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"Bluffing"--a 10-minute comedy

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Hopalong:
I'm going to read it again, Richard.
It deserves a more layered reading than that quick take.

You're right, it's complicated.
I was reacting to what felt like a stereotype but I may have missed the message.

Thanks for the comments, which broadened it for me.

love,
Hops

lighter:
Doc G:

Setting:  Tuesday's telephone conference with DD and her T.....

DD16 references your play, Bluffing, and explains it to the T!  It was exciting, and I thought you'd like to know; )

Lighter

sea storm:
I liked the play. It got the message through loud and clear ie. how desperate mothers are to know that they were good mom's . These tiger mom's want to know and there seems to be no other way to communicate with the people they know in an authentic, honest, shock treatment fashion to get an honest answer.
I think women from that generation, and that includes me, were so straightjacketed by convention and by lack of information on how to communicate  that it is no surprise that they are driven to the extreme limits to find out the truth.
If moms screw up and miss the boat etc when their kids are young, it is often too late to undue the damage.

What I wonder about in this play is why the moms do this? On the surface it looks very hard ass and cynical. I actually don't know any women like this, but I do know older women who regret losing the love of their children or who are curious about where their relationship stands. The conventions they were raised with don"t allow for deeply emotional questioning and response.  It seems to be up to the children to show their moms the way, if possible.

This may seem shmaltsy but if I wall this mom's kid, I would welcome the opportunity to go at it and unravel it. So the ten minute play is the start and not the end, just like one of the old lady says.

Sea storm

Dr. Richard Grossman:
Hi Lighter and Sea Storm,

Sorry for the delay in responding—I’ve been visiting my 91 y.o. father and trying to work out the details necessary in getting him to move to my neck of the woods (Brookline, MA from Long Island, NY) for the last stage of his life.

Lighter:  I can think of nothing better re: one of my plays than the way your daughter used it!  Thank you for letting me know!  I’ll always remember that!

Sea Storm:  I don’t know any women who would do what these women did, either.  For me, part of the comedy is in the over-the-top, but none-the-less effective strategy.  And yes, I had empathy for the son who was put through this.  Maybe someday we’ll hear the rest of his story!

Thank you both for your comments!

Richard

lighter:
((Doc G:))

Good luck with your Father's transition.  I know how difficult it is on the elderly to go through a move.  It's hard on the loved ones too.

About the humor in your play...... it was the flippant way the old gals used potato chips, while pretending to be playing a serious game of poker, that struck me as funny. 

They didn't work at the ruse....... they were sure their children would never notice they were the ones being played.   Of course, they were right.

Lighter

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