Many Happy Returns & Fast Women

Many Happy Returns ~ The scene is a hallway in a swank Sutton Place apartment building. Beth, a thirteen-year-old striving to look much older and more worldly than her tender years would suggest, waylays Barney, a young man in his early twenties who makes a living putting on a clown act at children's parties

Some years earlier Barney had entertained at Beth's birthday party and, sensing her loneliness and parental neglect, had kissed her twice - stirring emotions which Beth can no longer repress

Now Barney, mindful of her feelings but also aware of the gap of years between them (and his own arrested adolescence), must deal with the problem which he has inadvertently created - and this he does with compassion, humor and a warm sense of humanity which are a tribute to the playwright's sharp perception of the delicate sensibilities of the youthfully vulnerable

Cast requires 1 girl also

Presented by New York's Ensemble Studio as part of its Marathon Festival of One-Act Plays, this cleverly understated yet warmly amusing work details the not-at-all-by-chance meeting of a love -smitten young girl and the young man who had performed his clown act at her birthday party several years earlier

" a loving vignette about childhood dreams and adult fantasies" ~ NY Times

Especially recommended for school and contest use

Fast Women ~ George, winded from a time trial for the track team, is also disgusted that he was soundly beaten by a girl contestant

He gets little sympathy from handsome fellow runner Steve, who considers himself nature's gift to women and who disparages the girl in question (Marianne) because she turned him down for a date

When Marianne herself arrives it is evident George, loser or not, is smitten with her, and he can't fathom why she rejected Steve. Her reasons for this, and her unexpected encouragement of George, bring the play to its surprise but delightfully upbeat ending

Presented by New York's Ensemble Studio as part of its Marathon Festival of One-Act Plays. A deft and very funny study of "sexual politics" among three young collegiate athletes by one of our theatre's most resourceful and original writers

"Mr Reale is becoming a master of the curtain raiser" ~ NY Times