A series of mini-dramas based on public conversations, as overheard and rewritten by local playwright/director Aurora Stewart de Peña.

Overheard at Louis CK’s show at the Sony Centre

Louis CK exits the stage.

An audience of 3000 claps and cheers. Cliff, with sleekly pomaded hair and a neat vest, is still laughing, gasping for breath. Leah, his girlfriend, sits quietly. She smiles obligingly. Cliff kisses her on the cheek, gathering his jacket.

Cliff: That was fantastic, honey, thanks.

Leah: It was. He was really good.

Pause.

He says “pussy” a lot.

Cliff snorts a laugh through his nose. A small amount of snot is fired from his nostrils, making a dark spot on his grey pants.

Leah: All the comedians did. It’s something I noticed.

Cliff: [quoting Louis CK] “Of course–”

Cliff begins to crack up.

“But maybe–”

He begins to laugh.  He has trouble catching his breath. His eyes squint and wriggle like freshly caught fish.

Leah smiles. Cliff holds up a finger indicating that he will be with her shortly.

Leah rubs him lightly on the back.

Leah: I’m not sure how I feel about it. “Pussy.”

Cliff begins sucking in his breath, he begins to heave.

It feels alienating or something, even though I love him, I–

Cliff begins to choke. Leah slaps him on the back. Cliff’s whole body is shaking.

Leah: Oh, my God.

Oh my God.

____

Aurora Stewart de Peña is half of the theatre company Birdtown & Swanville (the other half is Nika Mistruzzi). You can follow her on Twitter at @Aurorahhh.

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