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McKinlay, Bill (American playwright, 1961-____), “Uninvited Guest,”

a 22-minute drama in English, set at an out-of-town wedding reception, evening, 1999,

1m1f;

  •  © 1999 by Bill McKinlay;  •  script/rights available from Bill McKinlay,  2400 County Line Road, Ardmore, Pennsylvania 19003, U.S.A., e-mail mckinlay@bellatlantic.net, telephone (home) 610-642-3119, (work) 610-642-3119, fax 610-642-2458.  •  Cited by Bill McKinlay, via ftp, September 21, 1999; McKinlay says,

  §  Dramatis Personae Kathy (f), an alcoholic; Drink (m), Kathy’s former buddy.

  §  Synopsis “Kathy has accepted an invitation from her mother to accompany her to the wedding of a friend’s daughter. After being slightly hassled on the dance floor by a ‘happy’ wedding guest, Kathy decides to retreat to her table and orders a coke. However, the bartender is in a groove and simply mixes her a Rum & Coke. An unexpected confrontation occurs between a formerly-practicing alcoholic and her constant companion during those times—her drink. When Kathy takes the first sip, she realizes the bartender’s mistake, but it is too late to stop the arrival of her old friend. This friend spends the remainder of the play trying to convince Kathy that they should ‘get back together.’ Kathy is severely tempted because she is a relative unknown in these surroundings.

  §  Comment “There is only one scene and one set. It is the table of a wedding reception after the dessert has been served and the dancing is in full swing. Several lighting cues can heighten the tension between Kathy and her drink.”

  §  Themes alcoholism, drinking buddy, longtime relationship, Rum & Coke, wedding reception.

See also Bill McKinlay’s

• “Anatomy,” a 17-minute metaphorical drama in English, set on a bare stage, 1999, 1m1f
• “Thanks for the Ride,” a 28-minute horror drama in English, set in a car on the way home from college, evening, 1999, 1m1f

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Page mounted November 28, 1999, by the site Webmaster.