Full Length Play
Dramatic Comedy
Romantic Comedy
90 minutes
Time Period - Contemporary, Present Day
Settings Of Play - The set is the inside of a San Francisco BART car, at 4:30 in the morning. SHE is in a seat as the play begins and HE jumps through the door as it's about to close, starting the train's journey. The set can be as simple as needed or more developed, with a frame of some kind to indicate they're in a subway car, with a poster or two, including the map showing all the stops on the route. In some cases, you might be able to get actual subway or bus seats. Usually it's done with six to ten pairs of seats (Often folding bridge chairs are used very effectively) The two actors can sell that they are on a moving BART car through the dialogue and directions in the script.
FEATURES / CONTAINS
No intermission
Scene work
Interior Set
TARGET AUDIENCE
Appropriate for all audiences, Adult, Senior, Teen (Age 14 - 18)
PERFORMANCE GROUP
High School/Secondary, College Theatre / Student, Community Theatre, Dinner Theatre, Professional Theatre, Senior Theatre, Reader's Theatre, Shoestring Budget, Large Stage, Blackbox / Second Stage /Fringe Groups, Church / Religious Groups
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?
"Must see play of the year. Witty. Mesmerizing." - Beverly Hills Lookout
"A charming, character driven comedy strives to entertain and succeeds admirably." - Recommended by the Los Angeles Times
"A rich theatrical piece...A fascinating 80 minutes in which light banter turns to raw emotion...creates a tone that perfectly underscores both the comic and dramatic elements of this suprisingly memorable play... 2 ACROSS is a must see...Play of the year." - Los Angeles Weekly
"Hilarious, smart, witty dialogue that never flags and two believable charismatic characters...Mesmerizing." - Beverly Hills Outlook
"We had to stop laughing to hear the next line...The plays asks us to think, then think again. It's entertainment with revelation...Excellent timing." - The Santa Monica Observer
"...a bright, witty, poignant and deceptively simple play about two emotional and supposedly mature people... Intriguing plot twists and surprises... Sparkling, confrontational dialogue." - Palisadian Post
"Combining all the elements of wit, humor and drama... 2 ACROSS is a winner for its warmth, romance, intelligence and consistent humor." - Showmag.com
November 6, 2004. Santa Monica Playhouse, Santa Monica, CA.
