Re: Does anyone have some Baha'i theatre play scripts?


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Posted by Graham Sorenson on April 10, 1999 at 06:17:07:

In Reply to: Does anyone have some Baha'i theatre play scripts? posted by Charles Stevens on February 10, 1999 at 11:18:17:

: Need scripts of theatre plays, which could be performed by a
: few people. To be used for Baha'i proclamation and teaching activities.
: Can anyone give me some suggestions of sources for scripts?
: Charles Stevens

The following is a script by a young Baha'i Ben Roskams, a 12 year old
from Cardiff, Wales, UK. It was the first prize in his schools drama
competition and was performed, with Ben as Holmes, in front of his school
and visitors.

This play is given to the Baha'is of the World, (and Sherlock
Holmes fans ) and is free to be used in schools and drama groups.

The ONLY requirement is that Ben is told of its use and of
peoples reactions to it.

You can E-Mail to:- graham@fragrant.demon.co.uk and I will pass
on the reports etc. Or snail mail to:-

Ben Roskams,
14 Alfreda Road,
Whitchurch,
Cardiff,
CF4 2EH
Wales, U.K.


THE SAILORS' PROBLEM

Ben Roskams 8M


THE CHARACTORS


SHERLOCK HOLMES

DR. WATSON

MRS. HUDSON

MR. SEEKER, a sailor

BOATMAN, from India

NATIVES

MORIARTY

MORIARTY'S NIECE

NARRATOR: The characters in this play are completely fictional, but the
Prisoner of Akka is real. He lived between 1817 and 1892.

SCENE 1

Victorian Study. Two men seated.

Holmes stands and looks out of the window.

HOLMES: Ah Watson. What do you make of him? [Points at man in
street below. Watson joins him.]

WATSON: Well... Middle aged man, sailor. Nothing else springs to mind.

HOLMES: Bravo Watson! He is a sailor on leave, a widower with two
young children. You see, the tattoo on his hand immediately denotes a sailor. He's on leave because his boots have not been cleaned recently and he carries shopping and presents, for a married man would not do his own shopping. The presents are for young people.

WATSON: Look Holmes. He's coming this way.

Doorbell rings. Footsteps on stairs and Mrs Hudson shows the gentleman in.

MRS. HUDSON: Mr. Seeker to see you sir.

MR SEEKER: Mr Sherlock Holmes?

MR HOLMES: Yes, how can I be of assistance? [Sits down and lights pipe.]

MR SEEKER: I have heard that you are the single most accomplished
detective in all of London. My problem is a simple one. You see,
I have travelled the world and have witnessed so much poverty,
fighting, greed, and hatred. What we need is peace and unity,
not wars and starvation. My request is that you go out into the
world to find the solution.

HOLMES: From my experience, I have never once chanced upon such
a most singular case...[pausing to think]...Thank you Mr. Seeker
but I have other matters to attend to.

WATSON: Mr Holmes is a very busy man but he will see to your needs
as soon as possible. [Holds door open for Mr Seeker and sees him out.]

HOLMES: Come Watson pack your trunk, we shall be leaving from
Waterloo at ten o'clock tomorrow morning.


SCENE TWO

A boat is situated centre stage. The various destinations visited
alternate from left stage to right stage.

From side of boat. Holmes is holding a telescope and watching
natives arguing.

WATSON: What do you see, Holmes?

HOLMES: Natives.

WATSON: What is your interest in them?

HOLMES: They are arguing over some matter. Boatman, can you translate?

BOATMAN: Yes, sir, yes, I would be most happy to do so.
They are arguing.

HOLMES: That is plain enough. What I need to know is what they are
arguing about.

BOATMAN: Well they are arguing about many things...but they are
arguing in two different languages so that they cannot understand
each other. One is saying "let us work together to get our crops in
before the rainy season" but the other thinks he is attacking their
God and is saying that his God is better than theirs which is very
strange, I think, because both their Gods teach the same thing.

HOLMES: So tell me boatman, what do these Gods teach?

BOATMAN: The same thing really. And that is that we must love one
another. They are wasting a lot of time.

HOLMES: [Writing in his notebook] Interesting, interesting,
don't you find, Watson?

WATSON: Yes, I suppose.

HOLMES: Let us continue on our way. Carry on boatman.

Lights down, stage left and up stage right.


SCENE THREE

A study. One man is seated and counting his money. A young lady enters.

HOLMES: [From boat] My God, Watson, do you see that man there?
He is unmistakeably Moriarty.

LADY: Good morning uncle. I have been visiting the mission again.

MORIARTY: What have you been down there for?

LADY: I have been talking to all the poor people. How they are
treated is really unfair. I wish I were in a position to change
that. [Thinking] I know...I should be a politician. I am sure
that if women ran the country there would be less poverty and
less war. They don't want to see their sons killed!

MORIARTY: [Still counting his money]. You... you want to be in
a place of power? That's impossible...You can't even spell politician
let alone vote. If you want to be in a place of power, go to the kitchen!

LADY: [To audience]. All I have ever been taught is what clothes
to wear and how to cook and sew. Women have not been given the
chance. All we want is justice for everyone, not power.

Stage left and right is in darkness. The boat is lit up centre stage.

WATSON: Really Holmes, this is a difficult one.

HOLMES: Maybe not as difficult as it seems. Tell me Watson,
what would you say is the main difference between the peoples
of the East and the West?

WATSON: Well, their skin varies a great deal and their medical
practices seem to me to be a whole lot of superstition and hocus-pocus.

HOLMES: And the West?

WATSON: Very scientific and organised.

HOLMES: [Thinking]...I have it!

WATSON: Have what, Holmes?

HOLMES: All in good time, all in good time my boy. I have
solved the case. Back to England, boatman.

SCENE FOUR

Holmes' Study

Mrs. Hudson shows Mr. Seeker into the study. Holmes is sitting in
his chair playing the violin. Watson is looking out of the window
smoking a pipe.

MRS. HUDSON: Mr. Seeker to see you sir.

HOLMES: Ah, Mr. Seeker, I have part of your solution but it is far
from simple. While I was on my travels, I observed several scenes
which gave some clues. While in the far East I witnessed the peoples
arguing and fighting and this is what I deduced. They fought because
they misunderstood each other. This would not have happened had they
spoken a language in common.

WATSON: So we need a language that everyone can understand without
losing one's national identity.

HOLMES: Yes Watson, but I shall continue. One tribe was attacking
the others' God. I recalled the boatman who told us that both their
Gods say we should treat each other as we would expect to be treated.

WATSON: But that's in the Bible!

HOLMES: Thank you Watson. [To Mr. Seeker] My Biblical knowledge
is a trifle rusty but I remembered that this is the foundation of
most other faiths. Because of this I concluded that the teachings
of all these faiths must have come from the same source.

WATSON: Well done Holmes! From this you are saying that all religions
also come from the same God and that we must therefore all be connected
... rather like a large family.

HOLMES: Yes Watson, you are correct, but there are a few more factors
yet to come.

WATSON: And these are?

HOLMES: If you remember, we chanced by one of Moriarty's many houses
in which his niece wanted to be a politician. I observed that Moriarty's
niece was displaying boundless compassion and a total lack of greed.
I also realised that women are the primary teachers for the next
generation. Upon consideration I deduced that not only do women
need to be educated but also that the world's problems can only
be resolved when there are more women in key positions.

WATSON: Do you realise what you are saying, Holmes? You are suggesting
that women could eventually get the vote?

HOLMES: Not only the vote, dear Watson, but they will need to be
treated equally to men. Indeed all people deserve the opportunity
for a good education and this brings me to my next point. This
education would help diminish the gap of extremes of poverty and
wealth and through the independent investigation of truth should
lead to the reduction in prejudice which is also necessary if we
are to solve Mr. Seekers problem. In fact you, my dear Watson,
saved me a great deal of time when you mentioned the scientific
and superstitious elements of the East and West, for religion
without science is merely superstition and science without religion
could be very dangerous. You can see, then, how they should be in balance.

WATSON: [ Puzzled]. So what you are saying is that women should be
able to vote and should strive to work alongside men, that everyone
should have a good education and that we should try to share our wealth
more justly. We should investigate the truth for ourselves, which, of
course, you need no help in Holmes, and we should work at eliminating
prejudice. It seems to me that the differences between East and West,
men and women, and the rich and the poor are not as great as I first
thought. What we are talking about is unity!!

HOLMES: Yes, Watson, yes. Now Mr. Seeker, this should help to answer
your question but on my travels I heard of one in the prison city of
Akka who holds the key. I would highly recommend that you visit him
as he has much to teach.

MR. SEEKER: Thank you Mr. Holmes, I am greatly indebted to you for
your help in this matter. [ Leaves]

HOLMES: You may use my note-book for reference as you record this
adventure. [Picks up violin and plays theme tune].

>>END<<




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