GARY (40s) is standing on the rooftop terrace of a six-story library, muttering to himself.
“Who are they? Why are they there? What do they want?”
Enter BURT (40s), who’s come out on the terrace in his so-far-unsuccessful quest to stop smoking.
Burt’s the talkative type who likes to engage strangers in light conversation.
But Gary doesn’t want to be engaged. He’s trying to solve a problem:
“Who are they? Why are they there? What do they want?”
That doesn’t stop Burt from talking.
Including suggesting that Gary talk about what’s bothering him, because “Sometimes you can say things to a stranger you wouldn’t say to anyone else.”
And Burt keeps talking, nonstop, until Gary engages in spite of himself, asking
“Who’s at the bus stop? Who’s at the door? What do they want?”
Burt good-naturedly indulges Gary, attempting to help him find some answers.
But nothing satisfies Gary, and Burt realizes he’s thinking of jumping.
Burt tries to talk him out of it, but doesn’t seem to be having much luck.
Then Gary reveals he’s a writer, trying to solve a creative problem.
He had no intention of jumping. All his talk of “ending it” referred to ending his writing career.
Burt tells Gary he feels like he’s been manipulated... Gary apologizes... It doesn’t seem to help.
“You’re a writer. You manipulate your characters. What happens when you manipulate a real person? Especially one you don’t know.”
Then: “This the part where it turns ominous? You’re the writer. I’m the stranger you know nothing about. Is this the part where it’s revealed I’m dangerous?”
Now the chance encounter takes a different turn.
Gary moves to leave... Burt steps in his path, saying “It’s about to rain kittens. Seahorses might be next. Catch my drift?”
Earlier, Burt told Gary: “Sometimes the best thing to do, you see a stranger, you go the other way.”
Was this what he meant?
.“...the best of the five pieces presented in the second part of this year’s festival.
It featured some very good dialogue...with some twists and turns that made
an already clever story even more intriguing as it unfolded.”
“...both actors made “What Do They Want” a marvelously crafted good time for the audience.”
— Mark Bretz, Ladue News
“a deft comedy...with important and surprising twists, elevated by a touch of absurdity.”
“The well-written dialogue has a wealth of comic opportunities written in; choosing
which bits to emphasize and how to interpret each leaves room for variety and experimentation.”
— Tina Farmer, KDHX.org
“Who are they? Why are they there? What do they want?”
Enter BURT (40s), who’s come out on the terrace in his so-far-unsuccessful quest to stop smoking.
Burt’s the talkative type who likes to engage strangers in light conversation.
But Gary doesn’t want to be engaged. He’s trying to solve a problem:
“Who are they? Why are they there? What do they want?”
That doesn’t stop Burt from talking.
Including suggesting that Gary talk about what’s bothering him, because “Sometimes you can say things to a stranger you wouldn’t say to anyone else.”
And Burt keeps talking, nonstop, until Gary engages in spite of himself, asking
“Who’s at the bus stop? Who’s at the door? What do they want?”
Burt good-naturedly indulges Gary, attempting to help him find some answers.
But nothing satisfies Gary, and Burt realizes he’s thinking of jumping.
Burt tries to talk him out of it, but doesn’t seem to be having much luck.
Then Gary reveals he’s a writer, trying to solve a creative problem.
He had no intention of jumping. All his talk of “ending it” referred to ending his writing career.
Burt tells Gary he feels like he’s been manipulated... Gary apologizes... It doesn’t seem to help.
“You’re a writer. You manipulate your characters. What happens when you manipulate a real person? Especially one you don’t know.”
Then: “This the part where it turns ominous? You’re the writer. I’m the stranger you know nothing about. Is this the part where it’s revealed I’m dangerous?”
Now the chance encounter takes a different turn.
Gary moves to leave... Burt steps in his path, saying “It’s about to rain kittens. Seahorses might be next. Catch my drift?”
Earlier, Burt told Gary: “Sometimes the best thing to do, you see a stranger, you go the other way.”
Was this what he meant?
.“...the best of the five pieces presented in the second part of this year’s festival.
It featured some very good dialogue...with some twists and turns that made
an already clever story even more intriguing as it unfolded.”
“...both actors made “What Do They Want” a marvelously crafted good time for the audience.”
— Mark Bretz, Ladue News
“a deft comedy...with important and surprising twists, elevated by a touch of absurdity.”
“The well-written dialogue has a wealth of comic opportunities written in; choosing
which bits to emphasize and how to interpret each leaves room for variety and experimentation.”
— Tina Farmer, KDHX.org
GARY |
40s
|
BURT |
40s |
St. Louis
2023