#communicate
BY CLINNESHA D. SIBLEY
CAST OF CHARACTERS:
@MSRIGHT- A girl on line of a social network such as Twitter.
@HISSIDE- A guy who often visits her page.
The setting is electronic. It’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. 2012.
|
Lights up on the projection of a social network profile page belonging to “MSRIGHT”. The information on HER page may suggest certain characteristics and details of HER life such as a “single” status or even a favorite quote.
We see a moving cursor on the electronic device. MSRIGHT begins responding to a discussion thread on the topic of Martin Luther King, Jr. The dialogue appears as text on a computer screen and can be complemented by voiceovers. The actors may even be present on stage. |
MSRIGHT
I dnt understand why people are celebratin #MLK. Whats to be honored bout a man who cheated on his wife? #infidelity
HISSIDE
@MSRIGHT: damn you mad
MSRIGHT
@HISSIDE: Just sayin.
HISSIDE
@MSRIGHT: were you there tho? how you know he cheated?
MSRIGHT
@HISSIDE: I knew you’d be the first comment. #instigators SMH
HISSIDE
@MSRIGHT: not instigatin just sayin. i thought a spouse determines what happens in a relationship…
MSRIGHT
@HISSIDE: What are you talkin bout? The man was spose to be a christian and he cheated on his wife. #infidelity
HISSIDE
@MSRIGHT: come on now get off #MLK. none of us are perfect
MSRIGHT
@HISSIDE: I’m not sayin he should’ve been perfect.
HISSIDE
@MSRIGHT: what then
MSRIGHT
@HISSIDE: if some1 can waiver in their marital vows then a crucial component of their character is compromised #infidelity
HISSIDE
@MSRIGHT: well whether or not someone in politics has fidelity issues has nothin to do with how effective/ineffective they are as a political leader
MSRIGHT
@HISSIDE: Fidelity has EVERYTHING to do with leadership! #endofconversation
HISSIDE
@MSRIGHT: I guess
A beat.
A beat.
HISSIDE
@MSRIGHT: the civil rights movement was not affected by #MLK’s affair.
MSRIGHT
@HISSIDE: Right. You have a blessed day! #agreetodisagree
HISSIDE
@MSRIGHT: with all due respect, this is why I avoid your type. #phonychristians
MSRIGHT
@HISSIDE: Then why are you always on my page?
HISSIDE
@MSRIGHT: cuz you cute
MSRIGHT
@HISSIDE: Thank you.
HISSIDE
@MSRIGHT: so you wanna go to lunch or what
MSRIGHT
@HISSIDE: I thought you usually avoid my type.
HISSIDE
@MSRIGHT: #exception
MSRIGHT
@HISSIDE: #workin
HISSIDE
@MSRIGHT: #MLK day
MSRIGHT
@HISSIDE: I know, but I’m getting a lot done.
HISSIDE
@MSRIGHT: your on here!
MSRIGHT
@HISSIDE: lmao
HISSIDE
@MSRIGHT: check my mailbox while you there
MSRIGHT
@HISSIDE: Already did. You have nothing.
HISSIDE
@MSRIGHT: cool
A beat.
A beat.
HISSIDE
@MSRIGHT: how about we have dinner and finish this #MLK convo? i think you do have a good poi
There’s a pause. HISSIDE deletes “How about”
and types:
There’s a pause. HISSIDE deletes “How about”
and types:
HISSIDE
@MSRIGHT: don’t work too hard.
MSRIGHT
@HISSIDE: I won’t.
HISSIDE
@MSRIGHT: TTYL.
MSRIGHT
@HISSIDE: ; )
|
As the conversation fades, the following quote by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., appears:
“We must rapidly begin the shift from a ‘thing-oriented’ society to a ‘person-oriented’ society. When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered.” Blackout. |
End of play.
"#communicate" is part of Clinnesha's collection King Me: Three One-Act Plays Inspired by the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to be released by the University of Arkansas Press in Spring 2013.
"#communicate" is part of Clinnesha's collection King Me: Three One-Act Plays Inspired by the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to be released by the University of Arkansas Press in Spring 2013.
Clinnesha D. Sibley’s work has been presented for the Arkansas Repertory Theatre’s Voices at the River Playwriting Residency, NYCPlaywrights Play of the Month Series, TheatreSquared’s Arkansas New Play Festival, KCACTF, DC Black Theatre Festival, and Penumbra Theatre’s highly acclaimed Word(s) PLAY! Program.
Awards include: 2009 Key Woman Educator in Drama Award from the Iota Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society, Holland New Voices Award, 2012 Eugene O’Neill National Playwrights Conference Semifinalist, and the Athena Project Voices of Women Artists Plays in Progress Series Winner.
Clinnesha is a published Assistant Professor of Drama at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.
Awards include: 2009 Key Woman Educator in Drama Award from the Iota Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society, Holland New Voices Award, 2012 Eugene O’Neill National Playwrights Conference Semifinalist, and the Athena Project Voices of Women Artists Plays in Progress Series Winner.
Clinnesha is a published Assistant Professor of Drama at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.