Successions

Michaela Di Cesare

• Publisher: Playwrights Canada Press
• Year: 2022
• Print ISBN: 9780369103444
• eBook ISBN: 9780369103468
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Drama
• Index: Literature

After the unexpected death of their parents, two second-generation Italian Canadian brothers must come together to decide whether to hold on to the family home, which is full of secrets and hoarded junk, or save what's left of their strained relationship.

When Anthony, an uptight lawyer running for office, arrives with his former actor-turned-campaign-manager wife Cristina, they're set on signing away the house and everything that comes with it. But Enzo, a disorganized plumber, and his pregnant girlfriend Nat have other plans. The pleasantries quickly turn to tense deliberations that unearth dramatically differing views of the group's past experiences and present values.

This clever family dramedy takes a close look at issues that affect modern second-generation immigrant families in Canada—class differences, antiquated old-world beliefs, and a crumbling Canadian dream.

The exterior of a typical St-Leonard bungalow, south of the 40, that has seen better days—much better days. The entire house is overflowing with belongings. The yard has a non-functional fountain, patches of dirt with old sticks where a garden once grew, and various objects strewn about. A cluttered basement can be seen off the garage. It is where all the “overstock” of three generations of an Italian family has ended up. There are elements of the ’70s to it. There is a makeshift bar area, with lots of old bottles.

Mason jars and wine jugs are stacked beside Catholic relics. There is a large canvas painting visible amid the clutter. It is a portrait of a seventy-year-old woman with short silver hair and desperate eyes. The blinds are shut, leaving the room in darkness but for a streak of light on the painting, cast from between a set of broken blinds on one of the windows.

Anthony, an attractive man of forty, enters the basement. He is wearing a tailored suit and looks flawless. He can only make out the painting in the dark.

Anthony: Mom?

Anthony puts down his briefcase and stumbles to a light switch. He flicks it on. Nothing happens. He turns on the flashlight app on his phone and scans the room. Upon seeing the condition of the house, Anthony freezes.

Cristina, Anthony’s wife, enters. She is slightly younger than he is and wears her business chic clothes almost as though they were a costume. She fits the role very well. She gestures to Anthony to show that she is on the phone. During Cristina’s call, Anthony starts to have some difficulty breathing.

Cristina: Oh and send a note to the TLN interviewer. Make sure she doesn’t introduce us as Mr. and Mrs. Di Ciccio. Or god forbid: Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Di Ciccio . . . No, Cecily. You do not give a reason . . . I would hope we were past the point of having to explain such a request. I’m a human with a name. My husband, the candidate, is a human with his own name . . . Yeah. I know what optics are. I’m the campaign manager here . . . No, of course you didn’t mean . . . Okay. Just confirm that we will arrive at the studio at four p.m. Thank you. And, Cecily . . . don’t forget . . . Yes, perfect . . . Bye.

Cristina hangs up. She also tries the light switch. She begins the arduous journey of walking around the mess and raising the blinds on the windows. Anthony still has not moved.

The interview is confirmed for four p.m. That should give us plenty of time to get these papers signed, grab lunch, and go over the talking points. Anthony?

She goes over to him, puts her hands on his face.

Hey.

Anthony wheezes. A bit pathetic.

Oh, honey. I told you—

Cristina fishes an asthma puffer out of her purse.

Anthony: No. Stop. I’m not.

Cristina: Yeah, yeah. You don’t have asthma anymore.

Anthony: I don’t. It’s just the dust.

Cristina: So I should put it away then?

Anthony takes the puffer from her. He takes a couple of hits with his back to her and puts it in his pant pocket.

Cristina notices the painting for the first time.

Anthony: I knew they’d find a way to throw me off my game during the campaign. A classic “my parents” move. But this . . . they outdid themselves . . .

Cristina is staring at the painting. Beat.

Who was that?

Cristina: Who?

Anthony: On the phone.

Cristina: Oh, Cecily. She thinks I should take your name. I know that my family name can be a liability—

Anthony: She’s your assistant. You already said no. Case closed. You have this pathological need to be liked by everyo...

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Foreword
• Production History
• A Note On The Dialect
• Cast of Characters
• Successions
• Acknowledgements
• About the Author