Play: Fefu and Her Friends

Play: Fefu and Her Friends Maria Irene Fornes Author's Note: Fefu is pronounced Feh-foo. Fefu and Her Friends was first produced by the New York Theatre Strategy at the Relativity Media Lab, New York City, on May 5, 1977. It was directed by the author. Set design by Linda Conaway. Lights by Candice Dunn. Costumes by Lana Fritz. Original cast: FEFU Rebecca Schull CINDY Cwendolyn Brown CHRISTINA Carolyn Hearn JULIA Margaret Harrington EMMA Gordana Rashovich PAULA Connie LoCurto Cicone SUE Janet Biehl CECILIA Joan Voukides The play was subsequently produced by the American Place Theatre, New York City, on January 8, 1978. New England, Spring 1935. Part 1.Noon. The living room. The entire audience watches from the auditorium. Part II. Afternoon. The lawn, the study, the bedroom, the kitchen. The audience is divided into four groups. Each group is guided to the spaces (see p.138 ). These scenes are performed simultaneously. When the scenes are completed the audience moves to the next space and the scenes are performed again. This is repeated four times until each group has seen all four scenes. Part IlIl. Evening. The living room. The entire audience watches from the auditorium. PART I The living room of a country house in New England. The decor is a tasteful mixture of styles. To the right is the foyer and the main door. To the left, French doors leading to a terrace, the lawn and a pond. To the rear left, two steps up is a land112 ing that leads to the stairs to the upper floor. On the left of the landing there is a window. To the right is the entrance to other rooms in the main floor. A couch faces the audience. There is a coffee table, two small chairs on each side of the table. There is a rocking chair. Upstage right there is a piano. Against the right wall there is a bar. A double barrel shotgun leans near the French doors. On the table there is a dish with chocolates and a tray. On the sofa there is a silk shawl. FEFU stands in the landing. CINDY lies on the couch. CHRISTINA sits on the chair to the right. FEFU: My husband married me to have a constant reminder of how loathsome women are. CINDY: What? FEFU: Yup. CINDY: That's just awful. FEFU: No, it isn't. CINDY: It isn't awful? FE FU: No. CINDY: I don't think anyone would marry for that reason. FEFU: He did. CINDY: Did he say so? FEFU: He tells me constantly. CINDY: Oh, dear. FEFU: I don't mind. I laugh when he tells me. CINDY: You laugh? FEFU: I do. CINDY: How can you? FEFU: :t's funny.-And it's true. That's why I laugh. CINDY: What is true? FEFU: That women are loathsome. 113 CINDY: . .. Fefu! FEFU: That shocks you. CINDY: It does. Idon't feel loathsome. FEFU: I don't mean that you are loathsome. CINDY: You don't mean that I'm loathsome. FEFU: No. . . It's something to think about. It's a thought. CINDY: It's a hideous thought. FEFU: I take it all back. CINDY: Isn't she incredible? FEFU: Cindy, I'm not talking about anyone in particular. I'm talking about. CINDY: No one in particular, just women. FEFU: Yes. CINDY: In that case I am relieved. I thought you were referring to us. (They are amused) FEFU: You are being stupid. CINDY: Stupid and loathsome. (To CHRISTINA) Have you ever heard anything more ... CHRISTINA: (Interrupting) I am speechless. (Short pause) FEFU: Why are you speechless? CHRISTINA: I think you're outrageous. FEFU: Don't be offended. I don't take enough care to be tactful. I know I don't. But don't be offended. Cindy is not offended. She pretends to be, but she isn't really. She understands what I mean. CINDY: I do not. FEFU: Yes, you do.-I like exciting ideas. They give me energy. CHRISTINA: And how is women being loathsome an exciting idea? FEFU: (With mischief) It revolts me. CHRISTINA: You find revulsion exciting? FEFU: Don't you? CHRISTINA: No. FEFU: I...