Theater of the absurd

Victor Gido

WHAT Decide who’s pranking whom in The Nairobi Project
WHEN Opens Sept 26
WHERE Annoyance Theatre (4830 N Broadway, 773-561-4665, annoyanceproductions.com)

Chicago writer and comedian Steve Gadlin (Don’t Spit the Water, Impress These Apes) receives just as many bogus e-mails as the rest of us. But instead of hitting the delete button, Gadlin accepted Kenya-based playwright Victor Gido’s unsolicited offer to write him a play, and then spun it into this fall’s most bizarre production. The Nairobi Project is a verbatim showcase of Gido’s one-act “work,” the audition process for the show and the initial correspondences. As the excerpted e-mail exchanges below illustrate, we’re not sure who is getting the better deal.

hello there.my names is Victor Gido from nairobi kenya and would like to ask i fyou people are intrested in any plays for the moment.i can assure you that you wont regret by doing so.please do reply with immediate effect.i will be looking forwad to hear from you. i will be weaiting for you to stay in touch.

Victor -
Thank you for writing. We have decided to roll the dice and produce one of your original plays here in Chicago. How much would it cost to have you write an original 30-minute play? We would want some input into the plot and theme.
Thanks for your time.
Steve

hey there?
well thank you so much for your reply.
okay Mr.Gadlin,i am so intrested in this.....well i h ave several plays and scdripts fully written...i will take any amount that you guys will offer me but i trully would like to starty from 2million ksh(28 US dollars).I think i can start from there. thank you so much once again and please do tell me when to commence with the editing.
i am so much looking forward tto hear from you.
victor.

Victor -
I’m so happy to hear from you. To show that we’re very serious about this, I would like to pay you $25 USD in advance, and then ANOTHER $25 when you’ve completed the script.
As for plot and theme, please work with this: A millionaire named Quack Quack Quimby has forgotten the true meaning of the Jewish holiday Tu Bishvat . His daughter goes to great lengths to remind him of its meaning, and make him happy once again. We’d like the play to end with him on his deathbed, reciting a monologue about his regained love for Tu Bishvat, and also admitting a lifelong homosexual affair with his trusted assistant, the Wizard Dumbeldore.
We can’t wait to produce the show here in Chicago!
Steve

hello there Mr. Gadlin.i have read everything and understood what you want.well give me atleast 7 days for me to work it out...i am so happy to work with you guys...and when you find this amazing,i got more plays going for atleast 28000 USdollars but first,let us do away with this one. in six or seven days,you will have your script.
thank you once again for giving me this chance.
victor.

[Gido completed the script after several discussions about the money order and bank account, for which he uses a few combinations of first and last names, including Victor Kawesa, Victor Gido, Peter Gido, Jonathan Gido and S. Havicks.]