The Truth: Movies for your Ears, March 2012
It's evening-time, and a New York taxi driver (Christian Paluck) picks
up a couple - Mary (Chet Siegel) and Frank (Louis Kornfeld). They are obviously close, but that does not prevent them from
arguing with one another - to such an extent that they feel disturbed by the taxi driver's radio playing in the front seat.
Their discussions are interrupted by Morgan (Amy Warren), who foists herself on them in an attempt to get home, and immediately
falls asleep. However she keeps waking up to comment on Mary and Frank's arguments. The three of them buy a takeway from a
drive-in; Morgan is dropped off at home, followed by Mary and Frank. The taxi-driver is left to continue conversing with his
wife, while the radio continues to play in the background.
Interruptible examines the ways in which people don't listen to one
another, even if they are partners. Each line of dialogue overlaps, in a technique strongly reminiscent of Caryl Churchill's
Top Girls; the babel of voices - from the people inside the taxi, as well as from the radio - becomes so loud on
occasions that it's difficult to make out what the characters are actually saying. The play has an intriguing twist at the
end, as we discover exactly what Morgan does for a living, and why her experiences in the back of the cab were so significant
for her. The taxi-driver likewise learns from the experience, as he resolves
not to interrupt his wife but rather listen to her point of view in future.
Although only just over fifteen minutes long, Interruptible is extremely
strong on character-development, with three vocally contrasting performances from the main characters, supported
by Paluck's taxi-driver.
