A Brief Retelling of "The Persecution and Assassination of Jean-Paul Marat As Performed by the

Jacques Louis David, The Death of Marat Marat assassiné) 1793

Artwork: Jacques Louis David Marat Assassiné (The Death of Marat) 1793

CAST OF CHARACTERS ASHOK RAJAMANI (author 1) Mid 30s Indian American male, medium frame. Brown skin, short black hair. Hirsute and exhausted, he has a heavy beard growth despite having shaved less than one hour earlier. He is short in height, dressed in dark pin-stripe suit, crisp white-shirt, and crimson bowtie.

WILL (AUTHOR 2) Early 40’s white male. Acne-scarred. Pale skin, long auburn hair in ponytail. He is short in height, plump, and has an epic, chocolatey beard, making him resemble Santa Claus -- if Santa were much younger with a dyed-brown beard. He is wearing a plain white tank top and Bermuda shorts.

CARNITA CARNIMETRA RITA (AUTHOR 3) Mid 30s white female. Shoulder-length brown hair set in curlers. She is tall in height. Make-up free and grouchy, she looks like an angry Penny Marshall, AKA Laverne of Laverne and Shirley fame. She is wearing plaid pajama bottoms and a crumpled 1990s Backstreet Boys tour t-shirt.

SETTING The Last major brick-and-mortar bookstore left in the country

Central Park Location, Manhattan, New York.

TIME

Present.

ACT ONE

The asylum bell rings behind stage. The Curtain rises.

ASSEMBLY

Only three actors on stage. Bath hall of an asylum. 2 Showers and a bathtub on both sides of stage.

Large Poster hanging stage-left, stating THE TRIO OF MEMOIRISTS: A NIGHT OF READINGS WITH ASHOK RAJAMANI, CARNITA CARNIMETRA RITA, AND WILL DAVIS.

(One minute before reading begins.)

CARNITA CARNIMETRA RITA

You’re wearing that?(glares at Ashok Rajamani)

WILL DAVIS You look like you’re going to the prom!

ASHOK RAJAMANI

I – I guess. (He nods his head, glumly.)

CARNITA CARNIMETRA RITA

Listen, you seem like a nice guy. So I’ll tell you a not-so secret secret.

ASHOK RAJAMANI

Go for it, Carni-mi- can you pronounce your name before I mangle it?

CARNITA CARNIMETRA RITA

You can call me Carnie, for short. Actually, that’s my author name. My real name is Jennifer Smith.

ASHOK RAJAMANI

Really? Well, Ashok’s my real name. CARNITA CARMELITRA RITA You don’t say. (she sighs sarcastically, lifting right eyebrow) Here's the secret... don't dress formally for book readings. Dress as messy, as dirty, as unkempt as possible. This look took over an hour to perfect.

ASHOK RAJAMANI.

This look? You mean your pajama and curlers?

WILL DAVIS Don’t you see? (stares at Ashok) She’s wearing the right clothes, using the right name. She’s not what you call transgender or transracial... she’s TRANSAUTHOR. We all should be. No more prom outfits ok? You should be wearing a tube top and daisy dukes for the next reading! You’re an author now.

Ashok Rajamani

Good one! (fake laughing)

WILL DAVIS

I'm not joking.

(BLACKOUT – END OF SCENE)