Old Love

Norm Foster

• Publisher: Playwrights Canada Press
• Year: 2008
• ISBN:
  9780369103345
• Topic: Letteratura
• Subtopic: Teatro canadese

"The story spans three decades and half a dozen meetings between Bud, a salesman, and Molly, his boss's wife. One of them is smitten from the very first meeting—the other, let's just say—less so. The story is straightforward, easy to follow and funny, often very funny. Canada's pre-eminent comic playwright Norm Foster has written a clever and witty dialogue celebrating the pursuit of love, the kind of love that makes you breathe just a little bit faster. Charmingly written, with just a few curse words for effect, Foster's use of one-liner's serve the script well and has the audience smiling, chuckling and laughing throughout the entire play." —The Hub

ACT ONE

Time: The present.

The stage is bare except for a couch and a kitchen table with two chairs and a park bench. These objects represent different settings throughout the play. The play can also be done with raised levels representing the furniture.

Lights up to reveal a spotlit area onstage. BUD Mitchell steps into the spotlight and speaks to the audience.

BUD: This is the story of my pursuit of a good woman. And I don’t mean just any good woman, because I know there are millions of good women out there. I’m sure there are some here right now. But I have a particular woman in mind. Her name is Molly. I first met Molly twenty-five years ago. We met only three times, very briefly, over the course of the next three years. We were both married back then. Me to my wife Kitty, and Molly to Arthur Graham, the owner of the company I worked for. Eventually Arthur Graham sold the company and I didn’t see Molly again, but she would always come back to me. Sometimes in a dream. Sometimes while I was just sitting at home going over the monthly bills. Or sometimes when I was driving over a long distance. Her face would suddenly pop into my mind at these times and I would wonder how she was doing. Now, I didn’t really know Molly all that well, so it’s hard to explain my infatuation with her. I do know that the few times we did meet and talk she left quite an impression on me. And after my wife and I got divorced I would think about Molly more and more. Oh, I tried dating other women, but nothing ever came of that. They just weren’t what I was looking for. I always found something wrong with them. That’s when I started to wonder, “Am I being too picky? Am I hard to please?” Well you be the judge. First of all there was Sandra.

Lights up on SANDRA.

SANDRA: What do you mean I’m needy? I’m not needy. What do I need? I just need you. That’s all I need. And if you leave me I’ll kill myself. I swear to God. You don’t think I will? Just try me. Needy. I’m not needy. Who in the hell are you calling needy?! Oh God, don’t leave me!!! I’m begging you!!

BUD: (to the audience) That was our first date. And then there was Delores.

Lights up on DELORES.

DELORES: You think three marg...