Playing the Game
eBook - ePub

Playing the Game

  1. 35 pages
  2. English
  3. ePUB (mobile friendly)
  4. Available on iOS & Android
eBook - ePub

Playing the Game

About this book

Election time. The Students' Association needs a new President, and Akousa's achingly cool flatmates are certain she is perfect for the position. How can they persuade her, and how much is she willing to compromise?

Bola Agbaje's short play Playing the Game was first performed at the Tricycle Theatre, London, as part of the Women, Power and Politics season in June 2010.

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Yes, you can access Playing the Game by Bola Agbaje in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in Literature & British Drama. We have over one million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.

Information

Publisher
Nick Hern Books
Year
2015
eBook ISBN
9781780015989
Topic
Literature
Subtopic
British Drama
Index
Literature
PLAYING THE GAME
Bola Agbaje
Characters
AKOUSA, eighteen, plain Jane, shy and quiet
JENNY, twenty, beautiful, posh and perfect
CHARLENE, twenty, beautiful, loud and Jenny’s sidekick
It’s that time of the year to elect a new head for the Students’ Union. Jenny and Charlene have picked their candidate: Jenny’s flatmate, Akousa.
Dedicated to my little sister, Bujola Agbaje. Can’t believe you’re heading to college this year. How time flies.
Scene One
We are in JENNY’s room. AKOUSA, a low-maintenance girl, is dressed in a tight black bodysuit with heels. She has no make-up on and her hair is tied back in a loose bun. She looks very uncomfortable. JENNY, on the other hand, a high-maintenance girl, doesn’t have a hair out of place and her face is caked with make-up. CHARLENE is present and dressed the same as JENNY. They both have on bling-out ‘Vote for Akousa’ tight T-shirts. CHARLENE is holding a camcorder and is pointing it at AKOUSA.
The lights go up and music on.
JENNY begins demonstrating a sexy dance move for AKOUSA to follow. AKOUSA attempts to copy the moves but is very stiff. JENNY passes her a sparkly card to hold up to the camera that reads ‘VOTE ME’. AKOUSA holds the card upside down, JENNY goes up to her to adjust it.
JENNY. Shake those hips.
She pushes AKOUSA’s hips.
CHARLENE. Pout those lips.
JENNY. Lean forward, you have to make love to the camera. Like this.
She begins to seduce the camera. AKOUSA watches JENNY and tries to copy her but is not as confident.
CHARLENE. Don’t forget to mime the words.
AKOUSA. Help me out. What are the words to this song?
JENNY. We can work on the words later. Come on, you should be doing this, not me.
AKOUSA. Right.
AKOUSA attempts to copy JENNY and is giving it her all.
JENNY. Sasha Fierce is in you!
AKOUSA. Sasha Fierce? Who is that?
CHARLENE. Beyoncé’s alter ego!
JENNY. Search for that superhero within you
 you need to have super-sexy powers.
AKOUSA. Super-sexual powers. Right. Right.
AKOUSA stops.
JENNY. Why you stopping for?
AKOUSA goes and gets a notepad and pen and prepares to take notes.
AKOUSA. What does my alter ego look like?
JENNY. You. But the fearless you.
AKOUSA begins to write the note down.
AKOUSA. Got to be fearless.
JENNY takes the notepad from AKOUSA.
I really wanna get this right.
JENNY. Stop stressing, you’re getting there. Just need to get more rhythm.
AKOUSA. You don’t think I have rhythm?
CHARLENE. You just need to loosen up a bit. You’re way too stiff.
JENNY. And once you do, Madonna will have nothing on you.
AKOUSA. Right!
She begins to dance to the song again.
JENNY. That’s it. Dance. You’ve got it.
CHARLENE. Shake what your mama gave ya! (To JENNY.) Always wanted to say that!
JENNY. Issues!
AKOUSA. How are my hips looking?
JENNY. Don’t worry, you look good!
CHARLENE. You can do this.
JENNY. You look sexy!
AKOUSA. Just call me Electra!
CHARLENE. Electra?
AKOUSA. That’s the name of my alter ego.
JENNY Okay, Electra, push your bum out.
AKOUSA. I am.
JENNY (to CHARLENE). Put bum-pads on the shopping list.
AKOUSA. My arse is fine how it is.
JENNY takes out some gel pads from her bra and hands them to AKOUSA.
JENNY. Have these!
AKOUSA throws the gel pads on the floor.
AKOUSA. Yuk! They feel horrid.
JENNY. Oi! They are expensive, I’ll have you know.
CHARLENE. When you getting your boobs done?
JENNY. When my dad sends the cheque for ’em.
CHARLENE. Lucky!
JENNY picks up the pads AKOUSA threw on the floor and places them back inside her bra.
AKOUSA. Can I take a break?
CHARLENE. The director is meant to

AKOUSA.
I need a moment, just give me a minute. I need to process it all

CHARLENE. You can’t give up!
AKOUSA. I am not giving up. It’s a lot to take in. All the steps and sexiness

Pause. CHARLENE goes over to the iPod and stops the music.

I want to get it right, want it to be perfect.
JENNY. It’s gonna be perfect or we wouldn’t have put a lot of time and effort into this campaign.
AKOUSA. You only decided yesterday that I should run for this.
CHARLENE. Since then we –(She points to JENNY.) have been up all night working.
JENNY grabs AKOUSA and places her down on a chair and talks to her gently like a child.
JENNY. Yo...

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Contents
  4. Introduction
  5. Original Production
  6. Playing the Game
  7. About the Author
  8. Copyright and Performing Rights Information