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2 Across

  • Jerry Mayer
  • Full Length Play, Dramatic Comedy, Present Day, Contemporary
  • 1M, 1F
  • ISBN: 9780573633683

An 80 minute ride described by critics as "Hilarious," "Witty," "Romantic," "Poignant," and "Wonderfully entertaining."

More information

Description

  • Full Length Play
  • Dramatic Comedy
  • 90 minutes

  • Time Period: Present Day, Contemporary
  • Target Audience: Teen (Age 14 - 18), Appropriate for all audiences, Adult, Senior
  • Set Requirements: Interior Set

  • Performance Group:
  • Large Stage, Dinner Theatre, Community Theatre, High School/Secondary, Professional Theatre, Shoestring Budget, Reader's Theatre, Blackbox / Second Stage /Fringe Groups, Senior Theatre
Two strangers, a man and a woman board a San Francisco BART train at 4:30 AM. They're alone in the car, each is married, both are doing the New York Times crossword. She's an organized, sensible, psychologist. He's a free spirited, unemployed ad exec. She is a crossword pro, he always quits. When he tosses his puzzle away, she snaps, "Crosswords are a metaphor for life, those who finish, succeed, those who don't, fail." Now he vows to finish. Why? He's a competitor and she happens to be lovely.

This starts an 80 minute ride describe by critics as "Hilarious," "Witty," "Romantic," "Poignant," and "Wonderfully entertaining." Two opposites in an enclosed space, attacking each other's values but also being swayed and intrigued by them. They each have serious life problems that the other helps them solve. Their trip is filled with unpredictable but believable surprises, even a passionate kissing embrace or two. As the train ride ends it's obvious each of them has been changed for the better.
REVIEWS:

"...lovely...a battle of the sexes throwback."

 The New York Times

"Must see play of the year. Witty. Mesmerizing."

 Beverly Hills Lookout

"RECOMMENDED! A charming, character driven comedy strives to entertain and succeeds admirably."

 Los Angeles Times

"A rich theatrical piece... A fascinating 80 minutes in which light banter turns to raw emotion...creates a tone that perfectly underscores both the comic and dramatic elements of this surprisingly memorable play... 2 Across is a must see... Play of the year."

 Los Angeles Weekly

"We had to stop laughing to hear the next line... The play asks us to think, then think again. It's entertainment with revelation... Excellent timing."

 The Santa Monica Observer

"...a bright, witty, poignant and deceptively simple play about two emotional and supposedly mature people... Intriguing plot twists and surprises... Sparkling, confrontational dialogue."

 Palisadian Post

Premiere Production: 2 Across premiered at the Santa Monica Playhouse in Santa Monica, CA in November 2004 under the direction of Deborah Harmon.

Characters

  • Casting: 1M, 1F
  • Casting Attributes: Parts for Senior Actors, Non-Traditional casting, Strong Role for Leading Man (Star Vehicle), Strong Role for Leading Woman (Star Vehicle)
  • Casting Notes: HE and SHE, who eventually exchange first names (JOSH and JANET), can be cast late forties to middle fifties, or even sixties if the actors look youngish. Each is the exact kind of person that the other has always found irritating. At first, they are worlds apart on everything, but as the trip continues, they begin to relax and enjoy each other, even as they argue about their differences. Is it possible to believe that you could find love on an eighty minute rapid transit ride? Absolutely, if the actors play it real. The humor comes from their extreme differences, with each trying to change the other for the better, as they struggle to finish their crosswords before the end of the line.

  • SHE (JANET) - Janet is Catholic, structured, responsible, a good mother and usually right. She's an achiever whose standards are high and her patience is low. As a psychologist, she's blunt and honest. She's a law abider and a rule follower. Everything she attempts, she does well, except for one thing, she's got a lot to learn about how to have fun.

  • HE (JOSH) - Josh is Jewish and a paradox. He's part free spirit, part executive, part dreaming, part good son, part Peter Pan. During the trip, each time Janet decides Josh is a flake, he does or say something that wins her total admiration, or he makes her laugh, which she's not used to. About two thirds through their journey, Josh decides that he and Janet might be meant for each other. Now all he's got to do is convince Janet of that.

    • Available Material

    Name Price
    2 Across Script This is optional. Order Now

    Two strangers, a man and a woman board a San Francisco BART train at 4:30 AM. They're alone in the car, each is married, both are doing the New York Times crossword. She's an organized, sensible, psychologist. He's a free spirited, unemployed ad exec. She is a crossword pro, he always quits. When he tosses his puzzle away, she snaps, "Crosswords are a metaphor for life, those who finish, succeed, those who don't, fail." Now he vows to finish. Why? He's a competitor and she happens to be lovely.

    This starts an 80 minute ride describe by critics as "Hilarious," "Witty," "Romantic," "Poignant," and "Wonderfully entertaining." Two opposites in an enclosed space, attacking each other's values but also being swayed and intrigued by them. They each have serious life problems that the other helps them solve. Their trip is filled with unpredictable but believable surprises, even a passionate kissing embrace or two. As the train ride ends it's obvious each of them has been changed for the better.

    		$24.95

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