The three months of protest started as a peaceful demonstration of Kiev people in favor of joining the European union and shifting away from Russian ties.
(Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
On Tues. Feb. 18 the protests turn violent as 20,000 protesters march from Kiev's Independence Square to parliament to demand former President, Viktor Yanukovych to stand down. Riot police, acting on orders from the government, break through protester's barrier but protesters armed with their own makeshift weapons refuse to leave the square
Wed. Feb 19, military forces stop delivery of food, clothing and other supplies to protesters. Former President Yanukovych fires the army’s chief and security services call the government’s interference with the protest an act of “anti terrorism”. Yanukovych calls for a “truce” with his people but offers no solution to the unrest.
Feb 20 - Riot police open fire on protesters killing 60 according to medical staff at the scene. The mayor of Kiev and more than a dozen of Yanukovych's deputies resign in protest at the "blood bath". Yanukovych meets with foreign ministers from France, Germany and Poland who say they will impose sanctions on Ukrainians responsible for the deaths as a result of the violence erupting throughout Ukraine. In response, Yanukovych seems willing to hold elections to appease protesters demands.
Feb 21 - Kiev’s Army’s second-in-command stands down in protest of Government's response to protests. President and opposition leaders sign a deal that includes early elections and the formation of a new government. Parliament votes to return Ukraine to 2004 constitution, which will limit the president's powers.
Feb 22 - Yanukovych flees Kiev (his whereabouts are still unknown). Parliament votes to have early elections on May 25. Yulia Tymoshenko, Ukrainian politician and businesswoman and former Prime Minister of Ukraine, along with her partner, Oleksandr Turchynov are released from Ukrainian prison after 2 years. Turchynov is elected as parliament speaker
Feb 23- Turchynov is elected acting president by parliament.
Feb 24- Parliament holds Yanukovych responsible for the massacre that occurred over the week and pending his capture, agrees to charge him with mass murder.
Feb 25- Independence square is covered in debris of protests, some protesters vow to remain in the square until the elections in May. The square in front of the capital is decorated with flowers and memorials for the 83 lives taken in the protest.
New cabinet members were expected to be in place by today but were met with resistance by citizens who thought they were moving too quickly, forming a new government only 3 days after the old regime fell. Protesters most oppose reinstating many veteran member who were prominent figures when Yanukovych was in power. The government agrees to wait until at least Thursday. This decision is met with trepidation by European leaders who hoped a government would be put in place sooner rather than later.
Interim President Oleksandr Turchynov is expected to hold office until elections and is faced with a battle worn country in poor economic state. Aide is promised from the United States and Europe but both nations are worried due to Ukraine’s shaky political state. However, economic collapse of Ukraine is against the interest of both countries. Alternately, the $15 billion loan promised from Russia before the upheaval is no longer on the table and will be discussed after a new government is formed.
It is one of Cleveland's few spring days void of rain. The city's University Circle is buzzing with school buses packed with children ready to take in the mystery of dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum and vintage-clothes-wearing, canvas-carrying Cleveland Institute of Art students taking in the sunshine between classes. Amidst the scene stands The Cleveland Museum of Art with its iconic gray striped stone and gleaming glass doors.
Recently named Cleveland's best museum by city residents in Scene Magazine's Best Of Cleveland poll, the recently renovated Cleveland Museum of Art “now stands up to the quality of art within” says Museum C.E.O, Dr. David Franklin in one of the museum's many new interactive exhibits.
The recent renovation is on going and has cost $350 million dollars, all in donations, making it the most expensive and expansive cultural project taken on in the state of Ohio.
Entering at East Blvd., the first of the many renovations is located to the left. Gallery One is a 12,000-square-foot interactive exhibit funded by the Maltz Family Foundation. Gallery One features a hands on experience to the art in the museum with an area specifically for kids to express themselves.
For every few pieces of art there is an interactive screen that allows you to build connections with the art and learn about the pieces and the history. The exhibit contains new art including the centerpiece of the room entitled Corn Wall Circle, Richard Long. Also in the exhibit are CMA favorites including Red Light, George Segal.
Gallery One ends with an interactive touch screen wall. The wall allows visitors to choose and “like” their favorite pieces. Ipads are also available for visitors to further learn about and interact with the art in the exhibit.
Exiting Gallery One through futuristic glass doors, visitors enter the stunningly modern renovation, the Ames Family Auditorium. The auditorium makes visitors feel like they are outside with tall arching, transparent ceilings, marble walls and an indoor bamboo garden.
Also in the Ames Family Auditorium is the Tandoor Cafe and Tandoor Restaurant. Both new additions that add to the posh, modern atmosphere of the museum.
Also benefiting from the expansion is the museum's collection of modern art. On the upper level visitors can explore new rooms filled with modern art comprised many mediums including photography, sculpture, paint, and textiles.
Currently on exhibit, The Last Days of Pompeii explores the life, disaster and discovery of the Italian city destroyed by Mt. Vesuvius through they eyes of artists. The exhibit is comprised of 3 main themes: decadence, apocalypse, and resurrection.
The exhibit explores both devastation and preservation through art reflecting on this pivotal moment in history. The art takes visitors both back in time and to the darkest places in present day including the anxieties of the nuclear age and September 11th. The exhibit shows Pompeii as an archetype for all subsequent disasters.
Located at 11150 East Blvd, admission to the museum is free. On street parking and an attached parking garage are available for visitors. The museum is closed on Monday and open Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays 10 a.m.–5 p.m. and 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Wednesday and Friday. Memberships are available and allow you free access to exhibits, discounts on classes, and more. For more information visit Clevelandart.org or call (216) 421-7350.
Mike- Late 20's, hair messy, dressed in dirty clothes,
Lisa- Mid 20's, pretty, well dressed
Pippin- cat, can be played by a person dressed as a cat
Vet- female, Mid 30's, pretty, hair pulled back, wearing a medical coat.
Act 1: Scene 1
Mike and Lisa are arguing in their apartment pippin is sitting center stage in front of the couple watching the argument. The apartment has a couch, a chair, a coffee table, two windows, and a small entertainment system including a stereo with speakers.
Mike: I care about a lot of things!
Lisa: your high score doesn’t qualify as caring about something.
Mike: I care….
Mike: (hopelessly) Please don't go.
Lisa looks at Mike with pity and starts to walks off stage but turns around.
Lisa: Don't forget to feed Pippin.
Pippin's head follows Lisa as she walks off stage
Mike sits down in a chair, Pippin jumps on his lap. Lights Fade
Lights come up, apartment is much messier than we last saw it, dimly lit. Mike is sitting in the same chair now playing games on his laptop. Pippin is sitting on the ground next to Mike looking up at him.
Pippin: Meow
Mike continues to play
Pippin: Meow!
Pippin: Hey dipshit, I’m hungry.
Mike ignores him
Pippin jumps up on Mike's keyboard
Mike: God damn it!
Mike places Pippin back on the ground
Pippin runs off stage and comes back with a dead mouse, he jumps on to Mikes lap and places the mouse on his keyboard.
Mike yells and jumps up, shakes his head at Pippin and walks off stage. Pippin chases after him. Lights fade.
Lights come back up. The apartment is in even worse condition than we last saw it, still dimly lit. Mike is in the same chair and Pippin is batting his paws at Mike’s feet.
Mike: You really need to cut it out, cat.
Pippin: You really need to take a shower, human.
Pippin: Meow
Mike: I – I really don't know what you want, dude.
Pippin runs over to the window and pulls the curtain off the window and the stage floods with light.
Mike: What is wrong with you?
Mike nudges a ball toward Pippin as he walks to the window to fix the curtain. Pippin pounces on the ball. After a few moments of struggling with the curtain rod, Mike gives up and goes back to his chair and resumes his game.
Pippin: I won’t be distracted by your feeble ploys, human.
Pippin stops playing to look at Mike disapprovingly. Lights fade
Mike is sitting on his chair, the apartment is dirtier still but now well light, the curtain is still sitting on the floor by the window. Pippin is rolling on the ground a few feet away from Mike.
Pippin gets up and walks over to Mike's chair and paws at its side panel. Mike ignores him.
Pippin jumps up onto the chair and sits behind Mikes head and purrs loudly
Mike: What's up buddy?
Pippin drops to Mikes lap and Mike pets him. The computer makes a sound and draws Mike's attention back to it.
Pippin meows grumpily but Mike ignores him.
Pippin, still on Mike's lap throws up on his pants.
Pippin: hhhhhhhhek
Mike: (Jumping up) What the fuck?!
Pippin: I find your apathy repulsive.
Mike looks around for a pair of clean pants but realizes all he has is dirty laundry. He takes off his pants, now in his boxers, goes around to collect clothes and puts them in a basket. Pippin jumps on top of the pile and Mike picks up the basket.
Mike: You are a little asshole, you know that?
Pippin: That facial hair isn’t as attractive as you think it is.
Pippin purrs as Mike rubs his head and walks off stage carrying the basket. Lights fade.
Lights come up and Mike laying on the floor sobbing uncontrollably, in his boxers. The apartment is a little brighter and cleaner with less clothes on the ground. Pippin is sitting on the back of mike's chair looking down at him.
Pippin: You’re making me uncomfortable.
Mike continues to cry
Pippin: Stop it.
Pippin jumps down and slinks over to the stereo. He looks to see if Mike is watching and starts batting his paws at the controls. “I Would Do Anything For Love” by Meat Loaf begins to blare from the speakers. Mike reacts immediately by jumping up, disoriented. Pippin sits in front of the speakers looking innocent.
Pippin: Meat Loaf. Really? Your dad called he told me to tell his son he wanted his music collection back.
Mike walks over and turns the music down and kneels to pet Pippin.
Pippin: I told him he didn’t have a son.
Mike: There is something seriously wrong with you, cat.
Pippin: There’s something seriously wrong with your face.
Lights fade.
Lights open and Mike is holding a curious Pippin in a veterinary office. The Vet walks in.
Vet: What seems to be the problem?
Pippin: I feel as though the problem is fairly apparent.
She looks from the cat to Mike's dirty hair and patchy facial hair.
Mike: I'm not really sure, he's been acting up and getting sick.
The vet examines Pippin
Vet: Well he seems to be fine. Are you sure you're giving him enough attention? Feeding him regularly?
Mike: Yes. Pippin and I are having a great time.
Pippin meows sarcastically.
Pippin: What he means by that is “I’d invite you over for a drink but my apartment smells like dead mice and old pizza”
The vet pauses and looks skeptically at the two of them.
Vet: Well nothing seems to be wrong. Just make sure he's being …. taken care of.
She looks Mike up and down one more time but this time with more pity. Lights fade.
Lights come back up. Mike and Pippin are back in their apartment. They are both sitting on the ground center stage playing with a cat toy.
Mike: We're happy, right? I'm taking care of you. You're just a dick. There's nothing the vet can do about that.
Pippin nudges Mike's hand affectionately and Mike pet's him.
Mike get's up and walks off stage. Pippin climbs into Mike's chair and curls up to take a nap.
Pippin: go ahead, call me a dick but I’m the only pussy that you’ve got.
Off stage you can hear water running. Lights fade.
Mike walks back on stage carrying a garbage bag as the lights come on and Pippin picks his head up to watch Mike. Mike is now showered and shaved, wearing clean clothes. He walks over to the stereo and turns the music back on then begins to walk around the apartment picking up trash. Pippin follows Mike with his eyes, tail flicking.
The apartment is now clean. Mike sits down in front of the stereo and turns the music down. Pippin jumps off the chair and curls up in Mike's lap. Mike pulls his cell phone out of his pocket and dials a number.
Trapped in the Coffee Shop (An adaptation of “Trapped in the Closet” by R. Kelly)
A short play in only stage directions
Character:
Joe- Mid 20's wearing thick rimmed glasses and a plaid shirt. He is tired and unshaven
Linda (In this scene referred to as “The Woman”) - Early 20's, tiny, wearing Ugg boots
Chaz ( In this scene referred to as “Hipster”)- Late 20's, wearing a beanie, toms, skinny jeans, very dirty looking, too much facial hair for his face
It's seven a.m. And the sun is shining in on a bleary eyed Joe standing in line at a coffee shop.
Joe goes to order coffee when a woman he has never met before runs to him and forces him into a corner booth, motions for him to be quiet, and runs off
Woman stands feet away from Joe, looking worried
Joe grows impatient and frustrated and begins to stand but is pushed back down by the woman
Joe motions toward his watch in an angry fashion
Woman gets cup of coffee from the counter
Enter Hipster
The Woman seems to recognize the Hipster and eagerly gives him coffee
Joe's cell phone begins to ring some obscure Animal Collective song
Hipster looks around angrily but can not locate where the song is coming from
Joe, as quickly as a man who hasn't had his morning coffee can, silences his cell phone realizing the change of tone in the shop but it is too late, the Hipster is irate
Hipster goes from table to table trying to locate the ring tone
Joe tries to make himself small in the booth
Hipster looks over the counter, under a table, behind a curtain
Joe pulls out his iPhone as the Hipster approaches his table
The Hipster looks into Joe's eyes as if he were looking into a mirror
Woman runs to Hipster and puts her hand on his shoulder but he pushes her away
Oh god damn it, not again! How in blazes am I supposed to get any work done with those two degenerates going at it like rabbits right outside my window every few hours. It's no wonder Smith was so reluctant to give up this office, it's a front row seat to the blasted porn parade. Why are these buildings so close? Why doesn't this building have any god damn blinds? Why doesn't that apartment have any god dammed blinds? Everyone’s so hippie-dippy these days about natural light. There's nothing wrong with sitting in the dark. Florescent lighting has kept me motivated my entire life.
I was better looking than him when I was that age. Hell, if I ever had time to go to the gym, I'd look better than him now. What's with that long hair? Maybe he's compensating for his lack of hair everywhere else. If I hadn't seen his pecker half a dozen times before I could be persuaded they were a couple of lesbians. She's quite the looker though. Good looking enough to find herself someone better than that skinny loser anyway. If my wife looked that good I'd probably have sex with her in-front of an open window. All legs, some sort of tattoo running up her right side, but no ring on her finger! I'll never understand kids these days. We waited until we were married to hump each other's brains out and even then it was behind closed doors under a quilt!
Now here is the future of our nation. Young women with their big tits pressed up against a glass window for the whole city to see. Oh, well now it's her rear against the window. For a scrawny kid he sure is throwing her around pretty well. I hope that glass is strong. I don't want to have to give a statement if he throws her though that window.
