Observation Thursday

Observation is my number one method of finding play ideas. If you’re ever at a loss for coming up with something to write about, start logging observations. I write down observations on a daily basis and on Thursdays, I’m going to share one with you what I’ve seen and then you could do with it.

The Pie Plate

Observation: A woman mentions the name of a restaurant 7 times in less than 2 minutes.

Date: Monday May 30, 2014

Comments: Two couple are sitting together on a bench. One of the women is the only voice I hear clearly. Mostly because she’s loud and she’s non-stop. She doesn’t stop talking. They’re discussing where they’re going to go for dinner and she’s off –  “We have to go to the PIE PLATE, it’s really good it’s called the PIE PLATE, John look it up, they have all kinds of pie, the quiche is apparently amazing. The PIE PLATE, are you looking it up John? Search for THE PIE PLATE….” and on it goes for at least another minute. I am not exaggerating, nor am I exaggerating the number of times she named the restaurant. Her husband said absolutely nothing during the whole exchange.

What can you do: Conversation like this should get your spidey sense tingling. Plays are all about characters and characters are all about relationships.  What is the relationship like between this PIE PLATE woman and her husband? Her practically non verbal husband? Is she like this all the time where she has to repeat things non stop in order to be heard? What are they like when no one else is around? Maybe he likes the repetition. How long have they been married? Has she always been like this or has there been a change?

Write the scene the very next time the two are alone.

See you next Thursday!