EAVESDROPPING EBENEZER.
LEVEL 3.
CHARACTERS
Ebenezer
Mr Bleezer.
Ms Bleezer.
Mr Tuna.
Mr Cocoa.
Ms Cocoa.
Tapioca.
Mrs Brussels Sprout.
SYNOPSIS.
The original idea of this play is rooted in a poem “Bleezer’s Ice-Cream” (in The New Kid on the Block, 1984) by Jack Prelutsky. Natalie Merchant’s last album Leave Your Sleep (2010) offers a musical adaptation for the poem. In the poem, Ebenezer runs a curious ice-cream shop. Character’s names are based on the ice-cream flavours Ebenezer Bleezer offers in his place.
This play focused on Ebenezer, a teenager who moves to a new country. Their parents run an ice-cream shop. It’s summertime, he does not know anyone. He spends his days on computer chatting with his old friends. When he gets bored, he strolls the neighbourhood to find “tasty” and “delicious” neighbours. He starts eavesdropping on them in order to learn how they live, what they are interested in.
He discovers loneliness and friendship among his neighbours who, in the end, get used to the ice-cream boy.
CHARACTER OBJECTIVES.
Ebenezer. A quiet 14 year old boy who enjoys computer games and ice-creams. He does not speak much. He stares at everything and everyone he encounters with. He does not want to get used to this new life.
Mr Bleezer. Ebenezer’s father. A strong and hard working man in his early forties. He speaks very little. His English favourite word is, “my dear”. He enjoys his lifestyle.
Ms Bleezer. Ebenezer’s mother. A woman in her early forties. Her main concern is her quiet boy. She worked as a History teacher in her home country. She uses her History knowledge in everyday conversation. She does not like her new neighbourhood.
Mr Tuna. Bleezer family next door neighbour. An old retired sailor. He’s in his late seventies. He is fond of football and Westerns. He smokes cigars. He goes to the cinema every Thursday. He is untidy and dirty.
Mr Cocoa. A fit man in his late thirties. He works the overnight shift in a local factory. He is hardly seen during daylight. He speaks at the top of his voice. He is an immigrant, he is from a non defined country in Africa.
Ms Cocoa. His wife. Same nationality. Sometimes, she daycares Mr Tuna. Every morning she works at Mrs Brussels Sprout’s. She speaks quietly. Her movements are elegant and relaxed. Her eyes are glimmering.
Tapioca. Mr and Ms Cocoa’s only child. She is a thirteen year old girl. She looks childish or extremely shy for her age. She does not have many friends. She spends the day gardening. She listens to music very loud.
Mrs Brussels Sprout. Another neighbour. Her hairstyle resembles brussels sprouts. She loves knitting. She can hardly walk, however, every Thursday she call a cab and leaves the neighbourhood until late. She has got some grandchildren.
ORGANISATION.
Since there are eight characters, students take turns to perform the play. The classroom is divided into three groups of eight students each. Groups are mixed ability groups. For each play, students are encouraged to change the names of the characters, and some of their features. The only requirement is that food names have to be kept. Ebenezer and his parents´ names do not change either.
SCENE BREAKDOWN.
Scene 1.
Bleezers’ home scene. They are having breakfast. Ms Bleezer appoints Ebenezer his daily work. It involves housework and leaving the house for the whole afternoon. Bleezer spends half of the day indoors. He has to visit Mr Tuna, their next door neighbour. Mr Bleezer wants Ebenezer to clean Mr Tuna’s garage.
Scene 2.
Ebenezer leaves home. He meets Mr Tuna. After presentations, he offers his help. He starts working. He meets Ms Cocoa as well. She works at Mr Tuna’s some days. Mr Tuna talks a lot. He invites Ebenezer to watch a Western DVC with him.
Scene 3.
Next day. Ebenezer talks to some old friends on Skype. Everyone is enjoying summertime but him. The doorbell rings, Ms Cocoa and his daughter want to invite him to have lunch with them. She accepts their invitation. He meets Cocoa family.
Scene 4.
It’s Thursday. Mr Tuna invites Ebenezer to the cinema. They go to the city centre. They meet Ms Brussels Sprout at the cinema ticket box. When they go back home they find a police car in front of Ebenezer’s house.Tapioca called them. His father is too aggressive.
Scene 5.
Next day. Ebenezer and his parents are having breakfast. They are talking about the previous night. There are two more people sitting on the table, Ms Cocoa and Tapioca. They talk about their past.
