język polskijęzyk angielski

The nuns take all

Author
Action time
March 1997
Genre
Comedy
The place of action
Jodłowiec near Żywiec
Original language of the play
Characters
A parody in three acts Characters: Mila (42), Krysia (40)- a widow, Ada (37)- a divorcee, Ewa (35) - a dancer, Lawyer Kobzdej (60), Dziubik, businessman (50), nuns, a priest.
Original title
Siostrzyczki biorą wszystko*

The mother’s burial and the reading of the will – the first two scenes clearly show the distinct features of the sisters, differences between their personalities. The eldest, Mila, is mentally deficient. Krysia, Ewa and Ada discuss the possibility of sending Mila to an asylum - convenient and not expensive. Then it turns out that mother’s will gives them some decent fortune, divided into three equal pieces; but there is one condition: within 24 hours the sisters have to decide which one of them will take care of Mila. Otherwise, the fortune goes to the nuns whose convent will be Mila’s shelter. 

The rest of the play shows the sisters’ desperate efforts to get rid off responsibility for the eldest one. They try to persuade each other: YOU are the most proper person to look after Mila. They fight, they plot, they say sweet, ambiguous words. They drink more and more, and gradually come to the following conclusion: since their fortune is very likely to go to the nuns’, they must grab as much as possible and run. They wake up in the morning with a terrible hangover and a strange feeling that there is something they forgot to do. The meeting at the lawyer’s office is approaching and they have not made their decision. 30 minutes before the appointment they draw slips of paper. The winner will take all. But at that moment the nuns appear at the lawyer’s door. Ironically, the sisters have forgot about the daylight saving time and the overnight changing of the clocks. Now they are an hour late. Krysia, Ewa and Ada’s failure proves that they are unreliable. Their selfishness makes Mila feel unwell in their presence. The nuns do not seem to be a better choice for Mila: they are cold, greedy and convinced about their right to the money. When Mother lived, they used to help with Mila, and now, since they’ll have custody of her, they have to be paid for taking care of her. Mila herself clings to the nuns. Thus, tragic elements are removed and the parody ends happily.