Citizen Kang (excerpt)

Synopsis:

In order to become Australian citizens, new arrivals in this country must pass a Citizenship Test.

Brenda – a dyed-in-the-wool Aussie – knows a niche market when she sees one, and sets herself up as a citizenship coach.

Life remains relatively simple until the arrival on the scene of a prospective client by the name of Kang Zhou-Ping.

Kang – or Joey, as Brenda dubs him – is a highly-educated lecturer in English studies at a Shanghai university.  He also happens to be a dissident, which is why he has had to leave Shanghai.

Desperate to “acculturate” himself and win his citizenship, he allows himself to be subjected to a variety of cultural tortures – from football games to barbeques to birthday parties.  All in the name of assimilation.

But there’s more to Kang than meets the eye, and events soon take a turn that will change both their lives forever.

With his customary lightness of touch, the playwright playfully inveigles us into examining the deeper issues that underlie our whole idea of citizenship and, indeed, the very concept of nationhood.

Character Breakdown:

Cast of two – one female, one male.
BRENDA 50s
KANG 30s

BRENDA is brightly, almost outlandishly dressed – a Kandinsky-like explosion of bangles, baubles and bad taste.

KANG is dressed soberly, in white shirtsleeves and tailored trousers.  He is far more controlled.  He carries a small notebook in his breast pocket and a pencil over his ear.

Production History:  Not yet produced.

Running-time: 100 minutes.

Excerpt available for download for free.