Alterations
by Leigh Curran

Name: Alterations
Brand: Leigh Curran
SKU: 9780573690563
Rating: 5 (1 reviews)

Alterations Book Cover — Alterations Cover

Highlights

Small Cast

Female

Male

90 mins Present Day Ensemble Cast Interior Set Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes American Comedy

Synopsis

Erica, a successful, artistic and outspoken New Yorker, is caught between the needs of Biesel, her frail, willful mother and Phoebe, her distant, spiritual daughter.

In an attempt to improve her relationship to Phoebe, Erica decides to put her mother in a nursing home as she has come to believe Biesel is responsible for Phoebe's growing belief that her mind is unimportant as it prevents her from having a direct experience of God.

A battle of wills ensues that brings all three women face to face with their own anger and the ways in which they do and don't love each other.

The play takes place in New York City and has one set consisting of 2 rooms...a living room and a sewing room.

Press Reviews

"Funny and observant."
— Newsday

"One cannot dismiss the intelligence behind Alterations. Ms. Curran does know how to observe people. Fascinating."
— The New York Times

"Truly comical."
— The New Yorker

"Excellent."
— Variety

"Ms. Curran has created a theatre piece whose humor helps ratify its authentic observation."
— Christian Science Monitor

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
Erica 40-50, is trapped between the needs of her mother and her daughter and when she is no longer able to cope she rearranges all the furniture. She has a biting sense of humor and accesses anger easily - but, underneath it all, she is trying to do the right thing and feels her efforts are going unrecognized. Her inability to come from love when she most wants to is her personal dilemma and the struggle she begins to resolve in the last scene.	female	40-50	40-50, is trapped between the needs of her mother and her daughter and when she is no longer able to cope she rearranges all the furniture. She has a biting sense of humor and accesses anger easily - but, underneath it all, she is trying to do the right thing and feels her efforts are going unrecognized. Her inability to come from love when she most wants to is her personal dilemma and the struggle she begins to resolve in the last scene.
Phoebe 15-17, is naturally intelligent and thinks deeply. She is not in the least bit bratty or precocious. She has learned to maneuver her mother's overt strength with a quiter strength. She is fair minded and a peace keeper. She has found God and, through meditation, a much needed stillness.	female	15-17	15-17, is naturally intelligent and thinks deeply. She is not in the least bit bratty or precocious. She has learned to maneuver her mother's overt strength with a quiter strength. She is fair minded and a peace keeper. She has found God and, through meditation, a much needed stillness.
Peter 40-50, is Erica's husband - they are separated. Peter is a good man with a warm heart who knows better than anyone where and why Erica hurts but he's running out of patience with her refusal to look at herself in the mirror. When the play begins he still has hope that, if he just hangs in, reconciliation will be possible.	female	40-50	40-50, is Erica's husband - they are separated. Peter is a good man with a warm heart who knows better than anyone where and why Erica hurts but he's running out of patience with her refusal to look at herself in the mirror. When the play begins he still has hope that, if he just hangs in, reconciliation will be possible.
Adrianna 20-30, is a model at the end of her relationship with her boyfriend. She's ditzy on the surface and smart underneath - almost in spite of herself. She has confidence in herself professionally but not personally.	female	20-30	20-30, is a model at the end of her relationship with her boyfriend. She's ditzy on the surface and smart underneath - almost in spite of herself. She has confidence in herself professionally but not personally.
Biesel 70-80, (pronounced Beezle) is a strong-willed, very hard of hearing, older woman whose frail body is causing her to become a lot more dependent than she'd like to be. She cultivates vagueness to protect herself from everything she isn't ready to hear. She uses her hearing aid to manipulate her daughter. She is loving when she feels safe and competetive when she doesn't.	female	70-80	70-80, (pronounced Beezle) is a strong-willed, very hard of hearing, older woman whose frail body is causing her to become a lot more dependent than she'd like to be. She cultivates vagueness to protect herself from everything she isn't ready to hear. She uses her hearing aid to manipulate her daughter. She is loving when she feels safe and competetive when she doesn't.