Laughton - One Jewish Boy

Stephen Laughton ONE
JEWISH
BOY NICK HERN BOOKS London www.nickhernbooks.co.uk ContentsOne Jewish Boy was first performed at the Old Red Lion Theatre, London, on 11 December 2018, with the following cast:

JESSE	Robert Neumark-Jones
ALEX	Asha Reid
Director	Sarah Meadows
Producer	Ed Littlewood
Associate Producer	Liv Edmunds
Designer	Georgia de Grey
Composer	Benedict Taylor
Lighting Designer	Lucy Adams
Stage Manager	Heather Christie
Assistant Director	Katerina Constantinidou
Set Build	Lee McFadyen
Graffiti	Hannah Lawrence
Movement	Tina Barnes & Rachel Harper

Acknowledgements The seeds of this play were once again sown at Courting Drama at the Southwark Playhouse earlier in 2018, so I want to thank Ryan Forde Iosco and Mathew McQuinn for asking me back and getting this journey started. The version we did was a whole other thing, but it was a hugely important stepping stone to this play, so a HUGE thank-you to Maud Dromgoole, Lauren Cooney and Olivia Ross. I love that our baby gave birth to this baby. The creative team on this play have been incredible and its been great to cement previous collaborations Asha Reid (you basically always have a role), Heather Christie (so lovely to have you back!), Lucy (youve got through half of Playdate now I want all the others lit by the end of next year!); work again with old friends Liv and Ti (I love you both, youre two of my best friends and its so wonderful to still be making shit together all these years after drama school!); and start whole new relationships (Robert youre my only Jewish boy, Ed dont ever leave me; Georgia and Benedict Im so bowled over by what youve created, have been a fan from afar so its wonderful to finally work with you; and Katerina its wonderful to work with someone right at the start of their career, youve been excellent, thank you.) I really cant thank you all enough. Your excitement, encouragement, talent and hard work has been amazing, and Ive loved making this with you. Extra special thanks to Sarah, youre brilliant and not just a favourite director but a favourite person Youve made me laugh, youve challenged and pushed what this play can be, and youve kept me sane.

Im so glad we got a project up together. I hope we get to do more. John, Matt and Sarah Liisa at Nick Hern Books its always lovely publishing
a play with you. To Playdate Dave Ralf, Isley Lynn, Chris Adams, Poppy Corbett, Vinay Patel and Sarah Kosar youre my spine. Thank you for the love and support and the fun. Nick Quinn, Alfie Coates and The Agency team.

Thank you for looking after me. Katy and the ORL team, youve been behind this from the start, your faith and confidence in me, us and this project has been just super. Thank you. Luke Johnson, The Mackintosh Foundation, Jan and Mark Bloomfield. Thank you so much for all the production support. To Anoushka Warden and to Aaron Nathaniel for all the PR help thank you! HUGE huge really big thanks to Dan Simon and the team at Interim Spaces for their generosity, support and the use of their lovely rehearsal room at Pophub Leicester Square.

Sam Hayes, Sarah Sigal, Olivia McFadyen, Tina Barnes, Amanda Leigh Owen and Paul Bloomfield. Youre my favourite people. I love you. LM. You saved my life. This is for you.

I cant ever thank you enough. S.L. Love, love will tear us apart again.
Love, love will tear us apart again. Joy DivisionCharacters JESSE
ALEX They are twenty in 2004, thirty in 2014, and thirty-four by the time we reach 2018.Jesse is Jewish.Alex is mixed race.Note on Text The usual dots, dashes, slashes for interruptions, broken thoughts, changes of gear, etc. This ebook was created before the end of rehearsals and so may differ slightly from the play as performed.2018. A lounge in Walthamstow Village, LondonA mural takes over the entire wall.Boxes. No furniture. ALEX is awkwardly hovering. JESSE aiming for (likely failing at) conciliatory JESSE.

But youre good, though? ALEX. I guess. JESSE. You look well. ALEX. You look nice / you always look nice. ALEX. No I dont. JESSE. JESSE.

Can I (do anything?) ALEX. You look like shit / too Are you my mum? ALEX. Here we go. JESSE. What does that mean? Beat. ALEX brandishes a large envelope. ALEX. JESSE. JESSE.

Shes still sleeping ALEX. Your mom said she can pick her up later. JESSE. You spoke to my mum? ALEX. About an hour ago. JESSE.

Ive been trying to call her all morning ALEX. Shes taken your nan to the doctor. Her knees all swollen up or someing JESSE. She didnt say she was taking her tonight Long beat. ALEX. Got a pen? JESSE walks off. JESSE. Beat. ALEX. Beat. ALEX.

Didnt think you were moving? JESSE (absently, still looking for a pen). Its a family home. ALEX (doesnt take the bait). Do we need to talk bout selling? JESSE (slightly too aggressive for a pen). I cant find a fucking pen! ALEX. JESSE. JESSE.

Of course you do. ALEX (roll of the eyes). You want to make this difficult? JESSE. Im not making anything He takes the envelope. Ceremoniously takes out the document.Intensity as he reads the first page.Beat. ALEX watches. JESSE throws it down on to the floor.Irreconcilable differences? Why? JESSE. Name three of our irreconcilable differences, Alex ALEX.

Im not doing this JESSE (cuts her off). Because you cant. ALEX. Stop it. JESSE. Its so official. ALEX. JESSE. Rip it up. ALEX. No. JESSE. I dare you. ALEX. I dare you. ALEX.

Jesse JESSE. Alex ALEX. Jesse. JESSE. Alex. ALEX. What you doing? JESSE.

I thought we were saying one anothers names ALEX shakes her head she just cantShe crosses to the window.Picks up the Chanukiah absently picks at the wax. (Watching.) Stay for candles if you want ALEX. Why? JESSE. Shouldve seen Poppys face last night. ALEX. I missed her. JESSE.

Spellbound Thanks. Puts the Chanukiah down. JESSE. I feel like our differences could well be reconciled if we just had a ALEX (interrupting). I dont know why this is a surprise. JESSE. conversation.

Maybe cos you know its a slightly overcast but a nonetheless lovely Shabbat morning and youre having breakfast with your lovely wife and youre a bit excited about the lovely weekend you had planned ahead and as youre passing the grapefruit juice to your lovely wife who just gave birth to your lovely daughter youre suddenly presented with a barked Jesse, Jesse I want a divorce ALEX. Thats not what happened