31^st march 2003

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Beursplein – Rotterdam from 15h30 – 17h20

No teammates

New characters: Bin laden (at the request of many participants) and Wouter Bos (leader of one of the leftist party in the Nederland’s being quite involved now in the discussion of the war issues)

Today the decision to locate the Act 2 was the Beursplein, between the entrance of the koopgrot (something between a shopping street and a shopping mall) the Bijnkorf, another big shopping place, and burger king. The best neighbours and nice weather. I was thinking about my decision to stage the theatre today - is it becoming an obligation, almost a responsibility? But actually, no! Since I don’t have a television and read little from the newspaper; if it wasn’t for the puppet theatre I would be the first to forget that there’s a war going on, and we are also in it. So I felt like going to take the pulse of the situation, through the dwellers of Rotterdam and the passers-by of this specific place, that I like so much for its users, the shoppers - from the beginning, exactly the ones I want to bother.

The mounted police was standing there; I wonder for a moment if I will have problems. Would I be asked for a permit. Then I realized I forgot the safety screws - Oh Nee!! To go all the way back (even if not so long), I would had to take the box once more through a war scenario parking lot, that for weeks has been in the process of renewal- it’s really hard to cross it with the structure. Ok, let’s have confidence, I thought, with the police here and everything. So I just put the box, close to the wall of the Bijnkorf, in between a bicycle and a street musician, and run as fast as I could (I realized that this was not so fast!) to get them.

I put it up again, and went to sit in the sun, the first players were 2 friends, middle- aged women; then a group of young boys, a group of girls, children, anda group of boys again. Every time a little audience gathers. A man, actually not any man, he’s one of the funny characters of Rotterdam- punk style, in his fifties, always with a really old white leader jacket, with metal things stuck to it -who’s name, I discovered today is Jack. He asked me if I was the owner, and why I wasn’t there to answer for it. Didn’t take him too seriously at first. Then he asked me why I wasn’t there inviting people to play, giving them this 5 minutes when they could say whatever they want and record it on tape. At this moment I thought Ok, his asking questions that I asked myself already, and so I explained to him that when I stand next to it, the passers-by feel less willing to act, just because the “responsible” is there. So I get nice comments, talks, and smiles, but no real playing. Ok, he agreed with me. And – I continued- they can just say whatever they want anyway. Then Jack became really concerned, I liked his concern and sometimes share it – they can say whatever they want but who’s there to listen and record what they say? - Nobody, I replied. But isn’t it great that they do say something, they play, and mostly the ones that do, do it for friends and others, whomever is passing close enough,- so those can listen. Ok its just not recorded for “eternity”, but so?

The time passes by, the street musician continues with his flute, and I thought at one moment, it could actually be a good idea to have some music with the theatre, something related to the events, the puppets, the warfare- some military march maybe?. I could ask him to play for the theatre, maybe I could arrange some deal. Of course it took me almost one hour to gather the courage to do it and ask him if he speaks English. ‘No’. Dutch? ‘A little bit’. From both parts of us then, communication wasn’t really so possible. I learned though that he is from Bulgaria and we wished each other the best of the luck.

It continued as before. Mainly groups of young people were spontaneously playing, most passersby were paying some attention, so there were a lot of turning heads to see it while walking; meeting some friends, eating ice cream in between and observing.

Sat close to he structure, I saw that it wasn’t so strange to add Bin Laden to the “cast”. I made him because every time the platform was staged someone would ask me where he was. I would answer hidden, and ask in return for their motives behind the question– To have the whole collection of terrorists, someone once said. But, after all it was in his name, almost, that this whole issue started: war on terrorism, the aftermath of the 11th of September.

Balkende was also a quite popularly chosen figure for the day, playing with Bush or with Bin laden. Battles were fought, and silly things were cast upon the puppets, laughter is always the key tone.

Bas came over. He’s a good PR for the structure. Got some girls explaining to him why they find it leuk (nice), in a serious way. Had my first class of skate boarding, no injuries. He leaves I leave - start closing the structure and a man comes - he’s sorry that he missed it, will I do it again tomorrow? Maybe, but certainty I will do it again, somewhere. - Good, so I will see it, he says. – ‘you will play’ I reply.