Recommended by David Patton

Recently, I've read quite a few of Lermond's scripts. To me, her strength is normally in the dialogue she shares with her characters. This one however, proves...as if that were needed... that her sense of the absurd is equally as well attuned.
Is he Santa or not?
Is the doctor a doctor or not?
Who is Psychoanalyzing who...

Ah, the folly of youth. What seemed like a stupid youthful dare and a bet, comes back to haunt a couple in a dystopian future. Their friend, presumed dead these many years, has come to collect...but what, or who, is he really after, and just when they think things can't get worse...petty bureaucracy comes knocking for a share of the spoils...“Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose”

I had no idea where this story would take me...unrequited love? Confessions of two elderly people?
Instead, we are presented with a tale of interwoven, complex relationships cleverly spanning the generations and even death itself.
This is not some rosy glow fairy tale, but an honest, refreshing take on the complexities of feelings surrounding death of a loved one.
He his characters variously being angry, introspective, loving, hating, analytical, but most of all, human.
This needs to be viewed on stage to appreciate the cleverness of the interplay between his characters.

I've never been a fan of 'group' sessions / therapy etc. This wee tale of eclectic misfits had me saying to myself over and over...You see, that's why I hate therapy, therapists and all other psychobablers!
Vivian Lermond has to be one of the best around at character creation. The interaction of her little group of foodies is as delicious as the meatloaf was inedible!

Once again with Vivian, it's the dialogue! Not another ghost story I thought. Nope, not just another ghost story. Shape shifting, time shifting electoplasmetic heroes. Not scary, unless you're a vengeance seeking old man

Cos-meto-logy. I'm always learning with Vivian, her character study leads me to believe she's either lived these lives, or, as I suspect, she's a very keen observer and raconteur. There are no shocks here, no twists, but a coming of age tale for a woman who, one suspects, has come of age many years before. A terrific wee monologue for a woman of a "certain age".

It's always easy to know when a write just nails it...action; drama; love; hate, or in this case...angst!
Miller portrays has this desperately sad woman just so perfectly that by the end, my stomach was clenching and although I could sense the ending, I was loathe to get there...Superb!

"speculatin’, ruminatin’ and pontificatin".
For a woman who lives north of the Mason Dixon line, Vivian sure as all get out must have some Southern blood in her somehow.
My best bud is from Alabama, and he could be her inspiration for sure.
Dialogue and mystery usually pepper Vivian's short works. The only mystery here is how in hell she gets the dialogue so right!
I loved it!

I've read quite a few of Vivian's monologues and plays, reason I keep coming back for more is her characters. She manages to put so much detail and life into the people who stumble, blunder and make their way through her stories. I've met these people; I've watched and listened to them and their lives. This, for me, is one of her finest short plays. A masterpiece which could be used in writing classes. Lines such as ... "Life lived hard can leave some scars"... pepper the pages and prove once again she is simply the best. Thank you Vivian

Oh yes! Vivian once again excells at the whodunnits! I knew this little tale was a murder mystery, the characters and dialogue are so very believable, but try as I might, I didn't guess that it was Colonel Mustard in the kirchen with a lead pipe! More please Vivian!