Dufferin and Davenport (Photo: Jesse Hirsh)
A series of mini-dramas based on public conversations, as overheard and rewritten by local playwright/director Aurora Stewart de Peña.
Overheard on the porch of a residential home on Dufferin at Davenport, where there is a steep hill
Leora and Karen, both in their mid-thirties, drink affordably priced wine from styrofoam cups while sitting on folding chairs. Both wear clothing made of lightweight jersey, both have their hair arranged in knobs atop their heads. Leora is a little bit sweaty.
Leora: It’s nice up here.
Karen: No, it isn’t.
Leora: No, I like it, the school across the street–
Several large trucks drive by in noisy succession.
Karen: Sorry, what did you say?
Leora: The school across the street, that’s a nice thing to have. You’ll overhear kids skipping rope and playing games and stuff.
Karen: Kids play on their cellphones at recess, now. That’s what they do.
Two cars drive side by side, fanatically honking at each other while the drivers yell insults into each other’s windows.
Leora: I like it, it’s a totally nice apartment. I love the weird tiles in the kitchen. When do you think those are from?
Karen watches a cyclist pedal hard and slow up the hill.
Leora: And I hear the bus is very regular up here.
Karen: You’re trying to make me feel better.
Leora: And the rent is really good! $1250 a month? That’s good!
Karen: Please.
The cyclist looks around, gets off her bike, and begins to walk it up the hill, wiping sweat from her brow.
Karen: Actually, do you know what’s amazing about this place?
Leora: What?
Karen: Right where we are, at this point on the hill, this is where cyclists give up.
Leora: [laughing] That’s awesome.
Karen: I know.
Another cyclist, sick of pedaling, climbs off his bike, looks guiltily over his shoulder, and removes his helmet.
Leora: I thought it was just me.
Karen: It’s everybody.
____
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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