love: idea, hate: execution

Two spotlights highlight two theatre seats that sit centre stage. Virginia, a well-dressed woman in her mid-eighties sits on the left seat, her purse neatly clutched in her delicate hands. She wears classic “old lady” make-up: brightly rouged cheeks and coral lipstick.

Emily enters and begins searching for her seat. She finds it and sits down, glancing over at Virginia.

Emily: Hi

Virginia: Hello…

Pause

Virginia: I’m Virginia.

Emily: Oh, hi. Uh…I’m Emily.

Virginia: Nice to meet you, Emily.

Pause

Emily: You went to these things with her, right?

Virginia: Pardon me?

Emily: Uh…you and my grandmother came here together?

Virginia takes a closer look at Emily’s face. Emily awkwardly stares back.

Virginia: Emily! You’re Lynn’s…Lynn’s granddaughter.

Her voice grows soft towards the end of the sentence. She stares again at Emily’s features, trying hard to see a resemblance between her and her grandmother. She smiles as she sees parts of her dear friend emerging in Emily’s expressions.

Yes, yes. (She giggles) Lynn and I shared a great fondness of the symphony.

Silence.

Do you like the symphony?

Emily: Uh, I don’t know.

Virginia: Well then you’ll find out soon.

Emily: I guess so. How long is it usually?

Virginia: If the conductor’s young, then I normally wear my comfortable shoes.

Emily: Oh.

Pause

Emily: So, like two….

Virginia: But I always wear good hosiery. You never know who’s going to be looking at your legs. (She sniffs at the air) That’s a new one.

Emily: I’m sorry?

Virginia: The perfume…I don’t recognize that one. None of us are supposed to be wearing any; it states that clearly in the back of your program.

Emily: Oh, right.

Virginia: Mrs. Marmaduke in row F wears Arpege. Mrs. Laurel in row H has her 24 Faubourg. Mr. and Mrs. Young are doused in Chanel. They sit in the balcony.

Emily: Mr. Young wears Chanel?

Virginia: Dear, they would’ve been divorced long ago if Annie hadn’t found a way to mask his…aroma. We used to be great friends but people change with age and…distance can develop. Or in Mr. Young’s case: pungency.

Emily laughs.