A series of mini-dramas based on public conversations, as overheard and rewritten by local playwright/director Aurora Stewart de Peña.

Overheard at Varsity Cinemas, by the fish tank

Savannah, in her early thirties, stands talking quietly to her mother Odessa, early sixties. Both women are wearing clothing in neutral colours. Both women have expensive purses. Both women are wearing perfume.

Odessa: You should go to the washroom, honey.

Savannah: Does it look terrible?

Odessa: No, but you can tell you’ve been crying.

Savannah: Do I have make-up all over my face?

[whispering] Do I have mascara rivers?

Odessa: [whispering] It’s beyond that.

Oh! Hang on!

Odessa opens her purse and takes out a package of L’Oreal Age Perfect Facial Wipesâ„¢. She opens the package and pulls one out. They turn to face the aquarium.

Odessa: Here.

Savannah: Thank you.

Savannah wipes at her face.

Savannah: I just didn’t expect that little girl to die.

Odessa: I’m sorry, I know.

Savannah: You know, because I haven’t read the books.

So I really thought that she and the little girl were going to overthrow the Hunger Games and–

Savannah begins sobbing.

Odessa: I know, it’s really rough. You really get attached to her.

Savannah: [between soft sobs] She looks like Alicia did when she was that age, you know?

Odessa: She does a bit, you’re right.

Savannah: I think I’m getting my period. I’m obviously getting my period.

Odessa hands her daughter another L’Oreal Age Perfect Facial Wipeâ„¢. Savannah folds it in four, and taps at the tops of her eyelids gently and methodically.

Savannah: Like, she’s not even a real person, she’s an allegory.

Odessa puts her arm around Savannah and begins to lead her into the washroom.

Odessa: Yes, but she’s an allegory for revolution.

Savannah: Oh, Mum, you always think–

They go through the washroom door.

____

Aurora Stewart de Peña is half of the theatre company Birdtown & Swanville (the other half is Nika Mistruzzi). You can follow her on Twitter at @Aurorahhh.

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