A Sketch by Jean-Pierre Martinez
Two characters stand side by side.
One – Do you know your lines?
Two – I know half of them. And you?
One – I knew them all, but I’ve forgotten everything.
Two – When you’ve got a bad memory, you shouldn’t do long plays… Or you should have a prompter.
One – A trumpet?
Two – A prompter!
One – Oh, yes, a prompter.
Two – And he’s deaf.
One – When you’ve got a bad memory and you’re deaf, you really shouldn’t be in theatre.
Two – What’s the name of this play again? I’ve already forgotten…
One – The Goldfish.
Two – The Codfish? Strange title…
One – Not The Codfish! The Goldfish!
Two – Ah, yes, The Goldfish…
Pause.
One – Do you know your lines?
Two – I know half of them. And you?
One – I knew them all, but I’ve forgotten everything.
Blackout.
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A sketch from the collection Stage Briefs
Link to the collection for free download (PDF)
Find all of Jean-Pierre Martinez’s plays on his website:
https://jeanpierremartinez.net