It showcases my college obsession with Brecht as well as the often messy relationships in college and artistic pursuits.
It is an easy show to move and produce and really only requires some blocks and some hand props.
This play was originally written for the "Torture Project" which was a group project created by the 1st year Grad students in the MFA program at Columbia University in 2006. It has since been performed at Adelphi University, Spork Fest, Brooklyn Playwrights' Collective Beyond Brecht, and is soon to be performed at Pace University.
It was originally directed by Erick Herrscher and starred Elliotte Crowell, Vivia Font, Rick Dacey, and Amber Gray.
If you use some or all of Lucky in Love - I ask that you let me know at erinkellyb@hotmail.com
And that you credit me when possible.
Lucky in Love
Characters:
Angie
Martha
Rob
Nelly
2 actors from “After” (can be offstage Rob and Nelly)
Angie walks on stage, sets up an easel and puts a large sign on it. The sign says “Lucky in Love.” She leaves it up. The actors set the stage.
Angie sets up another sign on top of the last that says, “Scene 1: In college. Angie tries to read Waiting for Godot but can’t. Angie sees Martha for the first time.”
Scene 1:
Angie is sitting on a step trying to read Waiting for Godot but is obviously having trouble. She’s too tired or bored, can’t focus. She flips it over in an effort to make it more interesting. Martha leaves the school building and lights up a cigarette. She sits coolly on a step a few feet away from Angie. Angie stares at her. Martha looks over at Angie and Angie stares down into her book, then realizing it’s upside down she flips it. Martha chuckles and wanders off with her cigarette.
Angie sets up a sign that says “Scene 2: Class Project. Angie meets Martha. Angie is embarrassed by ink.”
Scene 2:
Angie and Martha sit in classroom desks next to each other. Both take notes. Martha turns to Angie.
MARTHA
Well it looks like we’ve been assigned to work on this project together. I guess we should meet. I’m Martha.
Martha holds out a hand.
ANGIE – voice cracking
Angie.
MARTHA
Clammy hand you got there, Angie. You cold in here? I’m burning up.
ANGIE
No, I’m fine.
MARTHA
The role of Andrew Lloyd Webber in the Development of the American Musical. Shall I slit my wrists now or later?
Angie laughs too much and then stops abruptly.
MARTHA
Well now that we know each other Angie, I feel obligated to tell you, you have ink all over the side of your face from chewing on your pen. Go wash off what you can and then we’ll come up with an action plan for how we’re going to research this shit.
ANGIE
Thanks.
Angie leaves mortified.
Angie sets up a sign that says “Scene 3: Martha talks about Rob. Angie compliments Martha. ”
Scene 3:
Angie and Martha sit at a table piled with books studying.
MARTHA
And the thing is Ang, I don’t even think he knows what he’s doing to me. He says, I’ll call you later Martha and then he never calls. I think, should I call him, or should I wait until he finally remembers to call me. But then like a total sucker I call him anyway. But I should wait, shouldn’t I?
ANGIE
I don’t know. I guess, if you want to call him, you should call him.
MARTHA
He just keeps dicking me around like that and then, the other night, I was like, I’m totally going to go out and have fun and forgetting about him. Me and Laura are going to Gigi and having pizza and getting wasted and puking in the street, and I don’t care. So, we went out and guess who we run into. We run into Rob and guess who he’s out with. Guess.
ANGIE
I don’t know.
MARTHA
Tori.
ANGIE
Whoa.
MARTHA
Yes. Can you believe the nerve of her. So, that’s it. I’m serious Angie. I’m serious this time. The end. I’m not calling him. And if he calls me, I’m just not taking it.
ANGIE
Good.
MARTHA
He’s just so good in bed. Do you think he really likes me or is he just…
ANGIE
Of course he really likes you. Who wouldn’t really like you?
MARTHA
Tori is hotter than me.
ANGIE
No, she’s not.
MARTHA
You think so?
ANGIE
You are the hottest girl in our class Martha. The hottest girl in the school if you ask me. If Rob can’t see that he’s being a fool.
MARTHA
You think so…
ANGIE
Yes.
There is an uncomfortable pause as Martha takes this in. Angie leans in to kiss Martha. Martha is flustered and turns slamming a book down on the table in front of her.
MARTHA
So, anyway, sorry about this.
ANGIE
Sorry about what.
MARTHA
Bitching about Rob, when we are supposed to be finishing this Brecht thing, when you are here to help me with this Brecht thing. I know you’re really into Brecht and I can imagine…
ANGIE
It’s okay.
MARTHA
Years of listening to me bitch about Rob, it must get boring. That’s all. Okay. Brecht.
Angie sets up a sign that says, “Scene 4: Angie and Martha try to watch movies about orphans. Rob and Martha make out.”
Scene 4:
Angie, Rob, and Martha sit on a couch watching a movie. Martha in the middle. Rob stands.
ROB
Can.
MARTHA
Nice Rob.
ROB
I got to balance out this chick movie, don’t I?
Rob leaves.
MARTHA
Sorry. This was supposed to be our movie night and then Rob showed up and I didn’t tell him to leave.
ANGIE
It’s alright, I can watch Oliver anytime. I can take off if you want.
MARTHA
No, don’t. Please, stay. What about Annie?
ANGIE
We can reschedule.
MARTHA
Don’t. You know that you are way more important to me than Rob. He hasn’t been around in months.
ANGIE
I know.
MARTHA
Do you want me to ask him to leave? I’ll ask him to leave.
ANGIE
No. Don’t.
Martha grips Angie’s arm and pulls her close. Rob returns zipping his fly.
MARTHA
Now sit down and shut up. Angie and I are trying to watch a movie here.
ROB
If you don’t want me here so you can watch this tired old shit, I can leave.
MARTHA
Leave then.
ROB
You don’t want me to leave.
MARTHA
Oh, sit down and shut up.
Rob sits down. They pretend to watch the movie. Rob puts his hand on Martha’s leg. He kisses her. They start to make-out. Angie looks at them. Rob pushes Martha down almost knocking Angie off of her seat. Angie looks at them with longing and disgust. She grabs her bag and slips out.
Angie sets up a sign that says “Scene 5: Martha watches Angie’s play being rehearsed. Martha talks about Rob.”
Scene 5:
Angie and Martha sit in theater seats watching a rehearsal of Angie’s play. Overhead are snippets of dialogue from the play. (Snippets from the play “After” should be heard.) Martha takes notes. Angie squirms self-consciously and covers her face.
MARTHA - whispering
I did see Rob again last night.
ANGIE
Oh? I thought you’d broken up.
MARTHA
Well you know, I hate to be alone.
ANGIE
Thanks for coming out today to see the rehearsal.
MARTHA
Sure. They haven’t changed much.
ANGIE
No.
MARTHA
If you want me to tell you what I really think Angie…
ANGIE
Yes.
MARTHA
Well I just really think, it’s not very…
ANGIE
How long have we known each other Martha? What can I fix, what is wrong?
MARTHA
I don’t know if this can be fixed Angie. You can do better than this.
ANGIE
Obviously I can’t, this is what I wrote.
MARTHA
It’s just not that good Angie. I don’t want to hurt your feelings.
ANGIE
It’s business right.
MARTHA
I mean, I’ll think about it. Maybe it would help if I had the text in front of me. Maybe it’s the actors. Well, sorry, Angie… You’re a good writer Angie.
ANGIE
Thanks. Just not this time.
MARTHA
I don’t know what’s up with you.
ANGIE
Me neither.
MARTHA
I better go. Meeting Rob for lunch. He’s having a bit of a crisis.
ANGIE
Okay.
MARTHA
Email me the play and we’ll talk about it later okay?
Martha leaves.
Angie sets up a sign that says, “Scene 6: Opening night of Angie’s play. Rob confronts Angie about her play.”
Scene 6:
Opening night of a play. Angie hides in a corner with a glass of wine. Rob and Martha walk up to her arm in arm. Martha hugs Angie. Rob watches with contempt.
MARTHA
Congratulations.
ANGIE
Thanks.
MARTHA
I think in performance there is something, that…
ROB
So, I have to say Angie, I didn’t get much of it but what’s with the lobotomy scene in the 3rd Act? That I really didn’t get.
ANGIE
It’s a metaphor, Rob.
ROB
For what?
MARTHA
Rob, maybe now is not the time.
ROB
I’m just saying. There’s a problem with the play and-
MARTHA
Rob, shut your face for five minutes will you.
ROB
Someone needs to tell her that no one gets it.
MARTHA
I do. Go and get me a drink. Will you?
Rob goes.
MARTHA
Look Angie, I’m sorry. He has no right.
ANGIE
Course he does. I think I’m going to go anyway.
MARTHA
Don’t Angie, don’t let him ruin your night.
ANGIE
No, don’t worry. You know how I feel about these things.
MARTHA
I know. Call me.
Angie sets up a sign that says “Scene 7: Angie sees Martha after a few years while buying pasta.”
Scene 7:
Angie is in a grocery store, holding a few boxes of pasta. Martha walks around a the bend with her chic recycled bag full of groceries.
MARTHA
Ang, hey, how’re you?
ANGIE
Good Martha. How’re you?
They hug while Angie tries to conceal her pasta behind her back.
MARTHA
Saw an ad for your show down at that little theater. We wanted to go but it was playing for such a short time, with Rob’s opening and all, it just got away from us. I always did love your work. Isn’t that funny. Rob, with his show, “Torture: The Musical.” That’s like what we made fun of in school.
ANGIE
It’s doing well.
MARTHA
Pays for our apartment, so I don’t care. I guess give the people what they want. It’s funny cause he wrote it right after you had that show out, I think it was just called “Torture,” with the lobotomy. That was good. Not like Rob’s stuff. Heard you were dating that actress. What’s her name?
ANGIE
Jessie
MARTHA
Right, she’s great.
ANGIE
She is, she was.
MARTHA
Was, oh no, did things….
ANGIE
It’s okay. We are just on a break or something along those lines.
MARTHA
I hope it works out, she must know she’s lucky to have someone like you. I wish I did. Well, off to cook dinner for Rob. He’s working on some new show and is out late so I like to have stuff waiting when he gets home.
ANGIE
Domestic of you. You look great.
MARTHA
Call me Angie.
Angie sets up a sign that says, “Scene 8: Another opening. Martha and Angie see each other again after many years. Martha confesses.”
Scene 8:
Angie stands with a glass of wine, inspecting it. Martha and Nelly walk up.
ANGIE
Martha.
MARTHA
Angie.
ANGIE
I heard you were dating Nelly but I hardly believed it.
NELLY
Yes, I’m that lucky.
MARTHA
Aw, stop now.
NELLY
I’ll get us drinks, what do you want pumpkin?
MARTHA
White please.
NELLY
Are you good Angie?
ANGIE
I am, thanks.
Nelly kisses Martha and leaves.
ANGIE
She’s great Martha.
MARTHA
She is. How come you never call me?
ANGIE
Sorry, I’ve been busy. I mean with this and moving and all that.
MARTHA
Yeah funny about that huh, Jessie running off with Rob. And he’s so filthy rich now.
ANGIE
You’re idea of funny and my idea of funny are very different.
MARTHA
Angie, you have to call me. I miss you.
ANGIE
I will.
MARTHA
This show is great by the way, almost as good as that other show that Rob stole.
ANGIE
Nelly does a great job.
MARTHA
She does but it’s you too.
ANGIE
I thought you hated my plays.
MARTHA
Are you kidding. We were children. I was a child. I said that because I was madly in love with you and was angry at you for not saving me from Rob.
ANGIE
What?
MARTHA
Don’t play dumb. I mean I know that it’s all silliness now, but I had it bad.
ANGIE
But, I thought, I always thought you were, until Nelly, that was a-
MARTHA
Come on Ang.
ANGIE
I had a huge crush on you Marty. Always.
MARTHA
I was flirting with you all the time. Why didn’t you say anything?
ANGIE
I don’t, I didn’t want to lose you as a friend, or think you’d ever be interested in me.
MARTHA
Are you kidding? How funny, both of us, and neither of us.
Nelly returns. Nelly kisses Martha gently and hands her a glass of wine.
NELLY
Did Martha tell you our news?
ANGIE
What news?
NELLY
How long have you been standing here and you didn’t tell her?
MARTHA
I wanted you to tell her.
NELLY
We’re having a baby. Marty and I. She’s moving in next weekend and I’m already-
MARTHA
Isn’t it great Angie.
ANGIE
Yes. Congratulations.
MARTHA
It’s all kind of fast.
NELLY
But when you know.
MARTHA
You know.
MARTHA
And to think, I never would have met Nelly if she hadn’t been in your play two years ago.
NELLY
Our little Angie has been good to me.
MARTHA
We’re lucky to have found her.
ANGIE
I better be going.
NELLY
Are you kidding?
MARTHA
She hates these things, they torture her. Meeting new people.
ANGIE
Yes.
NELLY
Well come over for dinner soon, please.
ANGIE
I will.
NELLY
Oh there’s my agent. Bye Angie, see you soon.
Nelly leaves again.
MARTHA
Isn’t she adorable?
ANGIE
Yes, she is. She’s great.
MARTHA
I’m lucky.
ANGIE
Yes.
MARTHA
It’s too bad, we could have been good together too.
ANGIE
Maybe.
MARTHA
We would have been.
ANGIE
Goodnight Marty.
MARTHA
Night Ang.
Angie leaves but on her way out puts up a card that says THE END
Saw a great version of Lucky in Love last night in the PACE University Directing Festival.
ReplyDeleteExcellent set that included large puzzle pieces from floor to ceiling that hid various hand-props by Matt Farcher.
Great transitions and all around wonderful direction by Chad Chenail.
Starring Emily Asaro - Angie, Macaela Sears - Martha, Evan Pearson - Rob, Maggie Allen - Nelly.