Set: Single, simple set; a table in a restaurant.
Synopsis: Four women gather at a London restaurant thirty years after their graduation. Bea is only concerned with herself and the other ladies decide it's time for payback.
But their little revenge stunt goes further than they planned...
Running time: Around 50 minutes (Caution! This is very dependent on your production.)
Notes: 'Another popular festival piece, this play was inspired by a (probably apocryphal) story of a man who is made to believe that he has won the lottery. Thinking himself a
millionaire, he decides to tell all his friends (and his wife) just what he thinks of them - and it's not pretty! Too late, the penny drops. He's been the victim of a prank. His world
falls away as it slowly dawns on him that he is left with no friends, no wife, and no money. With a quick change of sex (you can do that as a writer), I set about
creating the sort of character who might just deserve such a fate...'
Published: 2007
First Produced: Tarrystone Players, 2007
Latest Production: Los Companeros del Teatro, 2011
SAMPLE SCENE
Bea: Do you remember that beat up old Bentley they gave you in our third year?
Ruth: Oh, yes! Brian convinced me to sell it soon after our graduation. (A laugh) Even after all this time, the old banger still has a special place in my heart.
Bea: And so he should after twenty-five years of marriage.
Ruth: I was talking about the car.
(The Waitress enters again.)
Waitress: Are you ready to order?
Ruth: Er -
Bea: (Cutting in) How many diners do you see around this table?
Waitress: Two.
Bea: And we have a reservation for how many?
Waitress: Four.
Ruth: Come on, Bea –
Bea: (To the Waitress, patronising) There now, that didn’t hurt too much did it?
Synopsis: Four women gather at a London restaurant thirty years after their graduation. Bea is only concerned with herself and the other ladies decide it's time for payback.
But their little revenge stunt goes further than they planned...
Running time: Around 50 minutes (Caution! This is very dependent on your production.)
Notes: 'Another popular festival piece, this play was inspired by a (probably apocryphal) story of a man who is made to believe that he has won the lottery. Thinking himself a
millionaire, he decides to tell all his friends (and his wife) just what he thinks of them - and it's not pretty! Too late, the penny drops. He's been the victim of a prank. His world
falls away as it slowly dawns on him that he is left with no friends, no wife, and no money. With a quick change of sex (you can do that as a writer), I set about
creating the sort of character who might just deserve such a fate...'
Published: 2007
First Produced: Tarrystone Players, 2007
Latest Production: Los Companeros del Teatro, 2011
SAMPLE SCENE
Bea: Do you remember that beat up old Bentley they gave you in our third year?
Ruth: Oh, yes! Brian convinced me to sell it soon after our graduation. (A laugh) Even after all this time, the old banger still has a special place in my heart.
Bea: And so he should after twenty-five years of marriage.
Ruth: I was talking about the car.
(The Waitress enters again.)
Waitress: Are you ready to order?
Ruth: Er -
Bea: (Cutting in) How many diners do you see around this table?
Waitress: Two.
Bea: And we have a reservation for how many?
Waitress: Four.
Ruth: Come on, Bea –
Bea: (To the Waitress, patronising) There now, that didn’t hurt too much did it?
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WHITE LIES (Click the title to read the whole script online at Lazy Bee Scripts)
WINNER, KIRKCALDY AMATEUR DRAMATIC SOCIETY, LESLIE CENTENARY SALVER FOR BEST ENSEMBLE PLAYING,
SCOTTISH ONE ACT PLAY FESTIVAL, 2010.
WINNER, THURROCK COURTS PLAYERS, ADJUDICATOR'S AWARD, THURROCK ONE ACT FESTIVAL, 2009.
WINNER, TARRYSTONE PLAYERS, BEST COMEDY & BEST UNPUBLISHED PLAY, MAIDENHEAD DRAMA FESTIVAL,
2006.
'A fabulous play for five women - very funny!' Tarrystone Players, Berks. UK
'A delightful light comedy' Thurrock Courts Players, Essex, UK
'A joy to watch' Theatre Lambousa, Cyprus.
Cast: 5f (although the Waitress could be a Waiter...)
BEA, 50s or older. Obsessed with money and all that it brings. An absolute snob with an addiction to the National Lottery.
RUTH, 50s or older. Rather frumpy housewife.
JUDITH, 50s or older. Rather sensitive writer, always the victim.
PAM, 50s or older. An ex-convict, Pam has grown from her experience.
WAITRESS / WAITER, any age.
WINNER, KIRKCALDY AMATEUR DRAMATIC SOCIETY, LESLIE CENTENARY SALVER FOR BEST ENSEMBLE PLAYING,
SCOTTISH ONE ACT PLAY FESTIVAL, 2010.
WINNER, THURROCK COURTS PLAYERS, ADJUDICATOR'S AWARD, THURROCK ONE ACT FESTIVAL, 2009.
WINNER, TARRYSTONE PLAYERS, BEST COMEDY & BEST UNPUBLISHED PLAY, MAIDENHEAD DRAMA FESTIVAL,
2006.
'A fabulous play for five women - very funny!' Tarrystone Players, Berks. UK
'A delightful light comedy' Thurrock Courts Players, Essex, UK
'A joy to watch' Theatre Lambousa, Cyprus.
Cast: 5f (although the Waitress could be a Waiter...)
BEA, 50s or older. Obsessed with money and all that it brings. An absolute snob with an addiction to the National Lottery.
RUTH, 50s or older. Rather frumpy housewife.
JUDITH, 50s or older. Rather sensitive writer, always the victim.
PAM, 50s or older. An ex-convict, Pam has grown from her experience.
WAITRESS / WAITER, any age.
Richard James / Actor & Playwright
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White Lies
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