Shireen Mula (Great Britain)
FEED
DAUGHTER begins, MUM follows and then DAD.
We’re in the computer room – my Dad and I.
After dinner.
Every day.
After dinner.
Every day.
We’re reading.
The 2 of us reading.
My dad will read a line, then I will repeat it.
We’ll go down the page like this, just like this.
Read a line, repeat.
Read a line, repeat.
It’s only reading.
It’s just reading.
We’re only reading.
DAUGHTER: And everyday after dinner I look at the floor – if I don’t look at him he can’t see me, right?
DAUGHTER closes her eyes.
PAUSE
DAUGHTER opens her eyes again (she can still see and he can still see her)
MUM: I go
DAUGHTER: After dinner, my mum goes into the living room and
DAD: My daughter and I
DAUGHTER: My Dad and I, we go into the computer room.
It’s one of those rooms where the ceiling is made out of foamy tiles, I don’t know what they’re called but I know I love standing on chairs and pushing them up and out when there’s no one else there.
DAUGHTER makes a “pop” sound with her mouth
DAUGHTER: But that’s not what we’re doing here after dinner, every day my Dad and I.
DAUGHTER begins followed by DAD.
We’re reading.
The 2 of us reading.
DAD: I
DAUGHTER: My dad will read a line, then I will repeat it.
We’ll go down the page like this, just like this.
Over and over and
After dinner
Every day
Just like this.
DAUGHTER starts, then DAD follow.
Read a line, repeat.
Read a line, repeat.
It’s only reading.
It’s just reading.
We’re only reading.
This short piece for three characters is an exploration of traditions kept alive in the face of modernity; of changing times and entrenched habits. European multiculturalism forces many of us to question our heritage, our ‘first’ language and our parents’ past. Keeping the ‘old country’ alive in a new country is a difficult and delicate balancing act.
The young daughter of a couple describes her daily routine ‘after dinner, every day’ – time spent with her father in a repetitive programme of repetitive reading… in a language neither of them understand. The pent up frustrations of the girl come to a verbal and physical head as she explodes with anger and confusion about the reasons behind this seemingly pointless activity.
We are left with the resumption of the process, with understanding, forgiveness and love.
Rightholder:
www.eea.org.uk
Performances:
Cast:
M: 1
F: 2