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Une saine inquiétude
Corinne Klomp
Actes du théâtre n° 62.[ imprimer ]
The advertising director of a big daily newspaper commits suicide at work. The story flashes back in time to find out what drove her beyond the point of no return. Was it the arrival of a ‘cost killer’ hired to nip any expenses in the bud? The abyss of incomprehension that was growing between her, her collaborators and clients? Or her romantic relationship that had turned into a dead end?
Monologues outside the chronological storyline are mingled in with the narrative, showing what the protagonists of the drama once were and what they will become. Flesh and blood human beings with their own joys and weaknesses, they resemble one another but cannot get along, occupied with resisting on their own while flouting human capital.

“I know the ruthless corporate world well. Before devoting myself to writing fiction I worked for a financial newspaper and had a similar job to the heroine in my play.
I was lucky not to be subjected to any harassment, but I witnessed a number of abuses that had a powerful effect on me. In Une saine inquiétude I condemn the scourges of dehumanization and the race for profits. Day after day human capital (the only kind worthy of the name) is trampled, sometimes to death, and all for the sake of a handful of shareholders. Going beyond anger I have tried to reach for a note of hope. There is no such thing as fatality, and companies are not doomed to be places where people suffer. If the various actors involved would decide once and for all to get back to a collective spirit and move forward together, they could at last be more ‘productive,’ worthy and alive.”
Corinne Klomp

Production in progress.

Characters : 3 women - 5 men - Can be performed by 3 women and 2 men.

Claire’s office space has been cut in half. The lighting is minimal.
Nicole (aka Kalachnikol) and Claire are engaged in a tense face-off.
KALACHKNIKOL It’s unacceptable! I can’t waste my time reminding you about my instructions!
CLAIRE Let me deal with the issue. It’s my team.
KALACHKNIKOL Precisely. I’m starting to have my doubts about your management skills.
CLAIRE Listen, for the past six years I’ve been running the …
KALACHKNIKOL (cutting her off) It’s easy to manage a team when everything’s going well - when the turnover, productivity and profits are up. Any idiot can be a tolerable boss then.
CLAIRE Thanks!
KALACHKNIKOL When things get tough it’s a different story. That’s where you can see a real leader. He’s not afraid of rolling up his sleeves, making drastic decisions and making himself unpopular. He’s good at instilling in his troops a feeling of – healthy anxiety, guaranteeing their absolute…
CLAIRE … submission?
KALACHKNIKOL … collaboration, and consequently efficiency.
CLAIRE This ‘‘healthy anxiety’’ of yours sounds like an oxymoron.
KALACHKNIKOL If I were you I’d think it over.
Someone knocks.
CLAIRE (loud voice) Just a minute! (Low voice.) It’s him. Nicole, please.
Silence.
KALACHKNIKOL Fine. Just do your job.
CLAIRE Thank you. (Loud.) Come in!
Stéphane comes in, looking very laid back. He greets Kalachnikol.
STÉPHANE Hello…
Kalachnikol leaves without looking at him.
STÉPHANE Good-bye… (He laughs.) You wanted to see me?
Claire holds up an expense account receipt.
CLAIRE What’s this?
STÉPHANE Offhand I’d say it’s a piece of paper. But I could be wrong! (He shivers.) It’s freezing in here!
CLAIRE I thought I was clear. I asked all account managers to stop taking taxis.
STÉPHANE Wow! Kalachnikol, be gone! (He laughs.) It was after that evening at the Cirque d’hiver – a once in a lifetime thing.
CLAIRE Have you ever heard of the subway?
STÉPHANE There were no more subways! That girl from Smart Telecom buttonholed me until 3am. I was too out of it to ride a bike.
Claire tears up the receipt.
STÉPHANE I don’t believe it! The newspaper can’t reimburse me for ten euros?! Ten fucking euros, it’s nothing! They’re giving us three hundred thousand for this campaign!
CLAIRE You may go now.
STÉPHANE The next time there’s a bash for a client I’m calling in sick. My days of doing overtime for free are finished!
Furious, Stéphane leaves, slamming the door.