Ignatius Sancho and John Blanke: A Surprising Revelation - A Play in One Act

Background

Michael  Ohajuru  (The John Blanke Project  Director) - me  and my friend Paterson Joseph ( Author of The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho  and  Actor/Playwright ) were invited to a weekend country house fancy dress history party. We both planned to go as 'our character' me as John Blanke and Paterson as Ignatius Sancho. At Paterson's suggestion we agreed to address a question we had been considering for some time - what would our two characters say to each other when they first met ? We came up with the idea of a play, I suggested giving the task of writing the play to AI using Chat GPT , as I had no time but  have a subscription. What follows is the result.....

The ChatGPT Prompt

In order to brief ChatGPT I was required to give it a prompt. The input description of what I wanted and possible outcomes. As time was not my friend,  I decided to keep the prompt brief:

Please write my a  witty 5 minute play describing the first meeting between John Blanke and Ignatius Sancho.
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The Result

John Blanke · John Blanke Meets Ignatius Sancho: A Surprising Revelation

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Ignatius Sancho and John Blanke: A Surprising Revelation
​Complete Script

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Witten by ChatGPT
​Directed by Paterson Joseph

Ignatius Sancho Paterson Joseph
John Blanke Michael Ohajuru

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Scene: A cozy 18th-century London tavern, the air filled with the soft hum of conversation and the clinking of mugs. The fire crackles warmly in the hearth as two remarkable figures meet for a lively discussion.
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 Ignatius Sancho : (grinning) Master Blanke, tis a delight to make thy acquaintance. I've heard wondrous tales of thy trumpeting at the royal courts. Pray, how didst thou find favour with the king?

John Blanke: (chuckling) Good Master Sancho, the pleasure is indeed mine. Playing for King Henry hath its rewards, though the monarch’s temper is like the weather in London—changeable and often stormy. But tell me, Ignatius, I have heard rumours that thou hast recently voted in an election. Is it true? A black man casting a vote?

Ignatius Sancho: (smiling) Aye, John, it is true indeed! I had the honour of casting my vote in the recent election. Tis a right I hold dear.

John Blanke: (astonished) Truly? In my day, I could not fathom such a thing. If I had any grievance or request, I would have to petition the king directly. Voting was beyond imagination.

Ignatius Sancho: (nodding) Times have changed, my friend. Though it is not without its challenges. The right to vote was hard-won and not without resistance. But it is a sign of progress, however slow.

John Blanke: (laughing) I remember once petitioning King Henry for a raise in my stipend. I thought it a bold move, but I had no other recourse. Thankfully, the king was in a good mood that day. He granted my request, though not without a jest.

Ignatius Sancho: (curious) Oh? What did His Majesty say?

John Blanke: (grinning) He said, “John, thy trumpet may be loud, but thy courage is louder still. Very well, thy stipend is raised—but pray, do not play louder in gratitude!”

Ignatius Sancho: (laughing) A fine jest indeed! It seems kings and jesters are often cut from the same cloth. But tell me, John, how didst thou find the courage to petition the king directly?

John Blanke: (thoughtful) Necessity, I suppose. When one has no other means, one must be bold. Besides, I always believed that if my music could move the hearts of men, perhaps my words could too. But this voting business, it intrigues me. How didst thou come by this right?

Ignatius Sancho: (smiling) It was through persistence and the support of good friends. I was fortunate to have patrons who valued my contributions. They helped me gain the property qualification needed to vote. It is not a perfect system, but it is a start.

John Blanke: (raising his mug) To progress, then! May it continue to move forward, however slowly.

Ignatius Sancho: (clinking mugs) To progress, and to the courage of those who dare to dream of a better world. Cheers, John!

The two musicians share a hearty laugh, their conversation a testament to the enduring power of perseverance and the slow but steady march of progress....  

Costumes

Paterson Joseph's Ignatius Sancho ​costume is styled on the 1768 portrait by Thomas Gainsburgh of Ignatius Sancho

Michael Ohajuru's John Blanke costume is based on the 1512 wedding present to John Blanke reimagined  by Ninya Mikhaila from Tudor court records 

Reviews from the audience  on the night
via Chat GPT

Shaft: 
Two brothers keepin’ it real, talkin’ truth to power with style. This play’s got soul. Right on!

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1920s Gangster: ​
These guys got guts, talkin’ about hustle and makin’ moves. I'd share a drink with 'em any day.

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Louis XIV: 
A delightful exchange, though quite revolutionary! Voting and progress—how intriguing, but perhaps too bold for my court.

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