Hard Times

- play adaptation

Charles Way

• Publisher: Aurora Metro Books
• ISBN:
  9781906582562
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: European Drama
• Index: Literature

Brilliant adaptation of Charles Dickens biting novel H ard Times.

Dominated by Gradgrind and Bounderby, Coketown's prosperity is built on the cotton mills where thousands of men and women slave away for long hours and little pay. Gradgrind's obsession with material progress damages his children Louisa and Tom, leading to scandal and disaster. 'Hard Times' celebrates the importance of the human heart in an age obsessed with materialism. Circus, music, and dark comedy all go into the rich mix of this truly Dickensian theatrical tale.

Charles Way has written over 50 plays, specializing in writing for children, young people and family audiences. His plays are performed worldwide. He has won several major awards - A Spell of Cold Weather won the Writers Guild best children's play award in 2001 and in 2004 his play Red Red Shoes won the English Arts Council best children's play award. In Germany, his play Missing won the Children's Theatre prize and in the USA he was nominated for a Helen Hayes Award. He was commissioned by the NationalTheatre to write Alice In The News,which children all over Britain have performed. He has also written many playsfor radio, and a TV poem for BBC 2, NoBorders, set in the Welsh borders, where he lives and has spent most of hiscreative life.

" A stellaradaptation by Charles Way, moving, thoughtful and wonderfully drawn'. What's on Stage *****

'Way givesreal depth to characters, replaces Dickens' sentimentality with warmth and hiscensoriousness with moral indignation'. The Independent *****

'daringly restructures Dickens' plot, yet sticks tothe motto of his lisping ringmaster Mr Sleary: "People mutht be amuthed."' TheObserver

ACT TWO

6. Coketown

A hot day in Coketown – the Hands have been drinking.

HANDS

Song

We’re all met together here to sit and to crack

Wi’ our glasses in our hands and our work upon our back

There’s nae a trade among ’em that can mend or make

There’s now’t like the work of the weavers.

If it wasn’a for the weavers what would you do?

You wouldn’a have the clothes that are made of wool

You wouldn’a have a coat of the black or the blue

If it wasn’a for the work of the weavers.

Though weavin’ s a trade that can never fail

As long as we need clothes for to keep another hale

So let us all be merry o’er bicker of good ale

And we’ll drink to the health of the weavers.

If it wasn’t for the weavers what would you do?

You wouldn’a have the clothes that are made of wool

You wouldn’a have a coat of the black or the blue

If it wasn’a for the work of the weavers.

The song ends with a great cheer.

HAND

Men and brothers – part the way for Mr –

HANDS

Slackbridge.

SLACKBRIDGE

My friends, my friends.

The general mood now shifts – some applaud, others groan.

SLACKBRIDGE

Oh – the down-trodden operatives of Coketown. Oh my friends and fellow countrymen, the slaves of iron hands and a grinding despotism. Oh my friends and fellow sufferers – and fellow workmen and fellow men–

HAND

Be a good fellow then and get on wi’ it.

SLACKBRIDGE

I tell you that the hour is come, when we must rally round one another as one united power – The United Aggregate Tribunal.

HANDS

Good, hear, hear – hurrah!

SLACKBRIDGE

And in doing so crumble into dust the oppressors that for too long have lived from the sweat of our brows, the labour of our hands, the strength of our sinews!

Some cheer.

HANDS

We have felt the wind of this speech before Slackbridge.

HANDS

Aye – what’s new in it?

SLACKBRIDGE

But oh my friends and brothers – men and Englishmen – what shall we say of that man – that working man, who being well acquainted with the grievances and wrongs of you – the injured pith and marrow of this land, a man who knows that you have all resolved to subscribe to the funds of the United Aggregate tribunal – and to abide by the injunctions issued by that body – whatever they may be – what I ask you, will you say to that working man who deserts his post, sells his flag – turns traitor against us all – and is not ashamed to hold himself aloft from you and decides that he will not be associated in our gallant stand for freedom?

Some groans and hisses but the assembly is divided.

PRESIDENT

Be sure you’re right, Slackbridge.

HAND

Put him up – let’s hear him.

General commotion.

HAND

Is the man here?

HAND

If the man’s here, Slackbridge, let’s hear the man himself stead o’ yo.

Applause.

PRESIDENT

My friends – by virtue o’ my office as your President, I asks our friend Slackbridge, who may be a little over eager in this business, to step down while this man – Stephen Blackpool is heard.

General surprise.

PRESIDENT

You all know Stephen Blackpool. You know him along with his misfortunes and his good name.

The President shakes Stephen by the hand. Silence.

STEPHEN

My friends, I have heard what’s been spoken of me and tis likely I shan’t mend it – but I’d rather you heard the truth about me from my own lips – though I never could speak afore so many, without bein’ moydert and muddled – unlike some what are practised by saying the same thing over and over.

Laughter – Slackbridge shakes his head.

HAND

Don’t shake your head so Slackbridge – it’ll drop off.

Laughter – then silence again.

STEPHEN

Tis true – I’m the one Hand in Bounderby’s mill, o’all the men there as don’t come in with the proposed Union – with its – regulations. I canna coom in wi’ them my friends. I doubt they’re doin’ you any good. Licker they’ll do yo hurt. (Slackbridge laughs sarcastically – others moan.) For this man’s ‘freedom’ is another word for trouble – and will I think lead down a path I fear to tread where Christian men do harm to other Christian men. (Uproar.) But it ain’t for that alone that I stands out. If that were all, I’d coom in with the rest. I have my reasons – mine you see – for being hindered and kept clear of trouble, not only now but always – life long.

Low murmurs of ‘shame on you Stephen’ – that build up to an uproar.

PRESIDENT

Stephen Blackpool, we don’t want to lose you. But you must understand, the junction of the times we stand at. We all have our troubles – and any collective action we may take may end in individual hardship for a time but we must look beyond these times so that our children and their children are not so burdened as we. We cannot be divided in our cause – it is our only strength – so I beg you as a friend to think on’t once again lad, afore thou art shunned by all old friends. Tw’ll be hard living outside of us – that we can promise.

All shout for this.

STEPHEN

My brothers, I made a promise – and what’s a man who canna keep a promise? I know well what’s afore me so you sees sir – I ha’ thought on it above a bit. Many’s the pleasant word as some here have spoke with me. Many’s the face I seen since I was young and lighter hearted than now – and I never had no fratch afore with any of my like – I have none now that’s of my own making but I simply canna coom in with you.

HAND

Traitor.

SLACKBRIDGE

Aye, traitor!

General uproar.

STEPHEN

You may call me traitor – and I make no complaints – nor o’ bein’ turned to the wall and being outcast from this time forward but I hope I will be allowed to work solitary among you.

HANDS (Shouting)

Never/Always Stephen.

STEPHEN

If there is any right for me at all, my friends, I think it’s that. (Holds up his arms then slowly drops them.) More I canna say – exceptin’ that I must go the way as lies before me. I must take m...

Table of contents

• Hard Times
• Title
• Copyright
• Introduction
• Act One
• Act Two