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

Overheard on Brookfield St.

Lina and Chantelle exit Play, the Swingers nightclub. They are dressed seductively, with large, perfect curls in their hair.

Chantelle: Where’s the car?

Lina: You’re drunk!

Chantelle: You’re sober! Where’s the car?

Lina: Just up here.

Lina takes Chantelle’s arm, guiding her up the residential street. Their heels click on the pavement.

Chantelle: That was stupid.

Lina: Well, now we know.

Chantelle: Now we know that was stupid. Let’s never go back there.

Lina: Agreed.

Chantelle: Those guys were gross. 

Lina: We never have to see them again.

Chantelle: You’re my friend. I love you.

Lina: I love you too, you’re wasted.

Thunder cracks. Lightning turns the sky purple. Rain starts to fall. Chantelle breaks away from Lina, she steps into the middle of the empty street. She tilts her head to the sky, letting the rain fall on her face, she opens her arms wide.

What are you doing?

Chantelle: It’s thundering! It’s thunderstorming!

Lina: You’re getting soaked.

Chantelle: That means it’s Spring! Come on, first rain of Spring! First Thunderstorm!

Some men from further down the street leave the club. They see Chantelle, they begin to yell sexually provocative and unintelligible things at her. Chantelle looks in their direction. Lina opens the car door, she gets in the driver’s seat.

Lina: Come on, let’s go.

Get in the car. 

Chantelle: It’s just nice when it rains instead of snows.

____

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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