment, presumably for THE VOICE to see. THE VOICE automatically affirmed by THE RUNNERS then utters the appropriate order in a mixture of highly technical numbers and figures, e.g., 44b-L-11-alpha+ 0011010 fbj..sx.org

The response of THE MASKED KKK CREATURES is immediate, automatic and faultless and is, considering how complicated the instructions are, an undeniable tribute to the excellence of their training and their educational attainments. It consists of the CREATURE at the top handing the picture to one of the CREATURES below who according to instructions burns it efficiently or dumps it in the antiseptic jar (efficiently also).

Some of the recognisable pictures bear an inescapable and unexplained resemblance to some named members of the Homo sapiens species:

a man by the name of Imhotep

a man by the name of Beethoven

a man by the name of Socrates

a man by the name of Jesus

a man by the name of Galileo

a man by the name of Euripides

a man by the name of Spinoza

a man by the name of Joyce

a man by the name of Mozart

and/or others of the Participants' choosing

THE VOICE (After a few empty hauls by the MASKED

KKK CREATURE on top)

: put the coins in now for compartment R

THE BANKER, with black suit, black bowler hat and thin black umbrella, walks in with a black "money bag". He opens the all important "black bag" and with the help of the MASKED KKK CREATURES puts a number of coins in a special slot at the side of THE FERTILE

MACHINE making a very loud "money in the slot" sound during the process. With loud bangs and distant flourishes of trumpets and drums, THE FERTILE MACHINE emits hundreds of toy human-being-shaped articles. THE BANKER and THE MASKED KKK CREATURES examine

the product with great interest and concern.
 

THE VOICE : USE INDICATOR TO ENSURE 100% SUCCESS

A MASKED KKK CREATURE comes forward carrying a large jar marked "indicator" which he uses with the help of other MASKED KKK CREATURES to test the "product". Most seem to be OK., but occasionally one is not and is either burnt or put in the jar marked "disinfectant", according to previous instructions.

The MASKED KKK CREATURES proceed to distribute the newly formed "product" on THE RUNNERS who continue to be frantically involved with their "work". They attach a doll round a RUNNER's neck who responds by smiling happily and gratefully without stopping work.

The sequence is repeated while THE VOICE speaks in very warm tones.
 

THE VOICE : Congratulations

You are now very lucky

When you die

--thanks to His great great grace--

there will be someone to carry on

Smile lucky parents smile

There will be someone to carry on

As he speaks, "real" children come in and join the lucky ones who had received the dolls around their necks from the MASKED KKK CREATURES. Each child starts imitating with varying degrees of success the movements and actions of his or her RUNNER parent. By the end of the sequence most of the RUNNERS on stage would have acquired approved progeny.

THE BANKER goes round examining the children carefully; he pokes them with his

umbrella, sounds their bones and teeth, examines their muscles, the size of their heads, etc. He then walks approvingly to the front of the stage and

faces the spectators as he directs his speech at THE VOICE.

THE BANKER : emm, yes, quite good. OK.

good value.

good value for money

(Thinking deeply and making calculations.)

good value five and a half six

emm, could be real good value

cut down seven point three

foreign competition point seven four

advertising emm, OK., good value.

(Loudly)

: BUT BEFORE WE CAN GIVE AWAY MORE COINS

(He shakes his black bag noisily)

THE BOARD MUST SEE A SPECIMEN.

THE BANKER casually catches a girl and a boy and puts them in a basket and walks off.

THE RUNNERS scene develops on its own from this point, increasing gradually in speed to a point where a breakdown seems imminent, THE VOICE then speaks.
 

THE VOICE : Expert time

Expert time

This is EXPERT TIME

Flourish of trumpets and drums. THE RUNNERS slow down (?) too much.

: Please do not stop

carry on with your work as usual

this is expert time

do not stop

* value reassurance time for victims

do not stop *

temporal and spiritual support

for victims

* (The last *...* is established as soft

background as THE VOICE continues)

: This is expert time

do not stop

expert time

do not stop

Democracy and Freedom --do not stop--

dictate the examination of values

--please do not stop, free dictation--

to allay anxieties--do not stop--

and create security

--please do not stop--

experts to destroy doubt

--carry on--

and produce the marvellous feeling of

free democratic

--please do not stop--

security--carry on--

and confidence

to allay anxieties EXPERTS EXPERTS

EXPERTS EXPERTS. . . . . . .

(The background changes to EXPERTS EXPERTS TIME)

A loud flourish of trumpets and drums heralds the arrival of the EXPERTS --temporal and secular--,

THE EXPERTS, whose manner, dress and movements are always highly exaggerated, enter in a stately procession heralded by MASKED KKK CREATURES carrying the EXPERTS' table and chairs.  

An elaborately dressed and obviously well trained WAITER carries expert plates and expert silver spoons. As they impressively get installed at their table to one side of

THE FERTILE MACHINE,

the EXPERTS make a low and--out of character (?)--bow to THE VOICE.

To the background sound is added:

: D.PM, L.PO, L.L.C, D.R.T.,

D.T.M., L.L.P., P.R.Q., L.T.P.,

R.R.C., O.B.T., S.L.M.R.Q.,

L.S.S.L.B., H.R.H.S.L.T.P.

....etc.

The gathering of THE EXPERTS brings with it a sudden onslaught by men and women of the press and "communication" media, inter-viewers with notebooks, tape recordings, photographers, cinema and TV., camera men and women. They invade the stage busily recording the historic happening. When THE VOICE gives instructions for action, they crouch out of the way at the sides waiting for their chance to pounce back into position and record important incidents and happenings to come.
 

THE VOICE : Expert time

THE RUNNERS : (without stopping)

                                  Hurrah

                                  Hurrah

                                  Hurrah

THE VOICE : Provide test specimen now please
 

Some MASKED KKK CREATURES leave and then come back carrying a

human being sitting on a commode. He is HIS MAJESTY KING VALUE

THE BEST and though he sits on the commode with his back to the

audience, his exalted status is made abundantly clear by a large

many-coloured crown decorating his head. HIS MAJESTY's pants

are down indicating that he has just finished or is in the process

of defecating . The receptacle attached to the commode is a huge

transparent jar which can be seen to contain brown material and is

conspicuously labeled:

SHIT 2000 with Lanolin 4 Pence off  available all official stores on submitting necessary credentials and application  

THE MASKED KKK CREATURES take the commode and its occupant to a

position in front of the panel of EXPERTS sitting at their table.

THE EXPERTS stand up and bow with very great respect. Media men and women record the happening, making a series of flashes and clicks as they do. One of the MASKED KKK CREATURES detaches the receptacle  and places it carefully on the EXPERT's table. THE EXPERTS stand and bow again.

the MASKED KKK CREATURES carry the remainder of the commode and its occupant out.

THE WAITER in elaborate sophisticated dress and using like manner, distributes the plates and the silver testing spoons. In the grand old manner, he serves each member of THE EXPERT panel with a helping.

When he has finished, everybody awaits THE VOICE.

THE VOICE : you may start now

Very solemnly THE EXPERTS start sampling and eating from their plates.

In spite of the civilised control that people invariably develop by the time they are allowed the great distinction of being EXPERTS, it is obvious that they are all labouring badly to properly disguise a profound state of horrified shock.

They look at each other in terrified confusion, each secretly hoping that the other would resolve the agony by expressing a clear opinion.

Some reach the point of emitting muffled groans, which are interrupted by THE VOICE.

THE VOICE : (Like the umpire in Wimbledon calling for new balls)

second helping please

The WAITER goes round with the second helping.

One of the EXPERTS who obviously has been labouring under the severest strain,

suddenly breaks down and loses control in a most unbecoming and uncivilised manner.

THE UNSTABLE EXPERT (Screaming)

: SHIT

SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT

SH....IIIIIII. .. . .T

He goes into a violent fit, throws his plate--actually NOT his property--causing it to break by reason of his criminal action.

He jumps at the FERTILE MACHINE attacking with obvious malicious intent.

THE UNSTABLE EXPERT is quickly restrained by THE MASKED KKK CREATURES as one of them presses a button on the side of the machine.

A loud ambulance siren is immediately heard getting louder and louder every second.

At the first cries of SHIT, the RUNNERS are interested and slow down. One or two are even noticed to have stopped work altogether.

THE VOICE : Stay calm

please carry on with your work as usual

carry on with everything as usual

calm please

a little mishap

carry on with your work

everything will be arranged

carry on please

not foreseen

everything will be taken care of

THE RUNNERS resume their work and during the above it is heard from the sounds that the ambulance arrives and THE MAN WITH A WHITE COAT AND SYRINGE bursts in with the ASSISTANT, who carries a straight jacket.

THE MASKED KKK CREATURES, who have now the UNSTABLE and violent EXPERT securely stretched on the ground at the front of the stage, bare his forearm while the white-coated man administers the injection.

THE UNSTABLE EXPERT immediately becomes submissive and the ASSISTANT is then able to help him into the straight jacket without any uncivilised or ungentlemanly resistance and without unnecessary waste of time. Men and women of the media record the incident ad lib as THE UNSTABLE Expert is led away.
 

THE VOICE (accompanying the end of above action)

: a free and democratic society

cannot afford to leave violent and

destructive behaviour unpunished

Projection at the back of war films.

: violent and destructive behaviour

by irresponsible individuals

interferes with the right

of law-abiding citizens

to live

(Men and women of the media take shots of everybody on stage and in the auditorium.)

: work

Shots of THE RUNNERS

: eat

Shots of THE EXPERTS

: and breed

Shots as after "to live" of everyone including spectators

: in peace

ALL on stage :

violent destructive behaviour

by irresponsible individuals

interferes with the right of

law-abiding citizens to live

work, eat, breed in peace
   

War films change after a while to the initial projection of masses of humanity moving like sheep to nowhere in particular.
 

THE VOICE : we regret the interruption

proceed civilisedly please

(pause)

: third service

The WAITER goes round with another helping for the EXPERTS.

EXPERT (after fairly long pause)

: sh

sh

sh sh sh shi

THE VOICE : what?

THE EXPERT : sh sh sh sh

(very softly)

: shshshshshshshsh-----sit???

THE VOICE : ADD DETERGENT
 

THE MASKED KKK CREATURES fetch bottles from the back clearly marked "detergent". They pour from them into the large test jar and into the EXPERTS' mouths and divers parts of their bodies.

THE EXPERTS : sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh

THE VOICE : wash sensory apparatus to assist 

Proper judgement

washed detergentified sensorium

better judge

(Last utterance is taken up as soft

background)

: add detergent

add detergent

The MASKED KKK CREATURES bring brushes and in twos help the EXPERTS with their arduous mission by one holding THE EXPERTS tongue and brushing it while the other pours detergent. A third helper goes round dropping SHIT 2000 with Lanolin on "EXPERTS' tongues for opinion. Less responsive experts have also their brain cells washed with detergent to help them with the all important neutral and honest free judgment.

EXPERTS (while above action is repeated)

: shi shi shi shi

sh sh sh sh sh sh sh

sh sh sh shshshshshshshshshshssssss

.........................

shi shi shi shi shi shi shi shi

shi cho shi cho shi cho shi cho

shi shi shiiiiiiiiiii

cho cho cho shi chocho chocho shi cho

cho co co co cho shi cola cho cola shi

(variations ad lib by EXPERTS up to

jubilant point iof discovery)

: CHOCOLATE

CHOCOLATE

CHOCOLATE

CHOCOLATE

CHOCOLATE

Men and women of the media record the momentous happening.

THE EXPERTS jump, they dance, they scream, they eat from the jar

and smear everybody with its contents.
   

THE VOICE : A short holiday is now being allowed

for the celebration and reaffirmation of the discovery of chocolate

THE RUNNERS stop, excited, they eat and smear themselves with the brown paste, they smear and feed their children. Some of the children collapse but at the pressing of a button, the ambulance siren is sounded, THE MAN WITH A WHITE COAT AND A SYRINGE appears with his ASSISTANT and administers injections which revive everybody at once.
 

THE EXPERTS (screaming excitedly)

: EUREKA

EUREKA

EUREKA

THE VOICE (coldly interrupting the climax)

: please start work now
 

THE RUNNERS resume their former work together with the children

while the EXPERTS sit very seriously at the expert table. Doing various scientific studies, taking measurements and organising research, lectures and educational activities about chocolate. Priests come in to bestow their blessings, finding passages from the scriptures predicting and sanctifying the momentous discovery of chocolate.

THE VOICE speaks and everyone repeats after it.

Projection at the back of bulldozers pushing thousands of human bodies, nuclear explosions, injured and mutilated human beings, refugees and bewildered human faces.

(The scenes that follow are obligatory 'mirror image' scenes*. From this point, an imaginary mirror divides the stage. Any --practical-- number of hypothetical mirrors can be used representing the "nations", social, political and cultural enclaves of Homo sapiens. The reflections on either side of the mirror/s are completely faithful so that action and words are repeated synchronously and/or with varied asynchrony as perfect duplications of each other. The colors -- however-- are DIFFERENT. So are the decorations and flags etc.. Participants are completely oblivious to the process except at the climaxes "OUR CAUSE IS RIGHT AND WE SHALL FIGHT" they turn and register the "OTHER" : object of the determination to "FIGHT", the "OTHER" is also registered at these climaxes as the party whose cause is WRONG-- on the other side of the mirror.)

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

* many other scenes in the play lend themselves to the mirror image concept but that is left to the dynamics of each performance and to the participants' choice ad. lib.

THE VOICE : Hail

EXPERTS and RUNNERS : Hail

THE VOICE : Hail

EXPERTS and RUNNERS : Hail

THE VOICE : Hail

EXPERTS and RUNNERS : Hail

EXPERTS : Hail

(Standing up and making a very solemn

utterance)

: Hail to thee CHOCOLATE brown tasty

detergentified giver of fatness omnipotent power

with Lanolin

Compartment P of the MACHINE emits a collection of medals making

a loud noise in the process. THE MASKED KKK CREATURES proceed to

fix the medals on the EXPERTS' chests.

THE VOICE : the end point has been reached

lucky to be alive and free

THE EXPERTS & RUNNERS : lucky to be alive and free

the end point has been reached

THE VOICE : doubts have been dispelled

all madness has been quelled

our cause is right and we shall fight

EXPERTS and RUNNERS : doubts have been dispelled

all madness has been quelled

our cause is right and we shall fight

they say they know they say they know

THE VOICE (correcting)

: I say I know I say I know

EXPERTS and RUNNERS : I say I know I say I know

THE VOICE : I am happy......three times

EXPERTS and RUNNERS : I am happy......three times

I am happy three times

(taken up as soft background" I am

happy three times..... before meals ... after meals .. before meals)

Chimes of a clock, e.g., Big Ben, "ECDG GDEC EDCG". Continues up to

point of complete silence.

THE VOICE : swallowing time now

swallowing green pill from our nice

green coloured tube

THE EXPERTS produce their pills immediately and swallow them.

THE RUNNERS however, being engaged in their continuous activities are fed with their green pills while at work by THE MASKED KKK CREATURES aided by the EXERTS --temporal and secular with a public service calling-- who move around distributing green pills and other magnificent prescriptions from large jars, not forgetting the children.

: green for olives, peace and all that

The last sentence is taken up as soft background. THE VOICE comes in having forgotten something.

: oh...and goodwill also
 
  To the background is added "and goodwill also"

THE VOICE : repeat tomorrow

THE EXPERTS and RUNNERS : repeat tomorrow

THE VOICE : repeat today

EXPERTS and RUNNERS : repeat today

THE VOICE : repeat yesterday

EXPERTS and RUNNERS : repeat yesterday

THE VOICE : repeat tonight

EXPERTS and RUNNERS : repeat tonight

Background sounds fade except for chimes of clock.

THE VOICE : in bed with lover

EXPERTS and RUNNERS : in bed with lover

THE VOICE ; chewing

EXPERTS and RUNNERS : chewing

THE VOICE : stale ham/halal meat sandwich

EXPERTS and RUNNERS : stale ham/Kosher/halal meat sandwich

THE VOICE : with restraint

EXPERTS and RUNNERS : with restraint

THE VOICE : repeat

EXPERTS and RUNNERS : repeat

THE VOICE : repeat

EXPERTS and RUNNERS : repeat

THE VOICE : repeat

EXPERTS and RUNNERS : repeat

repeat

repeat  

(Taken up into background)

By that time THE MASKED KKK CREATURES have fed everyone with green pills except the strange naked forms at the back.

They reach the lovers, stare at them disapprovingly for a while not sure whether it is alright to acknowledge their existence or to continue to act as though they do not exist, they hesitate for a while then look at THE VOICE questioningly pointing to the peculiar and dissonant naked forms ...

THE MASKED KKK CREATURES : what about them?

THE VOICE : not worth bothering about

too insignificant

irrelevant to the great march of progress

EXPERTS and RUNNERS : leave them they are dead

irrelevant to the great march of progress

THE MASKED KKK CREATURES : shouldn't they be punished ?

imprisoned, flogged ? starved ? nuked?

THE VOICE : they ARE already punished

they ARE starved

THE MASKED KKK CREATURES : shouldn't they at least be chained put behind bars

THE VOICE : they ARE chained

THE MASKED KKK CREATURES : shouldn't they be banished ?

THE VOICE : they ARE banished ?

they ARE behind bars

THE MASKED KKK CREATURES : shouldn't we ...

THE VOICE : leave them they are UTTERLY

irrelevant

they ARE powerless they are dead

they ARE dead

leave them they are powerless

EXPERTS and RUNNERS : leave them they are dead

they ARE dead

utterly insignificant

we are alive and THEY are dead

WE ARE SIGNIFICANT

--so we are told--

ALL : we can see nothing relevant

except US

and the dream of unstoppable PROGRESS

made true by US
 

THE EXPERTS sit seriously sampling and tasting the brown paste.

THE RUNNERS continue with their work. Their children imitate them. THE MASKED KKK CREATURES watch over them and direct them to the proper ways of conducting themselves gently or firmly as is necessary. THE BANKER comes back together with attendant

KKK CREATURES carrying jars in which parts of the girl and boy taken earlier as a specimen are housed and labelled with the approved capital outlay on each part. THE BANKER shakes his black money bag noisily and triumphantly indicating that he actually has in it the approved capital outlay. Everybody makes an appropriately excited yet appropriately controlled gasp. Projection comes to a still of bewildered and terrified human faces.

THE VOICE : please remember

As THE VOICE speaks, lights are gradually dimmed. The speed

of the speech, however, gradually increases and action on

stage becomes frantic as everybody is transformed into

featureless silhouettes.

: COPYRIGHT FAMILY RIGHT FORMOSA RIGHT

STACKOSA RIGHT

FREE RIGHT PUBLIC RIGHT

FIRST RIGHT PERFORMING RIGHT

RIGHT OF TRAINING TRAINED RIGHT

PRIVATE RIGHT CIRCUS APPEARANCE RIGHT

RIGHT OF MUZZLE MUSCLE RIGHT ALL RIGHT

PERFORATING RIGHT FAMILY PLANNING

RIGHT OF ACHIEVEMENT PRACTICAL RIGHT

FLIGHT RIGHT RIGHT FRIGHT

EXPERTS AND RUNNERS (Shouting frantically as everything

works faster and faster)

: OUR CAUSE IS RIGHT AND WE SHALL FIGHT

(initial decrescendo then rise to climax)

RUNNERS

(prompted by the EXPERTS temporal)

WE ARE RIGHT AND THEY ARE WRONG

WE ARE GOOD AND THEY ARE BAD

RUNNERS

(prompted by the EXPERTS secular)

OUR GOD IS GOD

THEIR GOD IS MAMMON

OUR GOD IS GOOD

THEIR GOD IS EVIL

OUR GOD IS THE ONLY GOD

THEY GO TO HELL

WE GO TO HEAVEN

EXPERTS secular and temporal:

WE HAVE THE EVIDENCE

THE INDISPUTABLE EVIDENCE

EXPERTS --temporal and secular-- present, inculcate, teach and then validate the evidence with special care being given to the children (making liberal use of chocolate all the time).
   

(variations ad lib on the above mirror image scene)
 
  

ALL (crescendo...) : OUR CAUSE IS RIGHT AND WE SHALL FIGHT

OUR CAUSE IS RIGHT AND WE SHALL FIGHT

OUR CAUSE IS RIGHT AND WE SHALL FIGHT
 

THE VOICE : RIGHT UNDER 477b3--= (dash dash)

beta 3 -- equals = (dash dash)010405001123

UNDER ARCHIVE UNDER FILE UNDER

PUNCH CARD

UNDER BODY GUARD UNDER TOP SECRET

UNDER COVER

UNDER DOG

HOW HOWW HOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
 

Everybody starts running and barking madly. The sounds of the

very beginning are back together with the distinct background:

run run run run run run run run run run run run run run run...
 

THE NAKED OUTSIDERS at the back stand up and with a light

beam focused on them walk slowly to the front of the stage.

Everything freezes and there is complete silence.

THE LIFE-LOVE LOVERS stand staring and still for a while.

THEY VOMIT (amplified sound).

The incident is recorded by the press and TV.

Cleaners wash the vomit and sweep the remains under the carpet

for the final general        S M I L E ... (perhaps with exaggerated masks) 
 

In another version it is not sickness and/or vomitus that so wantonly interrupts the general self satisfied  S M I L E ...

IT IS A TERRORIST ATTACK

as in the previous pattern the debris are washed and the remains are swept under the carpet

In yet another version the self congratulating, self satisfied smile is interrupted by a progressive plague of unstoppable viruses, bacteria and fungi or by an unstoppable environmental disaster

THE GENERAL SMILE CONTINUES --inspite of all-- UNTIL IT IS

TERMINATED

by a very sharp almost blinding light 

or

or

leading to a general ...
 
                                                         BLACKOUT

IN THE FORM OF AN ENGULFING UNNATURAL CUMMULATIVE NOISE AND CLOUD OF INTOLERABLE POLLUTION

SO DARK AS TO OBSTRUCT THE SUN SO NOISY AS TO CUT OFF ALL LINKS TO MUSIC

Born October 1937

Graduated in medicine from Cairo University

Postgraduate studies in England and Scotland

Worked in the National Health Service in Glasgow

Held medical positions in the UK and in Egypt

Involved with student drama since the late 60s especially with the drama society of the London School of economics where many of my experimental plays were either performed or given a reading. Chocolate was given preliminary readings at the LSE drama soc by students who also performed others of my experimental plays at the Edinburgh festival fringe

Committed to the arts, non-violent revolution and the process of social and conceptual development in societies

Author of several works in experimental theatre in English and in Arabic as well as poetry, philosophy, social and political thought.

Author of several musical compositions standing independently or to accompany experimental theatre performances.

Started several NGO initiatives in the fields of human development and cultural promulgation

Chaired the National cultural centre of Egypt and the new Opera.(89-91)

Received many honours in the medical and cultural fields including one of France’s top cultural decorations (commandeur des arts et des letters)

Currently chairman of the  ZKH foundation for holistic human development as well as emeritus professor at the Al Azhar University faculty of medicine.

full details and examples are to be found at web sites :

tarekalihassan.com

as well as search google under: Tarek Ali Hassan