H(O)ME by Larissa Brigatti #TinyPlayChallenge

Keep your creativity flowing with Fishamble's #TinyPlayChallenge
In these challenging times, Fishamble - along with many of our colleagues in the wider Irish artistic community - is working hard to keep imaginations lively, communities engaged - and most of all offer people the opportunity of creative expression. We asked our audiences: Would you welcome the challenge of exploring your thoughts and feelings through drama? Do you have a dramatic story that you feel the urge to work out for yourself, and maybe share with your fellow citizens?
​Below is one of the chosen plays from our weekly submissions.

Larissa Brigatti
Ho(m)e

Sitting on ropes that cross the entire stage, still.

Na : fully covered in black except face

Ly: fully covered in grey except face

Za:covered in dirt except face

Za: So, it has begun?

Na: Yes.

Ly: We knew it beforehand.

Za: And it is coming..

Na: Yes.

Ly: It has come, see--

Za: Yes, it has.

Na: Ly, (silence)

Ly, have you not heard me calling?

Ly: Scusa?

Na: (stands up and leaves the rope, lies on the floor).

Za: Ly?

(Pause)

Ly: Yes.

Za: Did you notice that Na is not functioning anymore?

Ly: If you describes like that..

Za: What if Na was--

Ly: This is not allowed to be said.

Za: Oh.

Ly: Yes.

(Silence)

Za: Ly?

Ly: Yes.

Za: I wouldn’t be able to stand even if I could

Ly: Would you not?

Za: I guess not.

Ly: Should we give it a try and act as normal?

Za: I guess so…

Ly: (Stands up, fierce breath, falls on top of Na)

Za: Is it so hard to stay on the ropes? (Silence) I guess so. (Pause. Moves left hand slowly and places
beside Za’s body. Breathes) But I can’t sustain this body. How would I sustain this body? With a
third--

(Na makes a sound)

Za: (Without looking down to keep the balance) Is that Na or Ly?

Na: Na.

Za: Oh. Haven’t heard of you in a while

Na: Tell me more

Za: So you survived

Na: So far

Za: Oh--

Na: There still———ho—pe

Za: I guess

Na: Do you not agree?

Za: (silence)

Na: I said: Do you not agree?

Za: I guess…

Na: There you go

Za: I guess we are under different ropes right now…

Na: What?

Za: I said we are under different ropes… under… different circumstances.

Na: So? Everybody is under different ropes, we only share the knots.

Ly: (makes a sound)

Za: Is that still Na or Ly?

Ly: (silence)

Na: (kicks Ly)

Ly: I am here.

Na: we noticed that.

Za: So you survived

Ly: Couldn’t say the least

Za: Oh.

Na: well--

Za: even you couldn’t--

Ly: we’re still trying

Za: I see…

(Pause)

Na: You should stand Za, accept the falls and one day we will rise again.

Ly: you may rise slowly or with light’s speed we won’t mind.

Na: Ly

Ly: What?

Na: Nothing.

(Silence, lights only on Za)

Za: For I had hoped something different. If this body falls there will be no chance to come back up
here. There is nothing left for this body but— what is invisible to the eyes. Where would this body go once it falls? Around the barricades in the dark. I overheard. Will this body shine a light on the sea
of skeletons astray… They are all together now, but this body, this body stays in between the
balance of days and nights. After all of this… we still are not the same, for ‘the sameness’ is
unapproachable. I shall then stay here waiting for the waves——--

Voices in the dark
​
This will make us stay together, but separate
This will make us stay together
This will make us be together again

All the bodies in this place, together at last

Za: Is this a body?





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In response to:

Larissa Brigatti is a final year Drama student at Trinity College and interested in directing, performing and writing (journalistic and creative). She is the theatre editor for Tn2 magazine and have been writing for Tn2 since 2017. She has mainly worked as assistant director for Jimmy Murphy (The Seamster’s Daughter), Patrick Sutton (Waiting for Godot), Maud Hendricks—with whom she still works with as part of OT Platform, WoW Project. She is passionate about languages and cultural studies, she studied Spanish as TSM with Drama for 2 and half years but she is finishing the course as Single Honors. ​

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