Fervan Cerato does not exist - one act political drama

FERVAN CERATO DOES NOT EXIST – ONE ACT POLITICAL DRAMA

This one act political drama is set in an unnamed undemocratic country ruled by the narcissistic President Cerato who has a daughter named Fervan. Fervan’s mother, the President’s wife and a former pop star, has disowned Fervan because she is so unattractive. The official line is that Fervan died at birth and Fervan’s existence isn’t known outside the Presidential Palace.

A tourist from the West, artist Stafford Careen, is arrested and held on supposed charges of espionage but they promise him a pardon and that he will be released in return for painting a portrait of the President. He is transported to the presidential palace to paint the portrait and there he meets Fervan.

Fervan is desperate to experience sex as she sees Stafford as an exotic foreigner who would be willing, she thinks. Fervan also wants Stafford to help her escape the confines of the Palace and flee the country but Stafford isn’t sure, as he doesn’t see how that can possibly happen.

Stafford completes the portrait and is promised that his passport will be returned the following day. What he doesn’t count on is a coup to overthrow the president.

PRODUCTION HISTORY

The Academies of Bryan, Station, KY, USA – 2018

Grade 10 –12 Students of The Academies of Bryan Station, Lexington Kentucky, October 2018, Kentucky Theatre Association Regionals and Thespian Festivals, Superior and Excellent ratings plus the award for visual impact.

Read other award winning plays by James – Prelude to Macbeth.

Author: James Chalmers

Type: One act play

Genre: One act political drama

Length: 40-45 minutes

Cast: 3M, 2F

Ages of the actors: Adult

Suitable for: Adults only – sexual language

Set: A room in the Presidential Palace set up as an artist’s studio. Consisting of a chair in front of a plain fabric screen. This is where President Cerato sits for his portrait (The Company may wish to include a low rostrum). A little way from this is a canvas on an easel. The easel is turned away from the audience so that the developing portrait of the President can’t be seen. (The picture is never revealed) Alongside the easel is a small table on which there are tubes of paint, palette, brushes etc. Also in the “room” a dining table (robust enough for Corvis to sit on) and a chair. The Company may wish to have something that represents a window at front of stage – left or right. Stafford’s cabin bag and suitcase are on stage.

Level of Difficulty: 7/10 – this is a well written script – creating tensions and anxieties to portray realistic characters in a country that is foreign to our western way of thinking