Posted: 07 January 2004 Word Count: Summary: TWO BUNGLING CRIMINALS KIDNAP WRONG PERSON ON A NIGHT WHEN THE CITY RIOTS ARE AT THEIR PEAK
Performed New York 2004
Great stuff David...easy to see why it won the award. Very, very funny. One typo spotted - 'make it sieze to live'...should be cease? Whatever, great stuff, you have talent, but with the award, I guess you already know that.
I started reading your play and was about to think: 'oh, another play that's trying to be clever', then realised after page one, that this is pretty clever stuff. Your synopsis doesn't do it justice and I urge everyone to read this as it's not what you expect, it's better!
There's a lot of dialogue that stands out as fresh and original. The subtext you use in your dialogue is leagues above most plays I've read. I found that every page had one or more memorable pieces of dialogue and that is quite impressive. These three lines have to be my favourites:
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[We hear another explosion. Huggins gets more anxious.]
Huggins Shit. Tony. It’s really getting close..we`re going to die.
martyrs to some cause..They`ll find our bodies hanging from the
lamp posts in the morning.
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Sandra Maybe God doesn’t like Catholics.
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Huggins Tony. Please love. Calm down. Close the window. Come
on love. Don’t get angry. It’s angry enough out there, death is all
around. It’s the year of the anti-Christ. 1999. It’s the three sixes of the beast inverted. Apart from that......We don’t want to piss the neighbours off.
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Brilliant word play with dialogue like: "The shower of bastards. My good clean shag pile. Ruined.", "South America would be the best bet. Kidnappers and Nazis welcome.".
This is the kind of play that is spot on about society. The kind of play where I'd be laughing out so loud, all around me the politically correct members of the audience would be stareing at me with looks of aghast hatrid and horror. You've hit the nail on the head with this. It's relevent, sharp, funny and truthful, and above all it shows an understanding and honesty that is ignored by most writers, this is the world we live in and it's gone to the dogs.
I don't know whether you've heard of a film director called Sydney Lumet, but he's directed some classic sharp social satires that are sardonic as hell, and very very truthful. --- made me think this felt like a Lumet production and that is the mark of quality mate. A lot of his films are from plays. A lot of the themes you bring up come across through his work. Check out Network, Dog Day Afternoon, and especially Death Trap and you'll see what I'm talking about. It also reminded me of Rope, great play, great film, check out playwright Patrick Hamilton, he's sharp, very good. And check out the play Death And The Maiden, your play reminded me of all these, which is no small feat.
I'm really impressed with your play 'Just One Of Those Nights', it deserves to play around the theatres of England and get rave reviews. Have you been writing long?
Thema: Just One of those Nights
Datum: 30.03.2004 21:16:19 (MEZ) - Mitteleurop. Sommerze
Von: KwillcoxB
An: DBrown8953
David Brown,
Loved your play, and would like to include it in the Byrdcliffe play-reading series this June. Wasn't sure if you're still at the German address, hence this e-mail.
As you may remember, we cannot - alas - provide any travel stipends, but if you wanted to come to Woodstock we will put you up. So I need to know if you think you might come, and when. Festival takes place on the 1st 3 weekends in June, i.e, 9 performance dates in all, a different program each night. Each play will be read once. So if you can come, choose your weekend.
Also, could you please send me a one paragraph bio for the program. Thanks.
Sorry you won't be able to make it, but it did seem like a long shot that you'd travel so far for a reading. Yes of course we'll read the play w/o you. And still want your bio for the program. And will send you any feedback, etc.
A few questions - I see these characters as being youngish, in their 20's. Is this accurate? And would it be okay to have somewhat older actors, at least for Tony? I'm thinking of the actors here who can do accents - I don't think this should be done w/ American accents. And are the accents Scots rather than Brit?
Any other thoughts you might have would be useful.
Thanks,
Thema: Re: Just One of those Nights
Datum: 31.03.2004 17:58:28 (MEZ) - Mitteleurop. Sommerze
Von: KwillcoxB
An: DBrown8953
oh, and re: boosting your confidence. lt's a terrific play, funny and dramatic and very tender (unexpectedly).
I'm a playwright too, so I'm happy to give positive feedback when it's so warranted.
davide 
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