-- *Mar*Wonderful! Here’s an *original short drama (one-act play)* inspired by Y.M. Sarma’s *“As a Rat in the Rat’s Race – Economics.”*
It blends realism and symbolism, contrasting the modern world’s mechanical life with the harmony of nature. You can perform it on stage or use it for classroom reading. ------------------------------ 🎭 *Title:* *The Rat’s Race* *Characters:* - *Arjun* – a middle-aged office worker, weary but thoughtful. - *Meera* – Arjun’s wife, practical and caring. - *Professor Rao* – Arjun’s old teacher, retired economist, lives in the countryside. - *Voice of Nature* – a symbolic voice (can be recorded or offstage). - *Office Voices* – murmurs or recorded sounds of city life: phones ringing, footsteps, announcements. ------------------------------ *Scene 1: The City* *(Dim light. A soundscape of traffic, phone notifications, and keyboard clicks. Arjun sits at his desk under a harsh white light, typing mechanically.)* *Arjun (to himself):* Targets, reports, deadlines… all running, running. But where are we going? Every day feels like a treadmill powered by fear. *(Meera enters, holding a lunch box.)* *Meera:* Eat something, Arjun. You look exhausted. *Arjun:* I don’t feel tired, Meera. I feel… empty. It’s like we’ve all turned into rats—running, gnawing, chasing after shadows. *Meera:* That’s life, isn’t it? Everyone’s racing. We can’t stop now. *Arjun (quietly):* Then maybe life isn’t what we think it is. *(Office noise grows louder. Lights flicker. Arjun covers his ears.)* ------------------------------ *Scene 2: The Journey* *(Transition sound: train whistle, fading into birdsong. Lights shift from white to green and gold. Arjun stands before a small hut in the countryside. Professor Rao sits on a wooden chair, reading.)* *Professor Rao:* Ah, Arjun! Still running, I see. *Arjun:* Running from the noise, sir. I needed air—real air. *Professor Rao (smiling):* Economics teaches growth, but not breath. They call it progress when we destroy the forests and call it productivity when we destroy peace. *Arjun:* Then what is real progress? *Professor Rao:* To work without losing your joy. To rest without guilt. To live with nature, not against it. *(A soft breeze blows. The Voice of Nature speaks gently, echoing.)* *Voice of Nature:* I am the air you forgot to breathe. The silence you traded for profit. Return to me, and you will find yourself. *(Arjun closes his eyes, breathing deeply.)* ------------------------------ *Scene 3: The Return* *(Back in the city. The office is silent, the lights dimmer. Arjun places a small potted plant on his desk. The sounds of birds faintly mix with the hum of machines.)* *Meera (entering):* You went away without telling me. *Arjun:* I went to remember who I am. I may still work here, but I won’t race anymore. *Meera (softly):* And what will you do? *Arjun:* I’ll breathe. I’ll plant. I’ll listen. Even here, nature whispers—if we stop running long enough to hear. *(He waters the plant. The office lights soften to green as the sound of wind and birds fills the stage.)* *Voice of Nature (offstage):* He who stops running… begins living. *(Curtain.)* ------------------------------ *Themes:* - Alienation in modern economic life - The search for meaning beyond material success - Reconnection with nature as spiritual rebirth - The illusion of competition and the rediscovery of peace ------------------------------ Would you like me to expand this into a *full-length play (3 acts, ~15–20 minutes)* or keep it as a *short classroom drama (5–7 minutes)*? -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/CACDCHCK6pRdt5s8VjoESeP%2Bxg%2BTMOc4AvYqm2-Tm%3DjT%3DY4cH_A%40mail.gmail.com.
