Talk:Street Theater

Terra: can someone list the contact info for this group? or send it to: volunteeroccupybos@gmail.com, there are people that want to connect that aren't going to use the wiki.

I'm bummed that my skits didn't get discussed. Is there anything I can do about it? I can't make meetings. I shared them with S. via google groups. Thanks for posting minutes.

another idea for political/performance art/action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oHRdiklTlU large team goes to scott walker speech and reads script...in mike-check format.

Script: The Waiting Room
Feel free to edit.

The Waiting Room

Below, a location, date, and four characters to use as the basis for street theatre improvisation. Time & Place June-teenth, 6/19/11, Emancipation Day. Waiting Room of the Lemuel Shattuck Hospital of last resort, Boston, MA. It serves many incarcerated persons. It is not a public hospital. Characters A black man in shackles waits. An older white woman waits to have her ears cleaned. She’s deaf as haddock and not eligible for car at the Shattuck, but she went there because she figures its a hospital and it takes too long to see her doctor. She’s lonely. A woman sits behind the reception desk doing paperwork. She represents the health insurance companies. Jesus/MD MD The large crowd, including Occupy Boston, is commemorating Emancipation Day, in Franklin Park, just outside the hospital. Plot Notes The MD needs to decide which patient to see next. MD/Jesus and Receptionist confer about different billing plans, payment options, how much the MD will make from each patient.. This is where facts about commercial health care get across. The MD sends the receptionist to speak to both patients.Possible ending; the older woman says that the MD should see the black man first. OB bursts in and saves the day, Jesus on the shoulders of protesters preforming miracles. Dialogue Notes The crowd can be heard via bull horn. Crowd: Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Able, your brother? Receptionist/Cain said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?” Receptionists: Fill out this form and take a seat. And the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying...” Leviticus: You shall not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind... Proverbs; he who closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself cry out and not be heard. Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintains the right of hte afflicted and the destitute. The story of the good samaritan; Luke 10: 25-37 mathew 25: when I was hungry….I was sick and you visted me...I was in prison and you came to me... Corinthisans 12:25-26 we are one body

Script: Kissing a Few Frogs
Kissing A Few Frogs

Characters Soccer Moms with Yoga Mats/Spandex Yoginis: the wives of wealthy men who sit on their yoga mats at the beach worrying about their children’s health and breaking into song. They and their loved ones are the victim of the chemical industry; diabetes, breast cancer, ADD, infertility, cardiovascular disease. There’s one in particular, Mindy, who’s very scared that her family is next. Mindy cant’ get pregnant. Mutant Frogs/Hotsy Totsy Yoga Hunks: Mutant Frogs that transform into Yoga Hunks and break into song. The mutant Frogs want the Soccor Moms with Yoga Mats to kiss them. The Frongs promise that they will reveal a secret if the are kissed. . They are very charming for ughly frogs and finally one of them gets Mindy to kiss him. Plot Notes When Mindy kisses *Six Legggggg, he sings: I’ve have six legggggg for the same reason your family is sick. The Yoga Moms ar transformed into the Spandex Yoginis Occupy Boston Civil Disobedence Squad and kirtan band.The Spandex Yoginis get righteous and join the Occupation as the BPA assassins. They turn water bottles into stainless steel bottles w/meditation. The Hotsy Totsy Yoga Hunks spout yogic philosophy. Every one breaks into song. Dialogue Notes Frog 5.3Many vegetarians believe that not eating animal fats will keep the pollutants that cause terrible diseases out of their bodies. However, the evidence is mounting that the worst of these pollutants, Bisphenol A, is most likely to be found food packaging, as opposed to meat per se. Frog 4. 2The bloody fucking elites are poisoning you well fed nim wit, get off your fucking matt. The Other Frong: Bispenol A (BPA) is now classified as one of the many Endocrine Disrupting Compounds (EDCs) that cause metabolic syndrome, a disorder that encompasses obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. An estimated 27% of adults in the US are affected by the syndrome. BPA is found in the urine of more than 90% of the U.S. population. Individuals with levels of BPA that high have a fivefold increased risk of developing Type II diabetes.1 Frogger: They have you by the balls! Get it? It’s a hormone; it could grow breasts on a peice of moss. Do your really want in your families? And you have the money to pay for it! The Other Frogg, Two.: The good news is that while we are constantly exposed to BPA from the linings of cans, plastic food packaging, and water bottles, eliminating it from your diet for three days can reduce the amount of BPA in your urine by 60%.2 Mindy: I don’t kiss frogs, I’m married. Frog: I’m a FROG!

Script: Lean on me/The Way of the World
THE WAY OF THE WORLD

Characters: Monopoly Men chorus (MM), Generic Old Testament Prophet turned Comedian (GOTP). The GOPT puppet is two-sided; one side is Jay Leno, the other side is a hellfire and brimstone preacher. The GOPT wears harlequin robes.

Blocking: after each verse, the MM part to reveal the GOTP.

MM CHORUS

Sleeze on me when you're not strong And I'll be your friend I'll help you carry on For it won't be long Till I'm gonna need Somebody to scheme on

Sometimes in our lives we all have pain We all have sorrow But if we are wise We know that we can always ba-borrow

GOTP-L

And it was on this very day in 1690 that the very first paper money in America was issued in Massachusetts. It was issued by a man named Merrill Lynch who used the money to give himself the first huge bonus. Jay Leno

Democrats were quick to point out that President Bush's budget creates a 1 trillion dollar deficit. The White House quickly responded with 'Hey, look over there, it's Saddam Hussein. Craig Kilborn

(switch)

Woe to him who heaps up what is not His own—for how long?— And loads himself w/pledges!” Will not your debtors suddenly arise And those awake who will make you tremble? Then you will be booty for them. Because you have plundered many nations, All the remnant of the peoples shall Plunder you For the blood of men and violence Of the earth, To cities and all who dwell therein Habakkuk 2:6-8

MM CHORUS

Sleeze on me, when you're not bond’d And I'll be your friend I'll help you carry on For it won't be long 'Til I'm gonna need Somebody to scheme on

Please swallow your pride If I have things you need to borrow For no one can fill those of your needs That you don't let show

GOTP-L And Citigroup--who received a huge bailout from the government---owns the naming rights to the New York Mets new stadium. It is currently called Citi Field, but because of Barack Obama’s crackdown on the Federal bailout money, Citigroup will legally have to change the name of the stadium to “Money Grubbing Bastards” field. Jay Leno President Obama, getting very tough now, has imposed a $500,000 salary cap for executives getting federal bailout money. And, listen to this: Now on weekends, they can only play miniature golf. No more 18 holes.

Citigroup just got $45 billion of our tax dollars. Did you see what they bought themselves? They spent $50 million on a brand new, French-made private jet for their executives. Has a bar, private entertainment center, seating for 12. You know, if there's ever a reason to reopen Guantanamo Bay, this is it, okay. That's our jet! We should be taking that. They should be on Southwest.

(switch)

If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be to him as a creditor, and you shall not exact interest from him. If ever you take your neighbor’s garment in pledge, you shall restore it to him before the sun goes down; for that is his only covering, it is his mantle for his body, in what else shall he sleep? Exodus 22:25:25-27

MM CHORUS

Scheme on me, when you're not bond’d And I'll be your friend I'll help you carry on For it won't be long 'Til I'm gonna need Somebody to scheme on

If there is a boat you have to bear That you can't carry I'm right up the road I'll share your boat If you just call me

GOPT-L

And AIG, you know the insurance company who's getting over $11 billion of our dollars in bailout money? Well, they announced they're giving 130 of their executives cash awards of up to $3 million. These are cash awards, not bonuses. They say they are payments to guarantee that their top executives stay with the company. Oh, yeah, God forbid AIG should lose any of these business geniuses. Imagine what kind of shape they'd be in without these people. Again, these are cash awards, not bonuses. So we should send them to jail, not prison, see?

And Congress said this week that they’re looking into the Bernard Madoff scandal. So the guy that made $50 billion disappear is being investigated by the people who made $750 billion disappear. Jay Leno

It looks like the government is going to bail out CitiGroup, yet they don't want to bail out the auto companies. See, I don't think this is fair. I mean, blue collar guys who make our cars, they don't get the bailout. But the white collar guys on Wall Street, they get the bailout. You know what I think we should do? I think they should work together. I think the guys in Detroit should keep making the cars, and the guys on Wall Street should be making the license plates. See what I'm saying?

(switch)

The voice of the Lord cries to the city--- And it is sound wisdom to fear thy name; “Hear, O tribe and assembly of the city! Can I forget the treasures of wickedness in The house of the wicked, And the scant measure that is accursed? Shall I acquit the man with wicked scales And with a bag of deceitful weights? Your rich men are full of violence: Your inhabitants speak lies, And their tongue is Deceitful in their mouth. Therefore I have begun to smith you, Making you desolate because of your sins… Micah 6:9-13

MM CHORUS

So just call on me brother, when you need a hand We all need somebody to scheme on I just might have a problem that you'd understand We all need somebody to scheme on

Scheme on me when you're not strong And I'll be your friend I'll help you carry on For it won't be long Till I'm gonna need Somebody to scheme on

GOTP-L "I'm watching TV today and it's nothing but 'We're going to war. Imminent war. Blah, blah blah.' But I'm watching the TV and I see that the stock market has gone up 300 points! How is that possible? The economy has been in the pooper for a year and a half. 'Oh, maybe we'll try lowering interest rates, maybe we'll try lowering prices, maybe we'll give a dividend tax cut'. This is what they've been waiting for? 'Oh, we're going to war? I'm in!' Is the head of the Dow Jones Yosemite Sam?" Jon Stewart Just last week, a AIG executive emptied his pockets before going through a metal detector and Christopher Dodd fell out. Jay Leno

MM CHORUS Scheme on me when you're not strong And I'll be your friend I'll help you carry on For it won't be long Till I'm gonna need Somebody to scheme on

(switch)

Woe to those who join house to house, Who add field to field, Until there is no room, And you are made to dwell alone in The midst of the land. The Lord of hosts has sworn in my hearing “Surely many houses shall be desolate, large and beautiful houses, without inhabitants… Isaiah 5:8-9

GOTP-L

As you know, Congress voted against the bailout. See the problem with members of Congress, they were told to vote their conscience. And of course, this totally confused them. Conscience? Jay Leno

Short Scripts for Street Theater
Hi! I'm new to this discussion. I'm a screenwriter and I've written a short script (about 9 minutes long) that I thought would be nice to perform at Occupy Boston. I'm attaching it here and please feel free to use/adapt it free of royalty charges. Also, I'd like to know how and when to get involved with the Street Theater working group. Thanks!

CHATTEL SLAVES / WAGE SLAVES! By Gabriell, October 2011

THIS SHORT PLAY IS INTENDED FOR A STREET THEATER PRESENTATION AT AN OCCUPY WALL STREET EVENT. ANYONE HAS THE WRITER'S PERMISSION TO USE THIS PLAY AT ANY TIME WITHOUT RESERVATIONS, PERMISSION OR COPYRIGHT INFRACTION. ALL PARTS CAN BE PLAYED BY MALES OR FEMALES. FOUR ACTORS ARE NEEDED TO PERFORM THE PLAY, AND AT LEAST ONE MUST BE DARK SKINNED. PROPS OR PROP LOOK-A-LIKES INCLUDE: RAGS, COTTON AND A BURLAP BAG FOR THE SLAVE, CHAIR, SUIT, CIGAR AND A GLASS OF WINE OR GRAPE JUICE FOR THE FAT CAT, STICK FOR THE OVERSEER, POLICE UNIFORM (OR AT LEAST A HAT AND BADGE), A STICK OR BATON AND HANDCUFFS (THAT COULD BE MADE OF TAPE OR PLASTIC) FOR THE POLICE OFFICER, WORK CLOTHES, BROOM AND PROTEST SIGN FOR THE STREET CLEANER.

EXT. COTTON FIELDS - DAY A dark skinned SLAVE dressed in rags toils away picking cotton and putting it into a burlap bag he/she carries. The slave wipes sweat from his/her brow and continues to work.

A medium to light skinned OVERSEER dressed slightly better comes up to the slave and watches the slave work, stick in hand.

A well dressed FAT CAT enters and seats him or herself in a chair apart from the Slave and Overseer, smoking a cigar, drinking a glass of wine, smiling and relaxing.

A NARRATOR comes on stage.

NARRATOR During the days of chattel slavery, how did the slave owners control the slaves even though they were outnumbered by them? Let's take a look....

The Slave continues working with the Overseer watching. The Fat Cat beckons to the overseer.

FAT CAT Hey, Overseer!

The overseer leaves the slave who continues picking cotton and walks up to the Fat Cat.

OVERSEER Yes?

FAT CAT You need to tell that there Slave to speed things up. There's a quota to be made. I don't have all day.

OVERSEER Well sir, I already told the Slave to speed it up, but the Slave don't listen. You know how lazy those slaves is.

FAT CAT Hell, you gotta administer some discipline! That's why I gave you a stick.

OVERSEER I don't want to beat the Slave sir.

The fat cat pulls out a huge wad of bills (or money look-alike), flipping through it.

FAT CAT You want some more food for your family right? You want some nice new clothes?

OVERSEER Yes, that would be mighty nice.

FAT CAT Then you make that there Slave work harder!

OVERSEER Yes indeed, I will!

The Fat Cat, slips the Overseer a few of the bills. The Overseer pockets them. Then the Overseer goes back to the slave.

OVERSEER Massa said, hurry it up!

SLAVE I can't hurry it up no more than I am. It's hot and I'm thirsty!

The overseer lifts up his stick.

OVERSEER Shut up!

SLAVE I need some water!

OVERSEER I said shut up and work!

With that the overseer starts beating the slave with the stick. The slave starts crying and yelling.

SLAVE I hate you! I hate you, you uppity Overseer!

OVERSEER Shut up you beast!

The Overseer is upset and hits the Slave again, and the slave cries out in pain.

SLAVE You think you better than me, but you's a slave just like me!

OVERSEER Shut up you dirty, stupid, lazy, worthless piece of shit!

The Slave and Overseer start a scuffle and fight. From the sidelines in the chair and smoking the cigar and drinking the wine, the Fat Cat watches and laughs at both of them. The Overseer overpowers the Slave with the stick.

OVERSEER Get back to work you ugly, good for nothing brute!

The Slave goes back to work, simmering with fury. The Overseer stands, stick in hand, ready to smash the Slave if he/she should disobey again. The Fat Cat continues to watch and laugh from the sidelines. He pulls out his wad of cash and counts his money.

NARRATOR So, how did the slave owners control the slaves during the days of chattel slavery, even though the owners were outnumbered by the slaves?

The narrator solicits answers and discussion from the audience for several minutes. While this discussion ensues, the Slave keeps picking cotton with the Overseer watching and the Fat Cat relaxing on the chair. Then the Overseer comes up to the Narrator and taps him/her on the shoulder.

NARRATOR Yes?

OVERSEER Hey! Slavery ended in eighteen fifty nine, over one hundred and fifty years ago. Slavery is over. What does this story have to do with us today?

NARRATOR Good question! Let's take a look.

The Slave takes off his rags, and puts on coveralls or other work clothes, picks up a broom and becomes a STREET CLEANER. He/she begins sweeping the street or stage.

The Overseer puts on a police badge, hat and/or uniform, still holding onto his stick and becomes a POLICE OFFICER.

The Fat Cat doesn't change at all, continuing to smoke the cigar and drink the glass of wine in the big chair. The Police Officer goes up to the street cleaner.

POLICE OFFICER Move along now, you're blocking traffic!

STREET CLEANER I'm tired. I'm not making ends meet. My family is hungry. I'm about to lose my home to foreclosure.

POLICE OFFICER Oh, stop whining. You're just lazy. You just have to work harder. Like me.

STREET CLEANER No! I've had enough!

The Street Cleaner puts down the broom.

STREET CLEANER I'm going on strike for health insurance and a living wage!

The street cleaner grabs a sign and begins marching. The Fat Cat seeing this from the side motions to the Police Officer. The Police Officer goes up to the Fat Cat.

FAT CAT Hey, you need to keep that unruly worker in line.

POLICE OFFICER Why should I? You're messing with my pension.

The Fat Cat pulls out the wad of cash again, flipping through it.

FAT CAT I have something that I think will help you understand my point of view.

The Police Officer looks hungrily at the cash.

POLICE OFFICER I sort of need that to get my kid through college.

The Fat Cat smiles, chuckles.

FAT CAT Yes, yes of course you do.

The Police Officer reaches out for the money. The Fat Cat pulls back.

FAT CAT Not so fast. Maybe we can make a deal.

The Fat Cat whispers in the Police Officers ear who listens attentively and then nods.

FAT CAT So it's agreed?

The Police Officer nods and the Fat Cat gives him/her a few bills from the huge wad. The Police Officer aggressively walks back to the Street Cleaner who is still marching around with his/her protest sign.

POLICE OFFICER What did I tell you! Move along!

STREET CLEANER I have the right to join a union, collectively bargain and protest to address my grievances. I know my rights!

POLICE OFFICER How dare you, you ignorant fool! Get off this street!

The Street Cleaner continues marching with his/her sign and this infuriates the Police Officer. They have a scuffle and the Police Officer slams the Street Cleaner with the stick/baton and puts plastic handcuffs on the street cleaner. The Police Officer makes the Street Cleaner lie on his/her stomach, face down, with a foot on his/her back. The Street Cleaner struggles to get free. The Fat Cat watches from the sidelines, laughing, enjoying the cigar and glass of wine and flipping through the huge wad of cash.

NARRATOR The Slave of today is the poor and working class. The Overseer of today is the middle class. These are the middle men, the police officers, security guards, teachers, social workers, bank tellers and secretaries. These middle men have a little bit more than the poor and working class and are led to believe that they are better just like the overseers and house slaves of the past. Their job is to maintain control over the masses of the poor and they get a little bit of privilege in return. The Fat Cat nods and smiles at the Narrator, giving a "thumbs-up".

FAT CAT Yeah. I got them all where I want them.

NARRATOR Not so fast!

The Narrator runs up to the Police Officer.

NARRATOR Hey!

POLICE OFFICER What?

NARRATOR Don't you see?

POLICE OFFICER See what?

NARRATOR You and that worker you are arresting are in the same boat! You are both wage slaves!

POLICE OFFICER That's nonsense. I'm better than this troublemaker. I worked hard and paid my dues.

NARRATOR How hard did you work?

POLICE OFFICER I have to work tons of overtime to pay my bills and to get my kid through college.

NARRATOR And are you getting ahead?

POLICE OFFICER I have to work harder and harder just to stay even and pay my bills. I work so hard and this scum-bag is just mulling around the streets.

The Fat Cat sees the Narrator speaking to the Police Officer and for the first time looks worried. The Fat Cat gets up and starts pacing back and forth.

NARRATOR You're a union worker just like the Street Cleaner.

POLICE OFFICER This is an inferior immigrant.

The Street Cleaner yells from under the Police Officer's boot.

STREET CLEANER No, I'm one of you! We're both serving the same master!

NARRATOR That's right! We are one! As long as we are divided, the Fat Cat wins! Join with us. Together we can make a better world. We are the majority.

The Fat Cat motions to the Police Officer, shaking a bigger wad of money around and pointing to it. The police officer observes this and gets irritated. He lifts his foot off of the Street Cleaner and removes the cuffs. The Street Cleaner stands up and hugs the Police Officer.

STREET CLEANER We are one. The Police Officer, Narrator and Street Cleaner join hands. They walk together towards the Fat Cat who now looks terrified, jumping out of the chair and dropping the cigar and glass of wine.

NARRATOR, STREET CLEANER AND POLICE OFFICER We are the ninety nine percent. We are the working class and poor people of the world. We want you to give back most of what you have taken. Pay your taxes! Get out of the pockets of the government and media. Give us back our country and our democracy!

The Fat Cat starts twitching and stammering.

FAT CAT You, you can't do anything. I have all the money! You work for me!

NARRATOR, STREET CLEANER AND POLICE OFFICER We have power in numbers. We are united. We want you to step down.

FAT CAT You work for me! You all are fired!

NARRATOR, STREET CLEANER AND POLICE OFFICER No, you are fired. Step down. This is our country, our environment, our world.

FAT CAT No, Police Officer, arrest these people!

POLICE OFFICER Not this time buddy. I understand now. They are not the enemy, you are~!

FAT CAT No!

NARRATOR, STREET CLEANER AND POLICE OFFICER Step down Fat Cat. Your time is up. We are the ninety nine percent and we are united. This is our country, our world and we are affirming our right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness! The Fat Cat runs up to the Police Officer and tries to grab his/her hand and pull, but the Police Officer resists.

FAT CAT Protect me! Those dirty negroes and immigrants and poor white trash are ruining our country! The Fat Cat throws money at the Police Officer.

POLICE OFFICER Not this time. Your racist tactics won't work any more.

NARRATOR, STREET CLEANER AND POLICE OFFICER Step down Fat Cat. Your time is up. We are the ninety nine percent. We are one. This is our country, our world and we are affirming our right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness! We are the working class, middle class and poor united. We want you to give back what you have taken from us. Pay your taxes! Get out of the pockets of the government and media. Give us back our country and our democracy! Step down now!

The Fat Cat runs away and the Narrator, Street Cleaner and Police Officer cheer and clap. And bow.

The End.