An Overture to an Oncoming Opus.

Yes it has been quite a while since I have last updated. For the rare reader of my page, updates must be made and criticism must be given. Not much has been written since the last play has been posted. Many have been started, none finished.

One has been written, revised, performed, and completed. Though I do not deem it necessary for "Late News in Blackrock" to be posted here. Not one of my crowning achievements.

Of the few plays that I have started and not yet finished, there are quite a few:

* Presume to Speak - A work inspired by the debacle surrounding the film "Laughing at the Disabled". A university member was suspended for a number of months after his film which he claims the purpose of was to show that it is totally fine for us to laugh at the disabled and to show that they are people too. This however was viewed as grossly offensive and resulted in his suspension. An interview with the participants of the film showed that they were well aware that they were a subject of comedy, to quote one of the films participants - "God made me this way, and if people think that's funny, so be it. God made me that way." This considered, the fact that his film was challenged and his persecution just strikes me as political correctness gone too far. Which is what started me writing the piece. It deals with two film students and controversy surrounding one of their works.
* Cold - An absurdist piece. We are left questioning as to where we are, what we are doing there, and what is going on. The piece starts off with three characters (all with French names) sitting around an ice cube as if huddled for warmth, proclaiming how very cold it is. It could go places.

* Testament to an Unrighteous Judgement - I was asked sometime last year to write a play for Linda and Lucy. After they deemed most of the Australian theatre duologues as horrid, they asked me to write a short piece for two people for them. They were going to try and pass me off as a lesser known contemporary Australian playwright. Which in all technicalities I am. This is the result of that request. It was never finished as they told me that their teacher preferred that they do something that was written by a well known Australian playwright. The play is fairly minimalist, and is set in something similar to a courtroom. There are two characters. So far there is the judge, and there is the one being prosecuted. The persecuted is unaware of why they are present in the current deliberations.

* On the Outskirts of Central Bohemia - The latest work that has been started. Had a great vision for this one. Brilliant opening. Have to establish where I'm going with the play though. Don't know what is actually going to happen. But I feel if I got a good idea I could do great things with this. A Slavic tale to begin with, starting off in a train, that one would think is of Russian origin. Oh how I wish I could just traverse through eastern Europe and write. It would be a great inspiration to me.

There is of course my other idea which I have not transformed into anything yet, which is the idea of order from chaos which I have summed up in two quotes - "The only perfect world, is an imperfect world." or "The imperfect world is a perfect world." I have a great number of ideas to explore in relation to this concept, and I could very well use it as the basis of one of my major works next year.

Some guidance as to where to go next and what to continue would be appreciated. The holidays approach and I am in dire need of some good writing. The tethers of Australian theatre cannot constrain me for much longer.