Far Away E-Book

Caryl Churchill

• Herausgeber: Nick Hern Books
• Kategorie: Poesie und Drama
• Serie: NHB Modern Plays
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 29

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2012

Beschreibung

A brilliant and unsettling play from one of the UK's leading dramatists. At the opening of the play, a young girl is questioning her aunt about having seen her uncle hitting people with an iron bar; by the end, several years later, the whole world is at war - including birds and animals. Caryl Churchill's play Far Away is a howl of anguish at the increasing – and increasingly accepted – levels of inhumanity in a world seemingly perpetually involved in conflict. The play was first performed at the Royal Court Jerwood Theatre Upstairs, London, in November 2000.

Leseprobe

Caryl Churchill

FAR AWAY

Contents

Title page

Original Production

Characters

1

2

3

About the Author

By the Same Author

Copyright and Performing Rights Information

Far Away was first performed at the Royal Court Theatre Upstairs, London, on 24 November 2000, with the following cast:

YOUNG JOAN:

Annabelle Seymour-Julen

HARPER:

Linda Bassett

TODD:

Kevin McKidd

OLDER JOAN:

Katherine Tozer

Director

Stephen Daldry

Designer

Ian MacNeil

Lighting Designer

Rick Fisher

Sound Designer

Paul Arditti

The production transferred to the Albery Theatre in the West End on 18 January 2001, with the same cast.

The play received its American premiere at the New York Theatre Workshop, on 1 November 2002, directed by Stephen Daldry and performed by Alexa Eisenstein, Marin Ireland, Frances McDormand, Chris Messina and Gina Rose.

Characters

JOAN, a girl

HARPER, her aunt

TODD, a young man

The Parade (Scene 2.5): five is too few and twenty better than ten. A hundred?

1.

HARPER’s house. Night.

JOAN

I can’t sleep.

HARPER

It’s the strange bed.

JOAN

No, I like different places.

HARPER

Are you cold?

JOAN

No.

HARPER

Do you want a drink?

JOAN

I think I am cold.

HARPER

That’s easy enough then. There’s extra blankets in the cupboard.

JOAN

Is it late?

HARPER

Two.

JOAN

Are you going to bed?

HARPER

Do you want a hot drink?

JOAN

No thank you.

HARPER

I should go to bed then.

JOAN

Yes.

HARPER

It’s always odd in a new place. When you’ve been here a week you’ll look back at tonight and it won’t seem the same at all.

JOAN

I’ve been to a lot of places. I’ve stayed with friends at their houses. I don’t miss my parents if you think that.

HARPER

Do you miss your dog?

JOAN

I miss the cat I think.

HARPER

Does it sleep on your bed?

JOAN

No because I chase it off. But it gets in if the door’s not properly shut. You think you’ve shut the door but it hasn’t caught and she pushes it open in the night.

HARPER

Come here a minute. You’re shivering. Are you hot?

JOAN

No, I’m all right.

HARPER

You’re over-tired. Go to bed. I’m going to bed myself.

JOAN

I went out.

HARPER

When? just now?

JOAN

Just now.

HARPER

No wonder you’re cold. It’s hot in the daytime here but it’s cold at night.

JOAN

The stars are brighter here than at home.

HARPER

It’s because there’s no street lights.

JOAN

I couldn’t see much.

HARPER

I don’t expect you could. How did you get out? I didn’t hear the door.

JOAN

I went out the window.

HARPER

I’m not sure I like that.

JOAN

No it’s quite safe, there’s a roof and a tree.

HARPER

When people go to bed they should stay in bed. Do you climb out of the window at home?

JOAN

I can’t at home because – No I don’t.

HARPER

I’m responsible for you.

JOAN

Yes, I’m sorry.

HARPER

Well that’s enough adventures for one night. You’ll sleep now. Off you go. Look at you, you’re asleep on your feet.

JOAN

There was a reason.

HARPER

For going out?

JOAN

I heard a noise.

HARPER

An owl?

JOAN

A shriek.

HARPER

An owl then. There are all sorts of birds here, you might see a golden oriole. People come here specially to watch birds and we sometimes make tea or coffee or sell bottles of water because there’s no café and people don’t expect that and they get thirsty. You’ll see in the morning what a beautiful place it is.

JOAN

It was more like a person screaming.

HARPER