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Cock Artist by Rainer Werner Fassbinder

Cock-Artist

Gooch’s translation gives the actors robust and pointed lines in an abrasive idiom

Michael Coveney, Financial Times

First produced in this translation at Ed Berman’s Almost Free Theatre, directed by Roland Rees. A group of bored and narrow-minded youths in a back-of-beyond hostelry allow their casual prejudice against an immigrant worker to tip over into violence.

Photos

Script Excerpt

(Jorgos comes in.)

Marie: What sort’s that then?

Paul: Had to have a ’tache, didn’t he!

Marie: Well, tell me then!

Erich: How should I know!

Helga: He;s comin’ over.

Paul: You want somethin’ then?

Franz: Lookin’ for somethin’,.are you?

Marie: What sort are you then?

Erich: Got a tongue in your head, en’t you?

Paul: I ask you!

Helga: You lookin’ for someone then? Someone in partic’lar?

Paul: What a sight, the thick.

Franz: Praps he don’ wan’ a talk to us. Praps we’re not good enough for him.

Erich: Why’nt you talk then? T-a-l-k!

Jorgos: Then Katalavo?

Helga: He’s foreign.

Erich: What I tell you?

Paul: Thought as much.

Franz: Italian, probably.

Erich: Ithacan.

Helga: What are you then, Italian?

Jorgos: Italy – no.

Paul: Italian, that’s what he is. That’s all. He’s Italian.

Marie: What’s he doin’ here then?

Franz: Yeh, that’s what I wanna know.

Erich: Turns up outa the blue an’ won’t talk to us…

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