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A nervous middle-aged bride deals with social expectations and family disapproval as she awaits her unconventional wedding ceremony.
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Comedy/drama 10 minutes 2F 1F: 20's; 1F: 40's-50's
A nervous middle-aged bride deals with social expectations and family disapproval as she awaits her unconventional wedding ceremony.
- Productions: Great Lakes Theatre Festival (Cleveland); Asphalt Jungle Shorts (Kitchener, ONT, Canada); Alleyway (Buffalo)
Ruth (Anne McEvoy) & Michele (Reagan Kendrick). Photo GLTF.
"A finely tuned few minutes about a second-time bride's nervous jitters about her new spouse-to-be and some family spats. The family does show for the ceremony, but there is a question whether they've come to "celebrate or to picket." Dialogue is real and full of spark."
- Buffalo News
EXCERPT
[RUTH, a middle-aged bride, and her niece MICHELE are in the corridor of a Justice of the Peace's office in a government buildling.]
RUTH (beginning to pace) This is crazy, isn't it. Why am I doing this?
MICHELE They say it's better the second time around.
RUTH It better be. Good God almighty! If it's anything like the first one, I should just shoot myself right now.
MICHELE Aunt Ruth!
RUTH This damn piece of paper. I keep telling Lou, "What makes you think that getting this thing is going to make such a gigantic difference in our lives? We'll wake up tomorrow morning, you'll still be snoring and hogging the blanket, like you have for the last four years, what's the big deal?" Why should we have to go through all this?
MICHELE Because you can?
RUTH Look, Shell, I understand the rhetoric, historic opportunity, et cetera. But it's not like I haven't done this before. Believe me, there's no sudden guarantee of happily-ever-after just because some justice of the peace mumbles a few words. (beat) Thanks for being here.
MICHELE I wouldn't miss it for the world.
RUTH Unlike some people we know.
MICHELE You shouldn't let her get to you.
RUTH Easy for you to say,
MICHELE Just tune her out. That's what I do.
RUTH Miss "Three time zones away".
MICHELE Makes it easier, I'll admit.
RUTH How was the visit?
MICHELE The typical hit and run. At first I get the standard interrogation. How's the job, how's the apartment, were you near those awful mudslides, the usual. Then suddenly they look at each other, take a breath, and they both start in. When are Rob and I going to get around to (big quotes with her fingers) "tying the knot".
RUTH Your dad sure loves those "quotes", bless his pointed little head.
MICHELE So I say, we hadn't really gotten that far yet, and anyway I'm not interested in "tying the knot". And then Mom says, with her unfailing tact, well, you aren't getting any younger, sweetie,
RUTH Nice.
MICHELE And then I kind of lose it, and I say, isn't it interesting that they seem so anxious for me to get married, when Aunt Ruth's ceremony is tomorrow afternoon,
RUTH Hoo boy.
MICHELE and neither of them is lifting a finger --
RUTH Wrong move.
MICHELE to celebrate this historic occasion - and what the heck was wrong with her, anyway, that she refuses to acknowledge her own sister's wedding?
RUTH And then there was a weeping, and a wailing, and a gnashing of teeth.
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