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Pretzels For Dinner

Janet Shaw

Genre: Black Comedy

Cast size: 7

Duration: Two Act

Janet Shaw | Black Comedy | Full-length | 2m, 4f, 1m/f

Short synopsis

Ann and Bill have been married for 40 years during which time he has been the 'lord and master'. Even after death, he maintains a presence and keeps her on her toes. Only she can see and hear him, until finally with the help of her zany, but good-hearted friend and neighbour, Hilary, she decides that she doesn't need him anymore. A poignant and sometimes hilarious look at life, love, marriage and unfulfilled ambitions.

What happens when a woman loses her identity and becomes lost in domesticity? Ann Johnson knows exactly what happens, because it happened to her. One day she was a young woman with hopes, dreams and expectations. In the blink of an eye she was middle-aged with two grown up children and her dreams lost somewhere between Asda and Iceland. Fate takes a hand and suddenly she is on her own, lost in the unfamiliar world of high-tech gadgets and un-paid bills.

Somehow she has to act before she disappears into a quagmire of self-loathing and insecurity. With the help (or hindrance) from her somewhat interfering next- door neighbour Hilary, Ann starts to re-build her life. Can she find a way to start learning to love herself again and to re-kindle the life she once envisaged.

Her husband Bill, although gone, is not going to let her achieve her goals without trying to interfere for one last time. A poignant and sometimes hilarious look at life, love, marriage and unfulfilled ambitions.

(2m, 4f, 1m/f))

  • Bill Johnson- 50-60, a man with 'traditional' attitudes on the place of women in the home
  • Ann Johnson- 45-55, his wife with a strong sense of maternal and domestic duty
  • Sam (m/f) - 18-25, their son/daughter
  • Kara - 18-25, their daughter
  • Hilary- 35-45, their neighbour. Knows a little about a lot, a kind-hearted nosey-parker
  • Irene- Bill's sister. Out for what she can get
  • Tom- an acquaintance of Ann

Free

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Pretzels For Dinner

Free
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