2 Across – A Romantic Comedy by Jerry Mayer
To be presented at the
32nd Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival
August 15 – 25, 2013
Tuesday May 7th at 7 pm
Saturday May 11th at 1 pm
Leduc Drama Society Playhouse 4701A – 44th St. Leduc
For those interested but cannot attend at these times or for more information
please call Director Keith Gummer: 780.667.8207.
Cast requirements: 1 Male, 1 Female (both 35+)
SYNOPSIS:
Two strangers, a man and a woman (late 40’s to middle 50’s) board a San Francisco BART train at 4:30 AM. They’re alone in the car, each is married, both are doing the New York Times crossword. She’s an organized, sensible, psychologist. He’s a free spirited, unemployed ad exec. She is a crossword pro, he always quits. When he tosses his puzzle away, she snaps, “Crosswords are a metaphor for life, those who finish, succeed, those who don’t, fail.” Now he vows to finish. Why? He’s a competitor and she happens to be lovely. This starts an 80 minute ride described by critics as “Hilarious,” “Witty,” “Romantic,” “Poignant,” “Wonderfully entertaining.” Two opposites in an enclosed space, attacking each other’s values but also being swayed and intrigued by them. They each have serious life problems that the other helps them solve. Their trip is filled with unpredictable but believable surprises, even a passionate kissing embrace or two. As the train ride ends it’s obvious each of them has been changed for the better. And we’re all dying to know if these two will meet again?
CHARACTERS:
JANET – Janet is Catholic, structured, responsible, a good mother and usually right. She’s an achiever whose standards are high and her patience is low. As a psychologist, she’s blunt and honest. She’s a law abider and a rule follower. Everything she attempts, she does well, except for one thing, she got to learn about how to have fun.
JOSH – Josh is Jewish and a paradox. He’s part free spirit, part executive, part dreamer, part good son, part Peter Pan. During the trip, each time Janet decides Josh is a flake, he does or says something that wins her total admiration, or he makes her laugh, which she’s not used to. About two thirds through their journey, Josh decides that he and Janet might be meant for each other. Now all he’s got to do is convince Janet of that.
JERRY MAYER, the author of 2 Across was born and educated in St. Louis, Mo. and has had an impressive career in television, writing and producing such prized shows as M*A*S*H, The Bob Newhart Show, All in the Family, The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Facts of Life. Mr. Mayer thoroughly enjoyed his TV career, but has happily discovered that by far his first love is writing for the theatre.
