Waiting For Todog (or Rosen, Crantz, Guilden and Stern are Dead) – A Play on Zimbabwe
Preface
I decided, after reading LD’s excellent AARs, that my skills at writing needed some brushing up with regards to conveying information through dialogue rather than narrative. I decided, however, to take it an extra step, thus this entire work is in the form of a play where I will attempt to eliminate any non-dialogue components other than set directions and other notes that would allow the reader of a play to get the sense of what actually happens on stage.
For those familiar with Samuel Beckett’s monumental work of a spooneristically similar title to this AAR’s, or of Stoppard’s devastatingly ingenuous take on Hamlet (also referenced): you may notice a hint (or more than a hint…okay, I copied lines) of plagiarism at times, for which I hope you will pardon me as it is supposed to be supportive of the spirit that I intend the overall work to take. I have also “borrowed” a few lines here and there from various sources and those readers who can identify their origin will get bonus kudos. No points for the obvious though.
You may also find that this is a titch on the “lacking in substance” side vis a vis playing an EU2 GC game. Well…YOU try coming up with an exciting AAR on Zimbabwe! Perhaps what is lacking in content may be repaid in style…or that is what I hope to achieve. At any rate, I look forward to it as a project that will probably, ultimately, take a long time to complete but may turn out to be more than just an exercise in how to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.
I must also, I suppose, state that if anyone has any serious objection to this highly simplistic misrepresentation of the peoples of Zimbabwe then he/she/it lacks any sense of humour and should go and read someone else’s AAR. My gross insensitivity is merely a vehicle for the…yada yada yada.
To the rest…
Enjoy! I will try to post a scene or two a week and would appreciate any pointers as to form/style/content that any of you might care to offer. As to game play suggestions, it’s too late…the game is finished.
MrT
***
The Set
The entire play occurs upon a single set. It is sparsely decorated, featuring a primitive east-African village. Near centre stage there is a very large rather flat rock. This edifice assumes various functions during the course of events. Near it, a palm tree – and also of some moment. A mine entrance may be seen in the distance, painted on the stage rear. In the corner, upstage left, a small enclosure seems to contain several grotesque skeletons on poles, and some rather crude finger-paintings are scattered about, hung on the walls. Adjacent to this is the front of a second structure against which may be seen a number of spears and a collection of blow guns. At upstage right there is an open entrance to what might be a civic building of some sort. Other set dressings may need to be introduced as appropriate later on.
The Cast
Gatsi: Tribal Chief of Zimbabwe
Nappi: General of the Zimbabwe Army
Hud: Best of the Zimbabwean canoeists
Gunga: Chief recruiter for the Zimbabwe army.
Din: Zimbabwean woodcarver and builder of dug-out canoes
Tunal: Head of UGMAZ (Unionized Gold Miners Association of Zimbabwe)
Trado: A Zimbabwe merchant.
Misio: A priest of the Sunni Moslem religion
Volo: Scribe, Historian, and Head of the ZDC (Zimbabwe Diplomatic Corps)
Kuok: A chef from Zimbabwe
Pozzo: A Zimbabwe slave-master.
Lucki: A philosopher
Vladi: A Zimbabwe peasant
Mir: A Zimbabwe peasant
Estra: A Zimbabwe peasant
Gon: A Zimbabwe peasant
Rosen: A Zimbabwe noble
Crantz: A Zimbabwe noble
Guilden: A Zimbabwe noble
Stern: A Zimbabwe noble
Playr: An Actor form Zimbabwe
Choiseul: A French Army Captain
Otherwise assume that the odd “extra” or two (or 10,000) floats in and out as appropriate. Also note that the gender of any particular cast member is largely irrelevant so suit yourself.
It is also possible, as this fiction progresses, that some details may be changed/added, or that the cast may need to be expanded so it might be worth checking back here if you don’t recognize someone since I will endeavour to at least keep this listing updated.
Conventions
Text enclosed in ( ) are “technical” directions. Italicised text is a specific stage direction or action that the actor is to make during the performance. Text enclosed in < > is an OT playwright’s note and should not be considered as part of the finished work.
The dialogue in the play is always preceded by the name(s) in ALL CAPS of the individual(s) who speak.
Screen Shots
Well, you get one, just so you can be familiar with the local “geography”. This is it...here...click on me...
Preface
I decided, after reading LD’s excellent AARs, that my skills at writing needed some brushing up with regards to conveying information through dialogue rather than narrative. I decided, however, to take it an extra step, thus this entire work is in the form of a play where I will attempt to eliminate any non-dialogue components other than set directions and other notes that would allow the reader of a play to get the sense of what actually happens on stage.
For those familiar with Samuel Beckett’s monumental work of a spooneristically similar title to this AAR’s, or of Stoppard’s devastatingly ingenuous take on Hamlet (also referenced): you may notice a hint (or more than a hint…okay, I copied lines) of plagiarism at times, for which I hope you will pardon me as it is supposed to be supportive of the spirit that I intend the overall work to take. I have also “borrowed” a few lines here and there from various sources and those readers who can identify their origin will get bonus kudos. No points for the obvious though.
You may also find that this is a titch on the “lacking in substance” side vis a vis playing an EU2 GC game. Well…YOU try coming up with an exciting AAR on Zimbabwe! Perhaps what is lacking in content may be repaid in style…or that is what I hope to achieve. At any rate, I look forward to it as a project that will probably, ultimately, take a long time to complete but may turn out to be more than just an exercise in how to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.
I must also, I suppose, state that if anyone has any serious objection to this highly simplistic misrepresentation of the peoples of Zimbabwe then he/she/it lacks any sense of humour and should go and read someone else’s AAR. My gross insensitivity is merely a vehicle for the…yada yada yada.
To the rest…
Enjoy! I will try to post a scene or two a week and would appreciate any pointers as to form/style/content that any of you might care to offer. As to game play suggestions, it’s too late…the game is finished.
MrT
***
The Set
The entire play occurs upon a single set. It is sparsely decorated, featuring a primitive east-African village. Near centre stage there is a very large rather flat rock. This edifice assumes various functions during the course of events. Near it, a palm tree – and also of some moment. A mine entrance may be seen in the distance, painted on the stage rear. In the corner, upstage left, a small enclosure seems to contain several grotesque skeletons on poles, and some rather crude finger-paintings are scattered about, hung on the walls. Adjacent to this is the front of a second structure against which may be seen a number of spears and a collection of blow guns. At upstage right there is an open entrance to what might be a civic building of some sort. Other set dressings may need to be introduced as appropriate later on.
The Cast
Gatsi: Tribal Chief of Zimbabwe
Nappi: General of the Zimbabwe Army
Hud: Best of the Zimbabwean canoeists
Gunga: Chief recruiter for the Zimbabwe army.
Din: Zimbabwean woodcarver and builder of dug-out canoes
Tunal: Head of UGMAZ (Unionized Gold Miners Association of Zimbabwe)
Trado: A Zimbabwe merchant.
Misio: A priest of the Sunni Moslem religion
Volo: Scribe, Historian, and Head of the ZDC (Zimbabwe Diplomatic Corps)
Kuok: A chef from Zimbabwe
Pozzo: A Zimbabwe slave-master.
Lucki: A philosopher
Vladi: A Zimbabwe peasant
Mir: A Zimbabwe peasant
Estra: A Zimbabwe peasant
Gon: A Zimbabwe peasant
Rosen: A Zimbabwe noble
Crantz: A Zimbabwe noble
Guilden: A Zimbabwe noble
Stern: A Zimbabwe noble
Playr: An Actor form Zimbabwe
Choiseul: A French Army Captain
Otherwise assume that the odd “extra” or two (or 10,000) floats in and out as appropriate. Also note that the gender of any particular cast member is largely irrelevant so suit yourself.
It is also possible, as this fiction progresses, that some details may be changed/added, or that the cast may need to be expanded so it might be worth checking back here if you don’t recognize someone since I will endeavour to at least keep this listing updated.
Conventions
Text enclosed in ( ) are “technical” directions. Italicised text is a specific stage direction or action that the actor is to make during the performance. Text enclosed in < > is an OT playwright’s note and should not be considered as part of the finished work.
The dialogue in the play is always preceded by the name(s) in ALL CAPS of the individual(s) who speak.
Screen Shots
Well, you get one, just so you can be familiar with the local “geography”. This is it...here...click on me...
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