But Not For Love

(a wedding comedy/drama in one-act)

Eleanor and Ephram, sister and brother, are both getting married on the same day.  And they’re each getting married to a man.  With protesters, policemen and a TV news crew outside the church, inside the couples are split over what their day and their ceremony should mean, to themselves or anyone else.

Patrick, Ephram’s groom, agrees with Eleanor that they all need to make a statement by getting married.  But Roland, Eleanor’s groom, and Ephram both just want a simple ceremony and a quiet day.

Another attraction begins to blossom between the female minister, known as the Duchess, and one of the policemen standing guard over the church, Duke.  But a secret from the Duchess’ past may prove more of an obstacle than the two of them can overcome.

Meanwhile, outside among the protesters, Patrick’s younger brother Jacob hurls a rock through the stained glass window in an effort to keep the wedding from taking place.

When the rock draws blood, one couple may not end up getting married today, or any other day.

“Men have died from time to time,
And worms have eaten them,
But not for love.”
– As You Like It, William Shakespeare

Cast of Characters

EPHRAM

gay man, 30s, about to be married to Patrick

ELEANOR

Ephram’s sister, 30s, about to be married to Roland

PATRICK

gay man, 30s, about to be married to Ephram

ROLAND

male, 30s, about to be married to Eleanor

JACOB

male, 20s, college student, Patrick’s younger brother

DUKE

male, late 40s/early 50s, a policeman

THE DUCHESS

transgender female, late 40s/early 50s, retired minister, formerly a man named Forest

OLIVIA

Duke’s teenage daughter, voiced offstage by the actress playing Eleanor

TIME

2012, the battle not yet won

PLACE

Locations in and around a church

LOCATIONS

The bulk of the action takes place in several locations inside a church, which can be indicated by three pools of light

– the primary playing area is the sanctuary where the wedding ceremony will take place (including the multi-colored light shining in from an unseen stained-glass window)

– two areas where the bride and grooms will pair up to change for the wedding

The secondary pools of light will also represent other areas

– outside the church where the protesters are gathered

– other areas in the church, such as a hallway where the guests are shepherded away from the sanctuary by Roland and Duke

– a room in Duke’s home where he prepares for his day on duty

– a place where the Duchess prepares her clerical garments

– places where Patrick, Jacob, Eleanor, and Roland conduct their phone calls

All these areas should be indicated with as little actual furniture as possible. One or two places to sit, perhaps even part of a pew for the sanctuary.

SOME NOTES ON COSTUMES AND PROPS

Duke will need a police uniform, walkie-talkie, a wallet-size photo of his late wife which he can keep in the breast pocket of his uniform, a small pad & writing implement for taking notes, an evidence bag, and medical gloves

The Duchess will need clerical garb, including a rainbow stole

The three grooms start out in street clothes, then change into tuxedoes for the wedding

Eleanor changes from street clothes into a fancy dress, but not a traditional wedding gown – perhaps also a purse in which to keep her phone

Jacob is in casual clothes, plus a T-shirt later with an anti-gay slogan on it for the protest, an invitation to the wedding, a rock, and finally a pair of handcuffs

Other key props would include a couple of good-sized rocks (in addition to Jacob’s) for hurling (unseen) through the stained-glass window of the church, a blue party napkin with a phone number on it (Ephram), cell phones (Jacob, Patrick, Eleanor, and Roland)

RUN TIME

90 minutes

(Cover art for published script, designed by Drew Bentley)