The Woman in the Blue Dress (A Radio Play Re-Production)
Project Overview
'The Woman in the Blue Dress' is a comedy radio play about four people, Franny, Marianne, Alice and Alexander, who meet in a waiting room. The four all want different things and are at different points in their lives, but they talk to each other, to pass the time while they wait for something or someone that probably isn't coming.
This play was written by Gail Patrick, my grandmother, and originally produced by the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). My grandmother gifted it play to my mother who gifted it to me who, to further immortalize it, is reproducing the play for my YouTube channel.
If you have any questions about the project or requests for more details, feel free to message me.
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A writer, homeowner and the eponymous woman in the blue dress. She is the 'straight man' of the play, most often being frustrated with the people she meets. She views them as much stupider than her. In the play, she is struggling to gain inspiration to write because of a fear of not living up to her expectations and a general annoyance at the people around her, who she lashes out at to compensate for her insecurity. Despite this, she is still trying to write again. She is seen throughout the entire play in the other individuals' scenes, implying this play is all a part of her imagination and she is some sort of omnipotent puppet master.
I’ll tell you who I am. I’m Eva Brown - the owner of this house - and I want you all to leave.
I hope that makes everything clear.
As the train pulled away, Eva waved goodbye then, at last, went back into the house and closed the door. She sighed and looked around the empty room. Her gaze rested on the typewriter. She smiled and walked toward it.
A 25-year-old aspiring waitress. Franny is the most serious of the three women in the waiting room. She's waiting for a restaurant manager for an interview and, because of this, she's very hard-working, competitive and goal-oriented during the events of the play. Outside of this, she's the youngest, so she's the most childlike (She's innocent but holds a lot of confidence in herself, like she's invincible). While her main focus is to complete her reference and not converse, over the course of the play, she warms up to the others and lets out this more likable side.
Before I do, I think I should explain that it’s not finished yet. I work on it every night. Of course, it wasn’t like that in the beginning. In the beginning, I didn’t want to work on my resume at all. I didn’t want to think about leaving my mother. And she felt the same way. “I’ll never leave you, Franny”, she would say - and kiss me. “I’ll never leave you, either”, I would say, and we’d embrace. Those were the days - when we only had each other and wanted nothing else. But now I have my resume, and with luck, it will help me to find a career that is satisfactory. After all, I can’t make a career out of loving my mother, can I?
There’s no need to lose your temper, Alexander. If you go around saying stupid things like – I must see the woman in the blue dress again – people are bound to jump to the wrong conclusions.
Take it from me sir - behind every waitress’ smiling face - is a customer!
A 47-year-old waitress, and a traveller. She's a carefree butterfly, not really giving any thought to responsibilities, only relaxation and fun. She's waiting for a train to take her to the beach for a vacation she takes every month, Because of her searches for fun, she's often misled and duped. Though some may see this as her being gullible, she's not actually this dumb. Also, for her, it's easier to have fun when you have friends, so she's friendly and generous to everyone, no matter how disinterested they may seem. Again, it's not stupidity.
I don’t. At least I haven’t for the last year. Although, once I got as far as changing into my uniform and going to stand outside the restaurant. But then, I couldn’t go in. And a few hours later, I was waiting for the train back to the beach. But I try. No one can say I don’t try.
Well then, you could be a traveller – like me! We could see the world together.
No. But it doesn’t mean that he can’t be reasonable. Or that he won’t be reasonable. In fact – I feel quite optimistic that he will be reasonable.
Just a woman waiting for a train, being bothered by the endlessly upbeat Marianne Thomas. Woman Traveller is in one scene. In it, Marianne approaches her and asks her if she's seen her suitcase. What follows is this Woman Traveller becoming offended by Marianne's accusations, then manipulating Marianne so she can get some peace and quiet. She will only be happy again once she gets that peace and quiet.
Well then, your worries are over. Now you know that the man sitting on the other end of the seat took your large brown suitcase, with your name on it.
I beg your pardon!
Ooooo! What a liar! He WAS here five minutes ago – because I saw him sit down and take out his newspaper.
![[PAID] Of Old It Was Written - Animated Fantasy Short](https://d1m9vqlvl3fy94.cloudfront.net/project/attachment/254706/default_756560Comp760-00-10-11.png)
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