Chancers (NHB Modern Plays) E-Book

Robert Massey

• Herausgeber: Nick Hern Books
• Kategorie: Poesie und Drama
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2015

Beschreibung

A fast and furious comedy about the lengths we will go to when our backs are against the wall. Aiden and Dee are on the verge of losing it all. They've had to rent out their home to some rough shower from Dublin and move their family into their nearly bankrupt convenience store. But salvation may have arrived in the form of local battleaxe Gertie Graham. She has their ticket out of the poorhouse - they just need to get their hands on it without her knowing. Chancerspremiered to great acclaim at the Viking Theatre, Dublin, in 2013, before touring the following year.

Leseprobe

Robert Massey

CHANCERS

NICK HERN BOOKSLondonwww.nickhernbooks.co.uk

Contents

Title Page

Original Production

Epigraph

Characters

Chancers

About the Author

Copyright and Performing Rights Information

Chancers was first performed at the Viking Theatre, Clontarf, Dublin on 30 October 2013. The cast was as follows:

AIDEN

Luke Griffin

DEE

Mary Murray

GERTIE

Anne Brogan

JP

Andrew Murray

Director

Terry Byrne

Production Manager

Laura Dowdall

Production Assistant

Kerry Power

Set Design

Liam O'Neill

Set Construction

Brendan O'Reilly

Costumes

Jill Thornton

Photographer

Alan Craig

Poster Design

Emmet Henry

‘Yet the way men live is so far removed from the way they ought to live that anyone who abandons what is for what should be pursues his downfall rather than his preservation; for a man who strives after goodness in all his acts is sure to come to ruin, since there are so many men who are not good.’

The Prince, Niccolò Machiavelli

Characters

Aiden, thirty-nine Dee, thirty-seven Gertie, sixty-four JP, thirty-nine

Setting

A modern, bright convenience store somewhere in County Kildare. A hot-food counter, Lotto machine, various grocery items, wine, etc.

ACT ONE

Empty shop.Morning Irelandon the radio.AIDENenters.He is preparing the shop for the day ahead.DEEenters from front door in sweatpants, runners, etc.She has just returned from the school run.

DEE. I’m under pressure now.

AIDEN. You’ve plenty of time.

DEEgoes into the back whileAIDENcontinues about his business.She re-enters barefoot, carrying two different- coloured business suits on hangers.She holds them up.

DEE. Which one?

AIDEN. Whichever.

DEE. Choose, will you.

AIDEN. I can’t.

DEE. The navy?

AIDEN. Absolutely.

DEE. Or the grey?

AIDEN. Either one of them, sure…

DEE. You’re no use to me at all.

DEEgoes back into the back of the shop to change.They continue to talk.

AIDEN. The kids go in okay?

DEE. Lorcan was a bit nervous at the gate but he got over it when he saw all his friends inside.

AIDEN. Good.

DEE. Not too sure about Sean’s new teacher though.

AIDEN. What’s wrong with him?

DEE. It’s a her.And she has a fairly bad reputation round the village.

AIDEN. They’ve little else to be talking about.

DEE. I’ll have to keep an eye out.Make sure he isn’t slipping.

AIDEN. Right so.

DEE. You should have come with me.First day back.All the other fathers were there.

AIDEN. That’s why I didn’t go.

DEE. Not fair on the boys though, Aiden.

AIDEN. Come on now, Dee.

DEE. I’m only saying.It’s not all about us.

AIDEN. I know that.I know.

DEEre-enters – now dressed in the business suit complete with heels, etc. – looking good.

Wow.

DEE. What?

AIDEN. I’d forgotten how well you used to look.

DEE. Thanks very much.

AIDEN. You know what I mean.

DEE. I hope I do.Is it okay, yeah?

AIDEN. It’s…

DEE. What?

AIDEN. It’s perfect.You look… perfect.

DEE. Hard to believe it still fits me.

AIDEN. Better than ever.

DEE. Bit dated now though.

AIDEN. Doesn’t look it.

DEE. It’s ten years out of fashion at least.

AIDEN. Things haven’t changed that much, love.

DEE. Are you trying to be funny now?

AIDEN (putting arms around her).I actually think they’ve improved.

DEE (laughing).We’re living in two storerooms out the back of our bankrupt shop – some improvement.

AIDEN (breaking away).That’s not what I was referring to.

DEE. I know it’s not, I’m joking.

DEEapplies her make-up in the reflection of the window.

You’ve someone begging outside there.

AIDEN. I saw that, yeah.

DEE. You should move her on, love.

AIDEN. No I shouldn’t.

DEE. Aiden.

AIDEN. There but for the grace of God and a matter of months, Dee.

DEE. That’s a big part of your problem, so it is.

AIDEN. Well, I’ll live with that part of it, don’t worry.

DEE (finishes make-up – turns and faces him).Final verdict.

AIDEN. Absolutely gorgeous.Ten out of ten.No joke.

DEE. I could put on a sack on for you in fairness, always could.

DEEis finishing her hair.

AIDEN. Will you wear that outfit for me later?

DEE. Will I what?

AIDEN. You know? – With those shoes.Pair of stockings, suspenders.Open up the buttons a bit.I can be the boss.You can drop your pen…

DEE. Dream on.

AIDEN. You used to love all that.

DEE. I’m not so sure I did, love.

AIDEN. Oh no you did.You did.You were filthy.Downright immoral.Don’t deny me that now – it’s about the only thing I’ve left keeps me going.You used to absolutely love it.

DEE. I used to love a lot of things, Aiden, but we all have to grow up some time.

AIDEN. To become what though?

DEE. Right – That’s the cue to get my arse in gear.

AIDEN. Seriously though – what happens to us now?That we’re grown up and it’s all done and dusted?

DEE. We knuckle down, love.Start out on a long road of getting our heads back above water.

AIDEN. Spend the second half of our lives paying for the first, yeah?

DEE. Otherwise known as – providing for our children as best we can.Now will you get that face off you.

AIDEN. It’s the only one I have left at this stage.