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“Allegro”

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Ladutke, Rachel Rubin (American playwright, director, 1967-____), “Allegro,” a 40-minute drama in English, set in the kitchen of the family home in Connecticut and in an adoption agency in New York City, U.S.A., December, 1966 through June, 1967,

4f (with doubling);

• © 1998 by Rachel Rubin Ladutke; • script/rights available from Rachel Rubin Ladutke, 30-27 41st Street, #2R, Astoria, New York 11103-3423, U.S.A., e-mail rachel@rachelwrites.com, www.rachelwrites.com, telephone (home) 718-721-6083, (work) 212-875-7785, fax 718-721-7709. • Cited by Rachel Rubin Ladutke, via ftp February 14, 2000; Ladutke says,

§ Dramatis Personae Grace (f), 55, matriarch of a large blended family; Catherine (f), 19, daughter of Grace; Emily (f), 16, daughter of Grace; Molly (f), 34, stepdaughter of Grace; Terry (f), 27, an adoption counselor.

§ Synopsis “It is December, 1966. Catherine, nineteen years old, arrives home for Christmas five months pregnant, a fact which she has thus far concealed from everyone but her younger sister Emily. When Grace, their mother, learns this, she is devastated. Grace’s stepdaughter Molly is also pregnant but in a happy marriage. Grace enlists every argument she can muster to convince her daughter to give up the baby for adoption. Catherine is equally determined to keep her child.

§ Comment “The same actress can play Molly and Terry. The three scenes are in two different locations—the kitchen of the family home in Connecticut, and a n adoption agency in New York City. A split stage can easily accomplish this. The action occurs between December, 1966 and June, 1967. Catherine must change from looking slightly pregnant, to very pregnant, to not pregnant at all. Emily and Grace have optional costume changes. Molly also looks very pregnant in her one scene. Costumes and set can be as elaborate or simple as desired. ‘Allegro’ premiered in the Riant Theatre One-Act Contest in March, 1999, in New York City; it was a Finalist and a Best Play nominee. It is part of a full-length evening, entitled Grace Notes, which depicts Grace’s life over a period of fifty years and which premiered at the Gemini Theatre in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., in February, 2000, as one of the winners of the Pittsburgh New Plays Competition. Excerpts from Grace Notes appear in three anthologies published by Smith & Kraus. ‘Allegro’ stands on its own and offers strong performance opportunities for four actresses.”

§ Themes 1960s, adoption, family, generations, sisters, stepfamily, teen pregnancy.

See also Rachel Rubin Ladutke’s