Hurry Up and Wait!
Waiting in line? Waiting your turn? You don’t have time! Here’s a comedy in six scenes for those who are time-challenged. In the first scene a desperate woman has only 20 minutes to get to the airport to catch her flight and no matter what her beleaguered taxi driver says or does, they remain stuck in a traffic jam. In a different scene, things start to get physical at a restaurant when a couple with dinner reservations (and theatre tickets!) see others entering and being seated before them. In another scene, a jumpy hypochondriac is forced to wait in a doctor’s office with other sick patients, including two obnoxious children. An ensemble of 4 men and 4 women can perform all the roles, or additional actors can be used. The play appeals to everyone who’s wanted to scream when told “Patience is a virtue.” So sit back, relax and enjoy the laughs! About an hour.
Productions
Behind The Scenes
BURTON BUMGARNER TALKS ABOUT
“HURRY UP AND WAIT!”
Q.. WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE THE PLAY?
A. Irritating people to whom time means nothing: the creep who drives down the highway in the left lane at 63.5 miles and hour and won’t let me pass waiters who bring out everyone else's food ahead of mine, even through I ordered first all of the traffic which causes gridlock when I’m in a cab and the meter is running the old lady ahead of me who wants to visit with the bank teller when I’m parked in a tow away zone. The list goes on and on and I wish they’d just get out of my way!
Q. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THE PLAY?
A. The part where Lady Macbeth goes crazy and sees blood every where. No, wait. That’s a different play. Is this the one about the star-crossed lovers whose families hate each other? Or is it the Prince of Denmark who can’t make up his mind? I can’t remember. I’d better read it again. I’ll get back to you.
Q. WHERE DID THE CHARACTERS COME FROM? ARE THEY BASED ON PEOPLE YOU KNOW?
A. The characters are based on people who cause stress: taxi drivers, high school teachers, waiters, high school teachers, nurses, people with malaria, high school teachers, parents who can’t control their young children, car salesmen. Did I mention high school teachers? I’ve known them all. Especially the high school teachers.
Q. WHAT DID YOU TRY TO ACHIEVE WITH THE PLAY?
A. I hope the audience and actors will take away this simple assumption: patience may be a virtue, but sometimes people really are in hurries for perfectly good reasons and you’re in the way! Pay attention! Get out of the way! MOVE! HURRY UP! I also want the audiences to laugh till they cry.
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO ADD?
A. The play needs to be performed fast so people can get out of the theater and on with their lives! They don’t have all day! Spit out those lines! Be ready backstage! Your director is under enough stress already! The sooner you get through this thing the sooner you can get to the cast party!