Stage Plays by Ian Hornby
One
Across
Comedy - single set - 1m 2f
Synopsis
This play is set in the days leading up to Christmas, but could be played at any time of the year. David continually annoys wife Emma by suggesting he may be buying her all sorts of unwanted presents - even though her hints have made it plain enough she wants an eternity ring for Christmas. Things are brought to a head when Emma's mother Agnes comes to stay and takes over the cooking. Emma's fury mounts steadily towards the climax of the play at the stroke of midnight on Christmas Eve, when Emma gets her present and David gets a plate of cold baked beans - all over him!
Actors' ages are flexible, provided they are compatible with their relationships.
| Character | Lines |
| David |
148 |
| Emma David's wife |
113 |
| Agnes Emma's mother |
36 |
Author's
notes
One Across arose from a silly joke I used to use - "I call her dearest because..." and there are three versions of that in the play.
But I am infuriating when it comes to giving my wife presents; I will tease and mislead and leave false clues and I would never blame her if she took her revenge.
The wife in this does just that. The mother in law is, I suppose, based on my own late mother's generation, where the vegetables for Christmas dinner need to be put on in October. Woe betide them if there's any taste or texture still left by Christmas dinner.