Scene Overview
- Female: 2
- Male: 2
More Scenes
Context
Cathy practices her dramatic interpretation, then the other members of the team critique her performance.
Text
CATHY: (Brushing her hair back from her brow with the back of her hand.) With God as my witness, I will never—never be poor again.
(SHE slumps to the floor. THREE STUDENTS are sitting in a semicircle around her. There is a fourth, empty chair. WHEATLEY is standing behind the students, holding a clipboard with arms crossed.) WHEATLEY: (After a moment to allow the melodramatic effect of CATHY’s peroration to subside.) Well? Comments? Criticism? Somebody? Anybody? Come on—you people are supposed to be our best and brightest.
PATTY: (Enthusiastically, as CATHY gets up off the floor and takes the empty chair.) I thought it was good.
WHEATLEY: “Good” and “bad” tell me nothing. Remember, your first job as a critic is to understand, then explain.
CHARLES: (Warily, in light of this didactic prescription) Um, I thought Cathy did a good job of getting into the character of Scarlett O’Hara.
WHEATLEY: A little better. But “getting into” sounds like artsy-fartsy jargon to me, pardon my French. Chris?
CHRIS: I thought it w-was a little over-r-r-wrought.
WHEATLEY: Okay. Now we’re getting somewhere.
CATHY: (Defensively) But I’m supposed to be overwrought. The Yankees have just burned down my plantation!
WHEATLEY: Chris—your response?
CHRIS: I m-mean, instead of just screaming y-you could have a tone of sadness in y-your voice.
CATHY: I wasn’t just screaming.
CHRIS: Forget it.
Links
For licensing inquiries, please see Eldridge Plays and Musicals
All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners.
Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.