A Dramatic Interruption

Dry Hands
A Short Play
Woman 1 - A young lady, 24, energetic, intelligent
Woman 2 - An average woman, 36, wears a leather jacket
Man 1 - A young man, 20, reserved, well-dressed.
Man 2 - A man, 38, old enough to know better, think Iago the bird from Aladdin

Lights up. Scene opens on four people (2 women, 2 men,) standing in their shared kitchen.
Man 1: Hey! Woman 2! I was wondering if we could go to the store later?
Woman 2: Absolutely! I need some deodorant.
Woman 1: Would you mind if I came with you? I’m out of hand lotion.
Man 1: Ah. I hate when I’m out of hand lotion, especially when it’s cold out. Your hands feel so
Man 2: I HATE IT WHEN IT’S COLD OUTSIDE.
Man 1, Woman 1, Woman 2: ...exchange glances in silence...
Fade to black.

The above is a fictional dialogue, but it sums up what I’m writ

INTERRUPTION.

As an uncle of an almost 3 year old boy, and having been a young boy at one point myself, I know how interrupting a person works. You have a thought (having everything or absolutely nothing to do with the prior conversation topic,) and blurt it out without regard to the conversation or other conversation participants.

Well today, I was speaking with a group of adults. An apish man, similar to Man 2 in our Tony Award winning drama, decided he wanted to talk about something else. It was related to the topic which was being addressed, but was not appropriately timed in relation to everyone else’s contribution to the matter. Everyone in the conversation paused for a moment, and I, in all of my subtlety and grace, looked at him blankly and said, “May I continue?”

While my response to his interruption may have caused more awkwardness than his original faux pas, I stand by it. Much like we do to teach my nephew, you have to bring attention to the fact when one is interrupting, because it is rude. Unless you are telling me that you are going into labor, that you are missing a limb, or that Patti LuPone is waiting for me in my driveway, whatever you have to say can wait until the next appropriate time (which will most likely be in the next 45 seconds.)

But for real, I hate it when it’s cold outside too.

Until next time.

kp