A Wake

By Jim Pangrazio

A wake is being held at the home of the deceased. The younger people treat the circumstances lightly playing a charade featuring a famous saying about death. The older folks take their behavior as a show of disrespect. But as furniture made by the now dead Gianni collapses beneath his mourners, and they gag on his homemade wine, the youth can't help but wonder at the legacy being left to them by their elders. The play was inspired by Bertold Brecht's "The Wedding". During the reception the new furniture made by the bridegroom gradually falls apart along with friendly relations among the guests. My version takes a more positive turn.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jim Pangrazio
• Release date: Mar 24, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311304513

Jim Pangrazio

The general consensus is that change is urgent. Yet those claiming to work toward that end choose illusory paths that serve more as an impediment to the change they profess to seek. It is a closed loop -- a path that follows itself -- a safe at home tour rather than an expedition in search of wherever. My plays attempt to untangle the complex knots created by repeated trips to nowhere by focusing on the fearful simplicity of uncontaminated life where acceptance and rejection meet to hash out what's bothering them.

Book preview

A Wake

Inspired by Brecht's – A Wedding

Published by Jim Pangrazio at Smashwords

Copyright 2014 Jim Pangrazio

ISBN: 9781311304513

Scene: A wake. Large table, chairs, etc.. The casket is upstage behind a curtain. Cast: Gianni, the deceased; his wife Josie; his brother Altiero; his best friends Frank and Maria (husband and wife); his son Robbie (Roberto); Matt (Mateo) and Scilla (Priscilla) (children of Altiero); Rocky (Raquella -- daughter of Frank and Maria). The children are all late teens early twenties.

(Opens with a charade. In a staging the signs and responses should be freely ad-libed before correct answer.)

ROCKY: Five words. A famous solemn saying. (Begins charade signs. Motions indicating an attack of some sort, she collapses to the floor, etc.)

ROBBIE: First word. Strangle...Choke...Faint.…Shoot...Collapse....Heart attack...Overacting...(Flat on back, hands across chest). . .Oh, of course (looking upstage)....Death! (Touch nose got it sign. More signs. Two fingers, then one finger on each hand slowly coming closer and stopping an inch apart.) Something for the occasion...Second word....Small word...a….of….It...the...thing...that...thing...(Stop – points behind her). . .Must be, that. (Touch nose. Signs three