Fi Phillips

What's in a name? Does a person's name inform us of their character in any way? Can it make us perceive them in a certain manner? Can Cyril or Sophie ever be a believable villain? Likewise, can Victor or Goneril be cute or loveable? When  we read a book, does a character's name create an expectation? In my plays, I always start with a concept/setting and a list of characters. For instance, Dead Fit began like this: Exercise class at a community centre. Mature, glamorous aerobics instructor Janitor Elderly couple Two young men Two female friends Middle aged woman and her daughter. These are the  bones of the play. At this point, the cast are faceless. I have a silhouette of who they will be but that is all. It isn't until I name them, that I begin to discover their personalities and their patterns of speech. I want the aerobics instructor to be 'mature' and yet glamorous, pretentious even. She's very 'darling'y and dramatic. The name...

"Stretch and breathe. Are you with me, ladies?" Priscilla Vincente, mature, glamorous, aerobics instructor has the world at her well-manicured fingertips. Men fall at her feet. Other women just don't stand a chance. And as for her class, she has them just where she wants them (under her thumb and paying for the benefit).  What could possibly spoil it all? This is the second of my new murder mystery plays, set in an aerobics class with four male and six female characters. You can now buy it from my website. Have a look .

This weekend, I started on one of my 2014 writing projects. 'Dead Fit' is the first of the two murder mystery plays I plan to write this year. I had January pencilled in for working on my novel but a request from a friend on Friday night led to a massive brainstorm session this weekend. Requirements: a 20 to 30 minute murder mystery play, first act needed in a week, known cast of 10 (4 male, 6 female) aged from late 20s to 70s, 9 motives for murder, and a setting that requires minimum staging and props. Stories, of all kinds, always have a starting source. Perhaps, it's a character - that little old lady you saw at the  bus stop - that begs for a plot, or a newspaper story that places a 'what if' in your mind. With my murder mystery plays, there are always two starting points: Who is the murder victim? Why would anyone murder this person? I have an answer to the first question. Priscilla is a flamboyant aerobics instructor in her sixt...