Comedy. David Ives. : 1F. 1M - Interior
Ruth and Jack, both in their mid-thirties, believe themselves perfectly
suited to each other. But when Ruth suddenly mentions marriage, a subtle
but ominous change is felt in their relationship. As it happens, Ruth is
Jewish, Jack is a lapsed Catholic who scorns religion; she is career oriented
and bent on success, he is a poorly paid teacher who is happy to settle
for what he has; she fears her stern parents would never accept her marrying
a non-Jewish man; he has already been through one failed marriage and is
wary of repeating his mistake. And while the mood at first is light-hearted
and filled with brightly humorous lines, it is also punctuated by the random
ringing of an unseen phone at which times the protagonists quickly vary
the mood and express their secret feelings and recriminations in brief,
often caustic, monologues. Later, no holds are barred, and the irreconcilable
differences which were largely sublimated in the beginning now burst forth
in full fury, leading to a monumental explosion and, apparently, Ruth and
Jacks acceptance of the sobering truth that there is more that divides
than unites them.
ISBN: 0-8222-0041-4