Theatre of the Absurd

LATE

original theatre of the absurd piece

Written by Laughlin Mckinnon

Man enters room interrupting the other mans presentation. 

Miguel: Late 

Laughlin: Early in fact!

Miguel: That of a drunken man, a foolish man!

Laughlin: Wise?

Miguel: Foolish!

Laughlin: One and the same my dear

Miguel: fine, well take it and be done (throws the boot)

Laughlin: But… I have but only two feet, or is this for throwing?

Miguel: Can you not appreciate a gift? foolish….

Laughlin: Wise?

Miguel: One and the same

Laughlin: Is one always the same, how about two? or three?

Miguel: three and the different i suppose. nothing more than that.

Laughlin: Can i borrow something

Miguel: if it is there

Laughlin: (puts the boot upside down and shakes it, nothing comes out so he peers inside) empty, 

fool

Miguel: full?

Laughlin: not at all!

Miguel: could have told you that!

Laughlin: Am i not fit to be informed?

Miguel: rather, I not fit to inform

Laughlin: Rat!

Miguel: Rat?

Laughlin: Cheese (pointing to his trench coat)

Miguel: take it then (throws him a wheel of cheese), but savour it, thats my last

Laughlin: (smells the cheese) it's delicious

Miguel: you have yet to taste it

Laughlin: I need not, (continues to smell the cheese) lasts much longer this way.

Miguel: foolish

Laughlin: well give me a knife then!

Miguel: take it

Laughlin: (discovers a knife in the boot)"what about your feet

Miguel: what about my cheese?…………Hurry up!

Laughlin: up?

Miguel: yes, up

Laughlin: When can we begin?

Miguel: Late, now, thanks to yourself.

Laughlin: But when?

Miguel: Well they have all arrived, i don't see whats holding us up

Laughlin: Up?!

Miguel: yes, up

Laughlin: I think you've gone mad, for i feel not a thing.

Miguel: Thus, the boot!

Laughlin: ahhh, yes….the boot…..what boot?

Miguel: never mind, we had better begin, before we run out of time

Laughlin: "how long is that"

Miguel: years, maybe days, depending on one's goals

Laughlin: Then I doubt i'll ever die!

Miguel: foolish

Laughlin: wise

Miguel: one and the same

This piece inspired by Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot" was written for a presentation on theatre of the absurd, it was a very useful way to introduce our classmates to the idea of theatre of the absurd. 

I found the topic very intriguing and a copy of the powerpoint and research material is available on Pearson College Peernet and Studentshare.