The Knowledge one act play script

ONE ACT PLAYS

THE KNOWLEDGE
A witty two-hander for two men by Mark Edwards.

Plot Summary
David, a young drama student, turns up for an audition at a drama school and is met by an older man called Ian, dressed bizarrely in a clown outfit. Ian proceeds to conduct an interview, commenting on David’s choice of audition pieces. The interview becomes “curiouser and curiouser” as Ian suggests various alternative pieces: for instrument, an Uzbeckian nose-flute, for drama, an extract from “Dad’s Army”, and for singing, the national anthem! The outcome is, as expected, unpredictable.
ISBN 1 904930 57 3

CAST TWO MEN

DAVID, a drama student IAN, a drama adviser

SET
A room at drama school

TIME - present day
DURATION - approx. 25 minutes

Script Sample - The audition piece

Ian ... what is your audition piece from the Bard going to be?
David Well, I’m doing a passage from “Cymbeline”, where….
Ian (a sharp intake of breath, followed by a pursing of lips) Far be it from me to criticise your choice, David, but have you really thought it through? I mean, is “Cymbeline” a wise choice, in the circumstances?
David (unsure) How do you mean?
Ian (confidentially) You see, the thing you’ve got to remember is that the tutors here, in fact all drama tutors who audition you, like to feel they’re in charge, the top dog, the expert, numero uno, the one with the knowledge. They don’t want reminding that they know less about Shakespeare than their students.
David Okay, they might not know it verbatim, but they’re bound to know about the play and the characters….
Ian Oh, if only that were the case! They probably think Cymbeline is by Hans Christian Andersen, a little girl who’s befriended by some field mice on her way to Copenhagen!
David (laughing) What?!
Ian (shaking his head) Funny, but a sad indictment on the mindset and lack of discipline shown by drama students in their formative years. You see, thirty years ago when they should have been studying “Hamlet”, “King Lear” and “Cymbeline”, they were watching “Crossroads” on television, eating their pot noodles; the only learning they were doing was finding out what present Benny had for Miss Diane….
David So you’re saying they bluffed their way in, and have managed to fool everyone for years, when really they think “The Comedy of Errors” is an out-takes show hosted by Dale Winton?!
Ian I’m afraid you’d be surprised. A little knowledge can be a powerful thing. They flick through the famous plays occasionally, remember a few quotes, and bob’s your uncle: a drama tutor. They spend the rest of their time watching “Eastenders” and “Coronation Street”, and eating chicken tikka masala.
David So you think I could make up any old rubbish and they wouldn’t know the difference?!

from The Knowledge

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