Arrested Development: A One-Act Play

By Kenechukwu Obi

This play examines the final moments of two condemned men, as they await public execution. THE LEFT SIDE OF THE STAGE COMES UNDER SPOTLIGHT. REVEALED IS ‘THE MAN’ WHO STANDS WITH A WHITE CLOTH TIED ROUND HIS WAIST, BARE-CHESTED AND FACE TATTOED WITH WHITE CHALK. AT THE LEFT SIDE OF THE STAGE IS ‘THE LAW’. IT IS SYBOLISED BY A WOODEN POT PLACED ON BLACK CLOTH, WITH WHITE BEADS SURROUNDING IT…..

• Language: English
• Publisher: KenWrites
• Release date: Apr 20, 2022
• ISBN: 9791221324655

Book preview

ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT

ONE–ACT PLAY

BY

KENECHUKWU OBI

CAST

THE ASP-    ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE

AMINU

OSEME

THE MAN

THE LEFT SIDE OF THE STAGE COMES UNDER SPOTLIGHT. REVEALED IS ‘THE MAN’ WHO STANDS WITH A WHITE CLOTH TIED ROUND HIS WAIST, BARE-CHESTED AND FACE TATTOED WITH WHITE CHALK. AT THE LEFT SIDE OF THE STAGE IS ‘THE LAW’. IT IS SYBOLISED BY A WOODEN POT PLACED ON BLACK CLOTH, WITH WHITE BEADS SURROUNDING IT. TWO YOUNG PALM FRONDS FLANK THE POT, WHICH IS OOZING SMOKE. ‘THE MAN’ SUDDENLY BEGINS TO LOOK AROUND WITH AIR OF AUTHORITY. HE THEN BREATHS IN AND OUT, AND GETS READY TO INVOKE ‘THE LAW’. HE PIOUSLY WALKS CLOSER TO THE POT AND KNEELS DOWN BESIDE IT WITH ALL REVERENCE. THEN HE KISSES THE GROUND WITH HIS FOREHEAD THRICE. HE PICKS UP A FLUTE BESIDE THE POT AND PLAYS IT. THE SOUND OF THE FLUTE REVERBERATES AND CHARGES THE WHOLE ATMOSPHERE WITH GRIEF. THEN THE WHOLE STAGE SUDDENLY DARKENS AND ‘THE LAW’ SPEAKS.

[THE VOICE OF ‘THE LAW’ SHOULD BE LOUDED WITH A MICROPHONE TO PRESENT A CLIMACTIC SITUATION TRAILING AN ECHO.]

ABOVE ME SHALL NOBODY BE

I CATCH UP WITH THOSE THAT DO

LIKE A LADDER, THEY STAND

EVENTUALLY THEY FALL

LIKE A SEED, THEY SPROUT

EVENTUALLY THEY SHRIVEL

LIKE WATER, THEY GATHER

EVENTUALLY THEY DRY OUT

SPOTLIGHT