reading

HONEYMOON SUITE

First published in 2003 by Oberon Books Ltd

This electronic edition published in 2011 by Oberon Books Ltd
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Richard Bean is hereby identified as author of this play in accordance with section 77 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. The author has asserted his moral rights.

All rights whatsoever in this play are strictly reserved and application for performance etc. should be made before commencement of rehearsal to United Agents, 12-26 Lexington Street, London, W1F 0LE (info@unitedagents.co.uk). No performance may be given unless a licence has been obtained, and no alterations may be made in the title or the text of the play without the author’s prior written consent.

You may not copy, store, distribute, transmit, reproduce or otherwise make available this publication (or any part of it) in any form, or by any means (electronic, digital, optical, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

ISBN: 978-1-84943-236-8

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Set

October 2004. The honeymoon suite of a seaside hotel. Against the wall, stage left, is a large and elaborate French antique double bed. A chandelier with tears of glass hangs from an ornate ceiling rose. In the back wall a door, stage right, leads into an en-suite toilet and bathroom. Down stage left is a cupboard door set in the wall. Upstage left is a door into the corridor. Downstage right is a balcony with a sea view.

Characters

WHITCHELL

67 years old

EDDIE

18 years old

IRENE

18 years old

TITS

43 years old

IZZY

43 years old

MARFLEET

67 years old

Honeymoon Suite was first performed at the Royal Court Theatre Downstairs, in a co-production between English Touring Theatre and the Royal Court, on 8 January 2004, with the following cast:

WHITCHELL, John Alderton

IRENE, Sara Beharrell

EDDIE, Liam Garrigan

IZZY, Caroline O’Neill

TITS, Jeremy Swift

MARFLEET, Marjorie Yates

Director Paul Miller

Designer Hayden Griffin

Honeymoon Suite

WHITCHELL enters. He is a man of 67. He is wearing an old, and dirty car coat, old flip flops, and an embroidered fez-like hat. His glasses have one cracked lens. His trousers are of a baggy white Indian cotton style. He carries some fresh cut flowers (no wrapping paper.) and a bag of shopping in a new Safeway’s carrier bag. He unlocks the cupboard door. He takes a champagne bucket and glasses and puts them on the bedside table. From the shopping he takes a packet of ice and fills the bucket. From the inside of his shirt he takes a bottle of champagne, picks the price label off it and puts it on ice. From the other side of his shirt he takes a packet of Cherry Bakewell cakes and puts them in the cupboard. From under his hat he takes a packet of After Eight mints. He takes a vase from the cupboard and fills it with water from the bathroom and arranges the flowers. He looks out of the window at the beach, focussing on something specific. He rolls up a mattress which is outside on the balcony and puts it away in the same cupboard. He leaves the cupboard door unlocked. He stands and admires the room.