Dance or Die E-Book

kenechukwu obi

• Herausgeber: KenWrites
• Kategorie: Poesie und Drama
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022

Beschreibung

A Prince brutally murders his brother and ascends the throne. He now desperately needs a son. He turns to the gods. The gods are wise. A dance with a naked virgin is the price he has to pay for blood on his hands. Will he dance or decide to die?

Leseprobe

DANCE OR DIE

A PLAY WRITTEN BY KENECHUKWU OBI

CAST

KING DOKPESI

OLUREWA – The queen

CHIEFS 1, 2 and 3

USIFE – The queen’s sister

ABERO – The virgin’s surrogate mother

VOICES 1 and 2

SEER

TWO GUARDS

DRUMMERS AND A FLUTE PLAYER

A CROWD

SCENE ONE

The pulsating rhythm of drums come alive, lasts for some time and ceases. Stage lights come on, putting the king’s palace in focus. The seat of his royal majesty the king is in place. At a little distance away from it are the three seats of his chiefs. The palace is a courtyard spacious enough to accommodate an audience. Behind the royal seat is a curtain which leads into a room inhabited by the king and his wife, the queen.

The drums come alive again, this time very gently. The curtain opens and king Dokpesi makes his entry, accompanied by two male royal guards who are carrying a short sharp but broad knife each. King Dokpesi sits down rather somberly, and quickly orders his guards out with a wave of his left hand. A male narrator enters, dressed in baggy trousers, and faces the audience, backing the king. He speaks, his voice domineering.

NARRATOR

[Points at King Dokpesi] His face wearing ill-feelings. The past is with a wound. Repercussion is after him. [Narrator leaves]

[Almost immediately, loud voices of two men are heard, with footsteps surging into the palace.

VOICE 1

[Desperately] I will see the king! Next time you go near that tree!

VOICE 2

[Angrily] Don’t open your mouth to say rubbish! That kola nut tree was planted by my grandfather! I was there!

VOICE 1

The king will hear us!

VOICE 2

Let him hear us!

[The guards rush out and stop the two men from advancing further into the palace]

KING

[Attention attracted, unimpressed] You young men! [Angrily] That I decided to be open with my people does not in any way show weakness! This is a most unorthodox way to present your conflicting issues to me! Look at you! [Points at the men] Born and bred in this great kingdom of Kileja.

VOICE 1

[Kneels down apologetically] Your highness….

KING

Interrupts voice 1. Stands in anger. Roars] Quiet! I’m quite disappointed in both of you! Of course, it is said that when the tip of a finger gets stained with oil, it spreads to the rest of the finger. [Screams] If not! I will get harsher than this. Kileja is known to be a kingdom of warriors. Do you think our enemies will fear us again if they get to know there are male weaklings like you amongst us?

VOICE 2

[Goes on his knees as well] We have erred, your highness.

KING

[Shouts] Shut up! Let me not see you here again until you learn the proper way to present your case. Go…..!

[The two men flee. The guards leave, leaving the king, who gets seated once again, and starts to think hard. Then he soliloquizes]