Summary

"A Love Story" is a play about the enduring and complex relationships between characters Rose, Harold, Lucy, and others, spanning different stages of their lives.

Abstract

The play "A Love Story" is a silent narrative that unfolds across various stages of the characters' lives, from youth to old age. It centers around Rose, a woman whose relationships with Harold, a man she dances with at a young age, and Lucy, her close friend, evolve over time. The story is told without dialogue, using visual cues and actions to convey the deep connections and emotions between the characters. The setting includes a park bench overlooking a lake, which serves as a significant backdrop for the characters' interactions. The play explores themes of love, friendship, loss, and memory, culminating in a poignant reunion between Rose and Lucy in their twilight years.

Opinions

The author's choice to convey the story without dialogue emphasizes the universal nature of the emotions and experiences depicted.
The use of a park bench and a lake as central settings suggests a reflection on the passage of time and the constancy of nature in the face of human change.
The characters' interactions, such as Rose's dab of perfume and the exchange of letters, hint at a deep, shared history that words alone could not capture.
The play's structure, with scenes depicting the characters at different ages, implies a cyclical view of life and relationships.
The final scene, where Rose and Lucy sit together on the bench, symbolizes the enduring power of connection and the comfort found in old friendships.

A Love Story

I wrote this play several years ago to be performed at the lake in Yellowknife, NWT for a festival — but festival was cancelled. Enjoy! Imagine the stage — dock on the lake.

Photo source: andreea-popa-tmEUmG9K2r0-unsplash

CHARACTERS

ROSE: 70ish, woman ROSE: 16 years ROSE: 21 years ROSE: 55 years HAROLD: 70 years, man HAROLD: 16 years HAROLD: 21 years HAROLD: 55 years LUCY: 70ish, woman LUCY: 16 years LUCY: 21 years LUCY: 55 years LUC: young boy LUC: 30ish LUC: 50ish TOMMY: young boy AMY: 30ish

PLACE

Where ever you imagine

TIME

Present day

A LOVE STORY

ACT 1

Note: No dialogue

SCENE 1

Setting: Rose (70ish) sitting on park bench in her best dress. Purse on her lap. Playing with her dress, looking around — — opens her purse — — removes her glove — — takes a small bottle of perfume from purse — — brings the bottle to her nose, inhale softly, dabs a bit of perfume to the base of her neck — — closes her eyes . At rise: Rose (16), Lucy (16), Harold (16) in their best dress and Harold in his best shirt and pants — — at a community dance. Rose and Lucy together alone in the corner, Rose whispering into Lucy’s ear, staying close to her, Harold watching Rose from a distance. Harold approaches Rose, puts his hand out (inviting her to dance). Harold takes Rose away from Lucy — — Harold and Rose dance. Lucy alone. Rose’s eye toward Lucy smiling. Harold and Rose dance off stage, Lucy walks head down off stage.

SCENE 2

Photo source: freestocks — 1aE4Kpy-Qc-unsplash

Setting: Rose looks at her watch, looking around. Plays with her locket. Opens the locket and looks at the photos. She smiles. Removes letters wrapped with pink ribbon from her purse. Places them on her lap. At rise: Lucy (21) sitting on chair reading a letter. Somber expression. Rose (21) and Harold (21) walking hand in hand with Luc (7) their son. They see Lucy. Lucy approaches — greet each other, hugs and kisses. Lucy continues on her own off stage, Harold/Rose and Luc…walk off stage. Rose looking back at Lucy, Lucy keeps eyes forward.

SCENE 3

Photo source: joanna-kosinska-B6yDtYs2IgY-unsplash

Setting: Rose reading a letter. Removes a tissue from her purse. Keychain large bear attached to tissue. At rise: Family and friends — Luc (30ish), Amy (30ish), Rose (55), Harold (55) — — Luc teaching Tommy to ride a bike, teddy bear with him always, family watching smiling. Lucy (55) and Rose smile at each other, Lucy puts her hand on Rose shoulder. Tommy falls off his bike, crying. Rose goes to Tommy. Tommy in Rose’s arms walks off stage, family follows. Lucy behind, follows.

SCENE 4

Photo source: jamez-picard-hgFddoULkHs-unsplash

Setting: Rose looks down at letter on her lap. Hand without glove touches the wooden bench. Rose strokes the wood. She looks down at the carved heart in the seat of the bench. She allows her finger to glide through the shape of the heart. She smiles. Then weeps gently and quietly in her tissue. At rise: Luc (55) stand next to tombstone (Harold). Luc looks out at the lake. Luc walks off stage.

SCENE 5

Photo source: shelby-deeter — XlBjdtRqK8-unsplash

Setting: Rose puts tissue in her purse. Puts the envelops on bench next to her over the wooden carved heart. Readjusts her dress, looking around. She smiles. At rise: Lucy (70ish) walks slowly towards Rose. Rose remains seated on the bench looking up at Lucy. Lucy takes the letters from the bench, looks down at the heart. Lucy sits next to Rose. They look at each other smiling softly. With both their backs resting against the back of the bench Rose takes Lucy’s hand bringing it to her face. She strokes Lucy’s hand against her cheeks, to her nose, smelling Lucy’s perfume. Rose kisses Lucy’s hand.

THE END