PASSING THROUGH FROM EXOTIC PLACES

(Three dramatic tales of America in conflict with itself in the third quarter of the 20th century)

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“PASSING THROUGH FROM EXOTIC PLACES is far and away the best and most moving play I have seen this year on B’way or off. It is a brilliant evening in the theatre!” — Stewart Klein, WNEW.TV

“Ribman’s triple bill has many and varied merits. The writing in the last play is brilliant…Vincent Gardenia’s virtuoso tirade that ends the evening was rewarded with loud cheers from the audience.” — Clive Barnes, The New York Times

“Three out of three is a helluva batting average. Each play succeeds in gaining your attention immediately and holding it until it socks home its point.” — Silver, Daily News

“All Hail Ronald Ribman! This play makes him one of the most significant young playwrights in America.” — Emory Lewis

“Ronald Ribman is one of the most talented of today’s young American playwrights…In this period of sloppy playwriting when awareness of production is causing the unhappy side-effect of disinterest in words, authors like Ronald Ribman must be treasured. ‘Passing Through From Exotic Places’ is his first work produced by the commercial theater…it is superior theater—dramatic, exciting, funny and original.” — Martin Gottfried, Women’s Wear Daily

THE SON WHO HUNTED TIGERS IN JAKARTA: an apparent burglar invades the home of a suburban couple and won’t rest until he goads the homeowner into taking his life.

Sample Excerpt:

SWEENEY

What do you want from me? You want to be God? I gave you a chance to be God. I confessed to you. I degraded myself. I crawled on my belly so you could play God…What more do you want from me, you middle class bastard? I’m walking out. I’m walking across this living room and out that door. I’m walking out now. (He tries to get by Ferris, but Ferris pushes his hand into his face and throws him back) You bastard! You filthy, lousy, creeping middle-class bastard! You want me to go to prison? I’ve robbed places that make this house look like a pig-sty! I’ve robbed kings! I’ve been to Europe. I’ve hunted tigers in Jakarta!

SUNSTROKE: Arthur Goldblatt, an eager, pudgy Peace Corps youth, arrives on a Pacific Island to begin his tour, replacing an eccentric couple who have somehow misconceived their mission, turning the outpost into an antebellum Southern plantation, Tomqualaturatu into Tom.

Sample Excerpt:

MRS. SHAWCROSS

Now, Aldous, why don’t you explain to Mr. Goldblatt…that’s a Jewish name isn’t it?

ARTHUR

Yes.

MRS. SHAWCROSS

…your procedure for explaining things to the natives.

SHAWCROSS

Well, it’s really quite simple. My first comment to Tom was, “Where is the lemon? This calls his attention to the fact that something was forgotten. Then I said nothing further but gave him an opportunity to inspect the tray, which, as you remember, he did. Now he is doubly aware that something is wrong. First, because I have told him, and, secondly, because he has seen with his own eyes that the lemon is missing. Now he is ready for the third step which I call reinforcement or stating the fact. I tell him, “You’ve forgotten the lemon.” At this point he understands that something is wrong, he has verified the fact with his own eyes, and now he’s been told what’s needed. These then are your three steps: the question, the verification, the reinforcement. Then you’re ready to give the new orders: “Go back into the house, get a knife, slice the lemon.” At this moment, I can definitely state that is precisely what he is doing.

THE BURIAL OF ESPOSITO: a father stricken with grief over the loss of his son in Vietnam raises him from the dead.

Sample Excerpt:

NICK

(Seated alone before the flag-draped coffin of his son)

Someday we all take a trip together. We going to drive across the country. You sit up front with me. I take you to visit my brother Dominic in Chicago. He’s got a nice house there. I don’t see Dominic in a long time. (The flag begins to slide off the coffin, and then comes to a stop) Hey, Dominic, what you think? You looking good. This is my oldest boy. Sure. Tony. Hey, Tony, say hello to your uncle Dominic. We’re gonna drive all over the country. Maybe we drive to Denver just to see the mountains. Maybe we just keep going all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Maybe…(The top half of the coffin opens. Tony, dressed in his military uniform, sits up and looks at his father)

TONY

(Deeply breathing, as if trying to catch his breath) Hello, Papa. (Nick, without surprise, looks up to face his son) How are you, Papa?

NICK

Good. I’m good, Tony. How are you?

TONY

I’m fine, Papa.

NICK

They told me you were dead.

TONY

It was just a trick, Papa. I didn’t want to stay in the Army anymore, so I put myself in a coffin and they sent me home.

NICK

You don’t have to be in the Army no more?

TONY

I’m finished with the Army now, Papa. They sent me home.

NICK

That’s good. That’s good. I’m sorry I didn’t give you the money for school when you asked.

TONY

How’s Mama?

NICK

She wants me to take money from Uncle Carlo to send Rudy to school.

TONY

How’s Rudy?

NICK

He’s a nice boy. Just like you. Both my boys are good boys.

TONY

I love you very much, Papa. (Nick tightly embraces his son)

NICK

I love you, Tony. I love you. I’m sorry I didn’t give you the money for school.

TONY

It’s all right, Papa. I saved a lot of money in the Army. I can pay for everything now. Rudy and I will go to school together and when we graduate we’ll both be doctors and we’ll make a lot of money and you and Mama can move to Long Island and live in a big house with me and Rudy. You won’t ever have to worry about money again.

NICK

I love you, Tony. I want to do everything for you. I give you anything.

TONY

Don’t cry, Papa. We’re all going to be very happy from now on. We’re all going to live together in a big house and be very happy. You’ll see. I’ll tell you what. Why don’t you bring Mama in here and we’ll give her a big surprise? I’ll just lie down now and you close the coffin and when she comes in you open the coffin and she’ll be so happy to see that I’m alive and that we’re all going to be happy living on Long Island.

NICK

We’re going to give her a very big joke.

TONY

Sure, Papa, a big joke.

Available At:

http://www.amazon.ca/Passing-Through-Exotic-Places-Three/dp/0822208768

*Original first editions also often found through eBay and Coming Soon in eBook.