Wednesday, May 25, 2022
Christian Mercy in Philly's "Graterford Experiment"
Many prisoners, forced
to speak to Jesus, and never to
each other: lonely, went insane.
Labels: Christian Horror, Graterford, mercy, Philadelphia
Monday, August 24, 2015
Poor Bill Shakespeare
-Doing my version of Measure for Measure.
He...gets his actual pound of flesh in this one.
-Good God! Shylock does?
-And for Antonio, I got Antonio, a foreman down
at the docks. The only one not using a bullhorn there,
a real screaming ghinny! He complains about
everything in real life, anyway, so when the cutting
begins on him...?
-Horrible!
-Goes C over C in shrieking!
-And the Jew?
-Random casting. Anybody can play him.
-Because a vengeful homicidal maniac resides
in us all?
-Exactly! We’ll pick him from the audience, or
someone passing by.
-Can’t wait! The beautiful Portia?
-Just knocked her down to the one speech, since
we get to the bloody climax pretty soon.
-The quality of mercy is not strained...?
-IS! Changed it to conform with reality.
-Well, she doesn’t have much to do then?
-Swells a progress, like most women.
-Ah hah! Now we get Sexist, to add to anti-Semitic
and anti-Italian. Any racist?
-That comes in the Epilogue.
-After the flashing knife, or scalpel, or whatever?
-Laser.
-Another modern touch! It all sounds like such
a thoroughgoing mess, you’ll be labeled Genius!
-I’m expecting it. I’ve been genius-ing around
lately in preparation.
-How long is this Slaughter on Second Avenue?
-Fifteen, twenty minutes. Surveys tell us the audience
couldn’t take any more.
-So, you soften with the Epilogue?
-Two hip-hop guys who despise one another.
They summarize the play in a couple of
lines back and forth, and then really go at
each other! And, of course, at the racists out
front too!
-How do you know there’ll be racists?
-You gotta be kidding! Is the Pope a Catholic?
-There’s some debate.
-I thrive on all of it!
-This alleged play sounds like something gets
a Pulitzer! Making you an even greater asshole.
-I’m humbled.
Labels: Antonio, black, director, hip-hop, Italian, Measure For Measure, mercy, Portia, pound of flesh, Shakespeare, Shylock, theater
Saturday, January 17, 2015
Sign, Initial
-You're sure, then? B and not A?
-Sure. Yes. B.
-Then, you sign here, and I initial
your signature as being from someone
I know.
-Done!
-Not quite. "The Statement of Intents and
Purposes." Mine. You must read it and
then...
-I already tried. It's incomprehensible.
-Lawyer-Language.
-I'll sign.
-No, just initial.
-Are we almost done?
-Yes! Believe it or not, though, I must ask you
once more as to B.
-I feel like saying "and may God have mercy
on my soul!"
-I too. We must be old-fashioned types.
Besides...it would be phrased: If there
is a God, would you like that apparent entity
to have mercy on your soul?
Both laugh.
-We mustn't laugh. Too serious.
-It's a bitter laugh. Fits all situations.
Labels: CYA, disclaimer, fill out form, form, God, Lawyer Language, mercy
Sunday, October 14, 2012
It Falleth As
Across the ring
his eyes are fire.
Ready for the kill? He
might think so. I’m
way down on points,
though he has weakened,
body and will. But my
handlers are discussing
throwing in the sponge
since left eye hardly
merits the name. It’s
the sponge all right! In
from his boys! So he’s done!
Viral, some pneumonia thing
he’s denied and punched
until totally spent, a husk.
My guys lining up
for high fives. Last, my
Guardian Angel, who
confided before this
the other dude finished. Radio
mouth says it isn’t justice! So?
Tough. Anyway, I’ll take
mercy every time. No
contest.
Across the ring
his eyes are fire.
Ready for the kill? He
might think so. I’m
way down on points,
though he has weakened,
body and will. But my
handlers are discussing
throwing in the sponge
since left eye hardly
merits the name. It’s
the sponge all right! In
from his boys! So he’s done!
Viral, some pneumonia thing
he’s denied and punched
until totally spent, a husk.
My guys lining up
for high fives. Last, my
Guardian Angel, who
confided before this
the other dude finished. Radio
mouth says it isn’t justice! So?
Tough. Anyway, I’ll take
mercy every time. No
contest.
Labels: boxing, Justice, mercy, throwing in sponge
