Play Rough
Ivan Borodin has had several of his plays produced, including Tunnel Visions, Lost Art, Questions and Answers, Life Support, and Smoke and Mirrors. His critically acclaimed play from the summer of 2005, Play Rough, has been published and is available to the public.
Play Rough
In Play Rough, an out-of-work actor and a married woman have an intense affair in modern day Los Angeles.
“…links sex to issues of emotional and financial entrapment, revenge and personal history. The claustrophobic perversity of it is painfully true.” – LA Weekly.
“…Most rare of gems: a Hollywood love story that is fresh, honest and engaging.” –Backstage West
"...a strong play that explores the relationship of the past on the present. The characters quick and witty dialogue combined with the message you cannot hide from your past or who you are is captivating." -Jessica Corn, Trinity Repertory Company, Rhode Island
"...a keenly observed, engrossing modern love story." -Steven Levenson, Playwrights Horizon, New York City
"Socko tough script." -Frank Rutledge, Boarshead Theater, Michigan
"a great example of succinct, no-b.s. theatre - two characters, sparse set(s), straight ahead dialogue, no pretense, no games." -Brian Hyman, actor, Los Angeles
An excerpt from Play Rough:
KATE and ALEX steal a night in his apartment.
KATE. Marriage shouldn't be about how much money somebody makes or how well they do in life. It should be about love and support.
ALEX. It should be, huh?
KATE. It really should.
ALEX. Should we change the subject?
KATE. No, I like this topic.
ALEX. I just think we're moving onto dangerous ground, and I'm not equipped to handle the terrain.
KATE. Sure you are.
ALEX. Okay.
KATE. I wish I wasn't married.
ALEX. Here we go.
KATE. I mean, wouldn't it be easier if I were free? Don't get me wrong. He's a nice man, but the whole thing is so screwed up.
ALEX. You think so?
KATE. It certainly is.
ALEX. How would you like it to be?
KATE. Let me grab another beer. Can I bring you one?
ALEX. Watching you bring me a beer is the greatest vision I could imagine.
KATE. I think we could make a few better ones for you.
ALEX. You think so?
KATE. You play your cards right, and I'll fill up your slide show shortly.
ALEX. Try saying that three times fast.
KATE. (messing it up, or not) Slide show shortly. Slide show shortly. Slide show shortly.
ALEX. (overlapping, hit or miss) Slide show shortly. Slide show shortly.
Holding hands, they fall into laughter. They wind up looking into each other's eyes.
KATE. God, you're handsome.
ALEX. You're beautiful.
KATE. You have soft, sad eyes.
ALEX. You have a smile like an angel.
KATE. You're a sexy charmer.
ALEX. You are Venus with arms.
They stare into each other, both thinking about saying even more, both unable, both afraid, both full of a sad longing that sex cannot fill.
KATE. If I had my way, we would both have terrific acting careers. We'd both be working. We would each have tons of money. We'd have separate homes in Beverly Hills. I'd spend the night in yours. You'd spend the night in mine. Some nights we'd wander our big homes by ourselves, but the following night we'd be together. We'd have everything everyone wants when they come out to Los Angeles: work, wealth, happiness and great, mind-blowing sex. What do you think?
ALEX. From your mouth to God's ear.
KATE. I wish things could be different.
ALEX. They are different, baby. They're different every day.
KATE. I feel like you and I go in circles with each other.
ALEX. No, it's not like that. Every time I see you, we move into something else, don't we?
KATE. I guess.
ALEX. We're constantly changing each other. It's small. It's subtle, but with every word, every kiss, every moan, every thrust, we're doing something to each other. Do you feel it?
KATE. I feel it.
ALEX. This isn't staying in one place.
KATE. I hope you know where you're taking us, Alex.
Play Rough is also available at the following locations:
California
Samuel French, Inc.
7623 Sunset Blvd.
Hollywood, CA 90046
Phone (323) 876-0570
Samuel French Bookstore
11963 Ventura Blvd.
Studio City, CA 91604
Phone (818) 762-0535
Play Rough is also available free of charge at the Los Angeles Public Library (lapl.org)
New York
New York, NY 10018
Phone (212) 944-0595
Second Fl.
New York, NY 10010
Phone (212) 206-8990
Also available free of charge at the Queens Library (queenslibrary.org) and the New York Public Library (nypl.org - search the LEO catalog.)
Play Rough can also be ordered in Europe and the United States at Stageplays.com
Opening narration
A Hollywood bar in the late afternoon. KATE and ALEX enter.
KATE is a model-turned-actress who has recently began studying acting. She works hard to maintain her figure. She has elevated herself out of her white-trash upbringing. She is over thirty, and is in a crucial stage of her life, a time which will determine whether she devotes herself to her marriage or to her career.
ALEX is an actor who has been in the business since childhood. He is in his thirties now, and having worked very little as an actor, is struggling to remain optimistic about his chances. He isn't particularly good-looking and is of average height and weight. ALEX teaches acting part time while waiting for his big break. He is a dedicated actor, so he may yet have a chance. That is, if he can have a better year than the one he just went through: an ailing father and a failed marriage. To get his mind back on his craft, he enrolled in an acting class, where he met KATE.
