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Ross, Dina (Australian playwright, writer, journalist, 1962-____), “Waiting,”

an 80-minute comedy-drama in English, set in any Western city, Australia, during twenty-four hours in the life of the metropolis,

1f;

 •  © 2002 by Dina Ross;  •  in Dina Ross’ Waiting (South Yarra, Victoria, Australia: The Author, 2002);  •  script/rights available from Dina Ross, 20 Murphy Street, South Yarra VIC 3141, Australia, e-mail jtversky@unimelb.edu.au, telephone (home) 613 9866 7228.  •  Cited by Dina Ross, via ftp, January 26, 2003; Ross says,

  §  Dramatis Personae Fran/Andrea/Lee/Courtney (f), 28, a woman undergoing an MRI brain scan/38, a woman waiting for a blind date and reading a romantic novel/35, a woman visiting her husband in a never-named "Centre"/22, a Marilyn Monroe look alike entering a talent contest.

  §  Synopsis “‘Waiting’ focuses on four women during a twenty-four-hour period in any Western city. Each woman is waiting for someone, or something. (scene i: MRI) Fran is waiting on a hospital trolley for a brain scan and the effect of being inside the scanner triggers a frightening ‘past life’ experience, in which she becomes a concentration camp inmate in Auschwitz. (scene ii: Maybe Bach) Andrea, a lonely heart, reading a romantic novel as she waits for a blind date to arrive. (scene iii: At the Centre) Lee waits to visit her husband who is a patient in an unnamed 'centre' (substance abuse clinic, psychiatric ward?) (scene iv: Boo Boo Be Do) Courtney, a Marilyn Monroe look-alike who has entered a talent contest, awaits possible fame.

  §  Comment “ The metropolis (which began as Melbourne, Australia) could be any Western city. Four scenes, four monologues. The monologues segue each other, separated, (in the Melbourne production) by sounds and video footage of city life. This highlights the city's anonymity in which the female protagonists are but four faces. ‘Waiting’ is both funny and sad, confronting and lyrical; and the different writing style of each piece reflects that character's personality.  •  The Adelaide production had a simple set: chair, table, bench, clothes rack. Costume changes occurred on stage. The more sophisticated Melbourne production had commissioned music and video effects illustrating the fast pace of city life linking the monologues; The effects gave the actress time to change. However, this is optional. Costumes are everyday wear; however, Courtney does need the white pleated Seven Year Itch dress and blonde wig of Marilyn Monroe!  •  ‘Waiting’ premiered at The Bakehouse Theatre Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, in November, 2002, as part of the "2002 Festival of One." It will be performed at 45 Downstairs Theatre in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, in May, 2003.

  §  Themes American dream, Auschwitz, blind date, brain scan, city life, hospital, longing, Monroe (Marilyn Monroe aka Norma Jean Baker, film actress, celebrity, 1926-1962), romantic novel, talent contest, visit.

See also Dina Ross’

 

“After Moravia,” a 20-minute bittersweet comedy in English, set variously in eight quick-fire scenes, in remembered time and 2002, 1m1f

“As We Read Samuel Beckett,” a 60-minute bittersweet comedy in English in eight scenes, set in Australia, 2002, 2m1f

“In the Wings,” a 15-minute bittersweet comedy in English, set backstage at a downmarket comedy gig, 2002, 1f

 

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Page mounted January 26, 2003, and updated January 27, 2003, by the Webmaster.