Jukka Heinanen (Finland)
Schoolyard Stories
Koulupihan tarinoita
…
SCENE 7: FAMILY IMAGES
BOY2
Mornings are just the best. A perfect morning. I go into the kitchen and I’m welcomed by a wafting smell of freshly brewed coffee. Dark roast. Dad’s reading the paper. Mum’s wearing an apron. Frying eggs and humming.
GIRL2
It doesn’t really work like that.
GIRL1
No.
GIRL2
I go to the kitchen. Dad’s sitting there in his underpants.
DAD (BOY1)
Go and get the paper for daddy.
SISTER (GIRL2)
(To a small boy.)
What are you doing?
LITTLE BROTHER (BOY2)
Wait. I need these. It’s got mum’s feet. She always keeps them there. Now you can’t sit there.
DAD
The paper…
SISTER
And mum says in a chirpy, over the top way:
MUM (GIRL1)
Good morning!
GIRL2
And no one’s making coffee.
MUM
Why hasn’t anyone made the coffee?
GIRL2
But I’m beginning to boil over.
MUM
What’s this then? Why didn’t you say good morning to me? There’s no need for such bad temper always.
SISTER
well morning
MUM
Right.
SISTER
WELL.GOOD MORNING.
MUM
Always so angry these days. You don’t respect me at all! No need to always be so snappy.
SISTER
Well I can’t help being pissed off.
MUM
NO NEED TO TAKE IT OUT ON ME!
SISTER
Whatever
MUM
Everything’s whatever these days! You are not the only person in this household!
SISTER
Unfortunately not.
DAD
Gonna go to work now…
(tries to creep off)
MUM
Right.
GIRL1
While mum’s moaning at dad ’cos he’s got holes in his undies and other such deep and meaningful stuff, my lovely big brother totters into the kitchen.
BIG BROTHER (BOY1)
Tadaa! Well where’s the brew?
SISTER
Think about it.
BIG BROTHER
The coffee’s out.
SISTER
Sherlock.
BIG BROTHER
You are.
LITTLE BROTHER (BOY2)
Can’t you get it from the shop?
BIG BROTHER
Go and get it then.
LITTLE BROTHER
You go. I don’t even drink it.
BIG BROTHER
You did yesterday.
LITTLE BROTHER
That was coke.
BIG BROTHER
You are coke.
SISTER
Let’s just be without then.
BIG BROTHER
Whatever.
SISTER
You’re clearing the table then.
BIG BROTHER
Can’t be bothered.
SISTER
No really I’m in a rush to school. And you don’t actually do anything around here anyway.
(Big brother farts)
SISTER
For fuck sake!
DAD
Kathy hey
SISTER
hey hey
DAD
Try to…
GIRL2
Why do you never say anything to him?
GIRL1
’Cos he’s a man ape and doesn’t understand speech.
BOY
’Cos he’s reached puberty and all of his energy and thoughts are going into growing hair.
GIRL2
Why doesn’t anyone notice he’s growing in the wrong direction?
GIRL1
He’s becoming a monkey!
“Schoolyard Stories” takes place in a classroom. Four students, around 13-16 years old, are working on a task left for them by the teacher, who, for various reasons, is absent. Their task is to write about their own everyday life. For some, it is easy, for some hard. Through this simple situation, the play goes into their stories, their thoughts and feelings about life at school and home: taking care of little sisters, enjoying candy, going to school, coming home from school, playing computer-games, listening to mother’s sermons. Dreams, everyday frustrations and boredom, perfect moments and not-so-perfect moments fill the stage as the youngsters try to find their stories and put them on paper. The final story is about the end of the spring term at school, coming of summer and most importantly, about finding peace and harmony. “Schoolyard Stories” is not a play centered on a problem or problems. Its main goal has been to give the young audiences a possibility to recognize themselves on stage. If the play has a point other than this, it could be that the lives of today’s youngsters are full of things to do and to think about – maybe a little too full. The play ends with the school bell.
Rightholder:
Jukka Heinanen
jukka.heinanen@metropolia.fi
Performances:
1st opening Oulu City Theatre (FI) April 22, 2010
Cast:
M: 2
F: 2