The Sundering (excerpt)

Synopsis:

Lee and her daughter Ruthy have just been to the doctor, who has revealed that Lee has terminal cancer.

Lee, being very hard of hearing, has missed most of this.

Explaining the situation to her is no mean feat, as she is given to paracuses (mishearings).

Once she’s been made aware of the situation, the mother and daughter set about putting her affairs in order, starting with culling the accumulated belongings of a lifetime, one room at a time.

In the course of this process (what the Swedish call ‘death-cleaning’ or Döstädning), the two peel back the layers that have separated them over the years – layers of both deceit and misunderstanding – until, finally, the work of Döstädning (or ‘sundering’, as Lee mishears it) is complete.

Character Breakdown:

The play is a 2-hander: 2 females.

LEE – 75

RUTHY – 50

Running-time: 70 minutes.

Production History: Not yet produced.

Excerpt available for download for free.