"UNBRIDLED FEAR" - Surreal Comedy-Drama

by Donald Loftus

A bride who faints at the altar awakens in a surreal circus where a cynical clown helps her confront her fear of marriage.

Ruby suddenly finds herself inside a circus tent wearing her wedding dress and holding a frying pan. There she meets Wankie the Clown, a sarcastic yet insightful figure who questions her about how she arrived. Gradually, Ruby remembers fainting at her own wedding after being overwhelmed by...

A bride who faints at the altar awakens in a surreal circus where a cynical clown helps her confront her fear of marriage.

Ruby suddenly finds herself inside a circus tent wearing her wedding dress and holding a frying pan. There she meets Wankie the Clown, a sarcastic yet insightful figure who questions her about how she arrived. Gradually, Ruby remembers fainting at her own wedding after being overwhelmed by fear. Through humorous and philosophical conversation, Wankie encourages her to confront the risks and joys of commitment. In the end, Ruby finds the courage to return and finish the ceremony.

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"UNBRIDLED FEAR" - Surreal Comedy-Drama

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  • John Mabey: "UNBRIDLED FEAR" - Surreal Comedy-Drama by Donald Loftus
    “

    A wise clown and a runaway bride make the perfect duo in UNBRIDLED FEAR by Donald Loftus. The surreal elements throughout make the comedy even funnier and the heartfelt even sweeter. I was really invested in both characters and the ingenious way that Loftus gives their initial meeting such chemistry and vitality as strangers but with mutual understanding. It was a joy for me to watch this story come alive on screen and would be fantastic on stage too.

    A wise clown and a runaway bride make the perfect duo in UNBRIDLED FEAR by Donald Loftus. The surreal elements throughout make the comedy even funnier and the heartfelt even sweeter. I was really invested in both characters and the ingenious way that Loftus gives their initial meeting such chemistry and vitality as strangers but with mutual understanding. It was a joy for me to watch this story come alive on screen and would be fantastic on stage too.

    ”
  • Dan Taube: "UNBRIDLED FEAR" - Surreal Comedy-Drama by Donald Loftus
    “

    Extremely charming play. It has one of the most human clowns I have ever seen or read about. Both characters are perfectly drawn - realistic, vulnerable and relatable. This story of a runaway bride and the clown who helps her accept and conquer her fear, is at times funny, moving and extremely engaging. I recommend you read it as soon as possible. Great work!

    Extremely charming play. It has one of the most human clowns I have ever seen or read about. Both characters are perfectly drawn - realistic, vulnerable and relatable. This story of a runaway bride and the clown who helps her accept and conquer her fear, is at times funny, moving and extremely engaging. I recommend you read it as soon as possible. Great work!

    ”
RUBY, THE BRIDE: Age: 20s Ruby is a young woman on the verge of marriage—and the edge of panic. Bright, emotional, and a bit scattered, Ruby vacillates between fear and wonder as she tries to make sense of where she is and what she truly wants. Beneath her confusion lies a tender, introspective soul grappling with the enormity of commitment and the unknown. By the
play’s end, she rediscovers her courage and her belief in love’s mad magnificent leap of faith.

WANKIE, THE CLOWN: Age: Any Wankie is a weary circus clown with a permanent frown and philosopher’s heart. Sarcastic yet compassionate, he becomes Ruby’s unlikely guide through her strange emotional landscape. He masks wisdom with wit, alternating between playful teasing and piercing insight. Beneath the greasepaint, Wankie represents life’s absurdity and
resilience—the ability to laugh at fear while acknowledging it fully. Though cynical on the surface, he helps Ruby rediscover her strength and her capacity for joy, ultimately revealing his role as both mentor and mirror.