Dear activists and media,

Hi! It's OTL here, a Montreal-based experimental theatre lab that explores culture-jamming through performance.

We are welcoming all activists and theatricians (and media) to join in our theatrical actions this BUY NOTHING DAY. Please see one example below.
We encourage other BND activists to write similar scenes; we encourage people to play in a variety of scenes.

Media, please call 842-1467 if interested (please note that we encourage journalists to join the scene!)

Other activists, please get in touch if you'd like to join our theatrical efforts, or wish us to join in yours. The more collaboration the better! We are
hoping to hold theatrical workshops in the days leading p to BND.

Cheers!

Donovan King, Artistic Facilitator, Optative Theatrical Laboratories

EXAMPLE:

BUY NOTHING DAY: Meta-Play #6

by Optative Theatrical Laboratories

A meta-play is a guideline for performance, and should be seen as a very loose script for anyone wishing to culture-jam through performance. You
have permission to flesh it out, alter it, or write your own. It is NOT a polished play, but rather a guideline to playing. Its overall purpose is to serve as a
blueprint for creating a Temporary Autonomous Zone wherein the daily monotonous routine is disrupted in favour of heated theatrical debate, action,
and reflection. Being a Reflectionist form of theatre inspired by Steve Mann, its goal is to allow "society to confront itself or to see its own absurdity."


Dramatis personae

TOURISTS…………………………….loud and gaudy, stereotypical

PROTESTERS…………………………radical "Buy Nothing Day" activists

RONALD MCDONALD………………the corporate clown

OTHERS……………………………….staff & customers


Setting: A McDonalds restaurant near you, November 29th. The interior is brightly fluorescent, plastic, and squeaky clean - a monocultural
environment. Behind the counter pimply servants wearing absurd uniforms follow a standard script to attempt to sell as much "fast food" as they can.
Customers of various types indulge in "Happy Meals" and such, often "supersizing" to ensure maximum intake. Piling the fast food into their mouths,
they are oblivious to any threat on their monocultural plastic utopia.

Enter two TOURISTS; wearing gaudy brand-name clothing and "fanny packs," they are armed with digital cameras. They fuss about the place and
settle in, feeling right at home. They are heard speaking in loud, twangy, and annoying voices as they film their trip. Eg:

TOURIST #2: McDonalds at last! I'm starving!

TOURIST #1: Thank God we're here! My feet are so sore after all that shopping. Thank God there's so many McDonalds here!

TOURIST #2: Just like home!

TOURIST #1: You'd better believe it! I'm so hungry - I could eat 3 Big Macs! You gonna supersize?

TOURIST #2: You'd better believe it! (etc.)

Suddenly a commotion is heard outside, and the TOURISTS react accordingly, shocked that their "home away from home" has been disturbed. They
point the video cameras towards the distraction, as several rowdy PROTESTERS, Buy Nothing Day activists enter the scene. Carrying placards,
stickers, leaflets, and copies of "Fast Food Nation," the PROTESTERS take centre stage at the "restaurant" and begin lecturing the staff and customers
on the importance of Buy Nothing Day. Perhaps occasionally bursting into carol or quoting from "Fast Food Nation," these activists do their utmost to
ensure that nothing else is bought from McDonalds.

By now a commotion has probably already begun, perhaps with the manager entering the scene. The TOURISTS, who want service, complain and
argue bitterly, trying to get staff and other customers to do something. As the commotion continues and the tension builds, the PROTESTERS and the
TOURISTS will attempt to get others into their respective camps. For example a PROTESTER might try and subvert a staff member into quitting,
while a TOURIST might try and get the crowd to boo, or might try and borrow a cell phone to "call the police."

As the conflict reaches its heights, suddenly into the scene bursts…RONALD MCDONALD! Like a super-hero, he dashes towards the villainous
PROTESTERS and disperses of them with theatrical flare, berating the lot, and perhaps tossing them out on the street with a swift kick in the arse to
boot.

TOURISTS: Hooray!!!! Now we can eat!!!! (etc.)

RONALD MCDONALD accepts the gratitude of the consumers and staff, and after denouncing the PROTESTERS and Buy Nothing Day, gives a
speech on the value of a healthy fast food diet, the importance of global monoculture, and why dissent is evil. The scene concludes with a flourish, as
RONALD MCDONALD dashes off - to fight injustices at other fast food outlets throughout the world.


- CURTAIN -