WAKE

Reading directed by Douglas Wagner, Aegean Theatre Company, N.Y.C. 1996

Non-Equity production in 1987 at the 13th Street Theatre, New York City

Wake takes place in the kitchen of a house in Cleveland on St. Patrick's Day. The Hart family is gathered because Gert's mother has just died. Unbeknownst to Gert, her husband John is having an affair with her cousin Peggy. But Aunt Edith is convinced that Peggy is having an affair with Gert’s son Vinnie, Gwenn is sure she's after Susan. The real estate agent starts showing the house a week earlier than she should. Gert is trying to fix up Peggy with John’s pal Jerry. A mistake was made at the funeral home: the body in the casket is not the right one, and it is up to Elmo to switch the bodies without the family finding out. Fr. Donahue is an old flame of Gert's, and in revenge has secretly married her mother to the family bookie, Jimmy Maguire. At the end of the play, the secret marriage is revealed, the will is contested, the right body is in the casket, and Peggy has forever lost her trust in John.

Download a PDF sample scene.