The first date between Maeve, a PhD psychologist, and Rob, a blue-collar welder, turns into a weekend whirlwind of sensuality, conflict, and surprises as this unlikely couple explores attraction, compatibility, and love later in life. Their verbal swordplay slices away layers to reveal the inner lives of these vibrant mature characters. times amusing, other times painful, their banter takes them to a place they could not have predicted and leads to a stunning conclusion.
Love Lately
Download "Love Lately" Excerpt (pdf)https://newplayexchange.org/plays/1353062/love-lately
Dramedy for a cast of two and any theatre, ages 17+. Requires an intimacy director.
Synopsis
Cast
| MAEVE | Female. A PhD psychologist. Any ethnicity. 50s, could be near retirement age, more or less. |
| ROB (ROBIN) | Male. A welder. Any ethnicity. 50’s, could be near retirement age, more or less. |
Production History
| April 2022 | Staged Reading, Episcopal Actors’ Guild, New York City, New York. |
| June 2021 | Streamed Zoom Performance, Chicago Dramatists, Chicago, Illinois. |
| January 2022 | Streamed Zoom Performance, Chicago Dramatists, Chicago, Illinois. |
Commentary from Theatregoers and Readers
| A beautifully intimate piece. Exceptional dialogue and expert storytelling. | |
| I was captivated by the chemistry Ruyle has created through the emotional and intellectual interplay between two very different people. | |
| Effortlessly funny and deeply moving. | |
| Ruyle taps into human experience like an expert, and the result is a gift to any audience. | |
| Well-crafted realistic characters, superbly written dialogue, tasty conflict, and a hopeful finish. What more could you want in a play? | |
| Through beautifully crafted dialogue, Maeve and Rob slowly reveal themselves to each other like the peeling of an onion. | |
| A sexually charged relationship on the brink of a loving connection. Filled with unique and surprising moments and a powerful ending. |