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

Overheard at Rol San on Spadina

Cindy and Norman, in their late teens, sit waiting for their food.  There’s an Aritzia coat and a Coach purse draped over the back of Cindy’s chair. She’s wearing a pink polo sweater and Buffalo jeans tucked into Uggs.

Norman: On just one eye?

Cindy: Does it look okay? Can you tell?

Norman: Close your eyes.

Cindy closes her eyes. Norman inspects her make-up.

Yeah, you can tell.

Cindy: You can? Seriously?

Norman: Yeah, sorry. It’s a different colour, it’s darker. 

Why did you only get one done?

Cindy: It hurt so, so much. I was like, crying, and they can’t do it if you’re crying. Like, water streaming down my face. And I kept like, squinching up my eyes.

Cindy squinches up her eyes. She relaxes her face.

It killed, I’m serious.

I have to go back, but I’m going to go see my family tomorrow and I’m freaked out that they’ll notice. My Mom’ll notice for sure if they’re different.

Norman: What if you want to change your make-up?

Cindy: Norman, I never change my make-up. Seriously, have you ever seen me with different make-up?

Norman thinks.

Norman: I guess not.

Cindy: Like, since Grade 9 I’ve been wearing the same make-up. So really I’m saving time by getting it done permanently.

Norman: Not if you can’t keep your eyes dry long enough to do it. Seriously, can you get it removed? Make-up tattoos are kind of creepy, I’m sorry.

Cindy: Shut up.

Norman: Didn’t they ask you for ID?

Cindy: I used my sister’s. We look basically identical.

Norman: Not anymore.

____

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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