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

Overheard at Beach Arms Retirement Residence

Jimmy, 92, has just finished playing a harmonica concert in the Sun Room for his fellow residents. The applause has subsided, and they are slowly shuffling out.

Meaghan, 28, wearing scrubs covered in a Teddy Bear Pattern, smiles approvingly.

Meaghan: You’re a real ray of sunshine around here, Jimmy.

Jimmy: Well, I try.

A person has to keep their head up.

Meaghan: Some of the residents here, and I’m not mentioning any names, they’re all doom and gloom and thunderclouds and curse words. But not you.

Pause.

Jimmy: Well, I know Elise is watching me from–

Pointing a few times to the ceiling.

(whispering) up there.

So I have to be on my best behaviour, or she won’t want anything to do with me when we finally get together again.

Jimmy looks at the harmonica in his hands, then rubs his eyes aggressively.

Meaghan: Well, playing the way you do, I’ve got no doubt in my mind that she can hear you all the way up in Heaven, where she is. She’s listening, tapping her feet. 

Meaghan does a little dance.

Jimmy: Well, that’s who I play this thing for.

Meaghan puts her arm around Jimmy’s shoulders, they head towards the door.

Meaghan: She’s listening, she is.

____

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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