| Roles: |
Ivan (19) & Maria (18) |
Hristo(25) & Kremena (24) |
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| Setting: |
Bialo Imare Village Strandja Mountains, South Eastern Bulgaria
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Sofia, Bulgarian Capital, Western Bulgaria
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| Time: |
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| 7.00 am |
Ivan has been up for the last hour and a half. Has seen to
the live stock, done the usual household chores, washed, dressed,
checked on the weather forecast and is presently nervously drinking
coffee in expectation of his mother’s final inspection of his
suite and tie. Maria is in the company of her mother, 2 sisters,
3 aunts and numerous cousins, meticulously arranging every detail
of her wedding dress and for the last time going over every
aspect of the coming ceremony and following festivities. |
Hristo and Kremena are still asleep.Hristo - onthe floor,
in a friend’s apartment following an all night binge.Kremena
is in the studio which the two share. |
| 9.00 am |
The groom, in the company of his close friends has checked
whether the priest is sober and capable, helped with the arrangement
of the tables at the village hall, and supervises the food and
drink preparations in the local restaurant. The most important
thing on his mind is whether the 90+ cases of assorted booze
are going to be enough for the 300 expected guests or if another
truck run will be required to the local distillery.The bride
is listening for the 11th time the tale of her aunt ( also called
Maria ) of her own wedding and varied details of her subsequent
married life |
Hristo and Kremena are still asleep. |
| 10.00am |
Ivan surrounded by the multitude of his family and friends
is waiting nervously in front of the village church, while Maria’s
party is has already dispatched an 11 year old cousin to make
the run from the bride’s house to the church and calculate the
precise time they need to leave the house to arrive for the
11.00 ceremony. |
Hristo is still asleep. Kremena has awoken, dressed for the
11.00 wedding appointment and is trying to call Hristo on his
mobile phone with no success. |
| 10.30am |
Ivan’s party is holding their position, while Maria is pacing
nervously in front of her house waiting for her mother’s signal
to proceed. |
Hristo being kicked in the ribs by his friend the host, wakes
up and takes Kremena’s call. After listening with a painful
expression to her verbal abuse, he borrows a suite from his
friend and hurriedly proceeds with his entourage of 4 male friends
to a taxi outside |
| 11.00am |
In all her splendour the bride enters the church to the sound
of gasps, cries and cheers originating from the hundreds of
gathered guests. |
Kremena, surrounded by about a dozen friends, her mother (
there has’t been any communication with her father since the
divorce ) and brides mate ( her sister ) is located in front
of the district wedding office, being urged by the attendants
waiting for the next scheduled wedding appointment to “get on
with it”. Kremena communicates her views on the subject back
to them in a rather overt manner. |
| 11.30am |
In the glint of golden icons, surrounded by plumes for mirth
the couple take their wedding vows and exchange rings. At this
point the pitched crying by female family members takes the
form of continuous loud sobs. |
Sweating and panting Hristo exchanges vows with Kremena, who’s
ominous sarcastic grin says volumes as to the expected nature
of their first wedding night. |
| 12.00pm |
In a shower of rice, confetti and candy, the couple lead the
300+ strong procession from the church to the village hall,
where dozen’s of tables have had to be placed outside to be
able to accommodate all the guests. |
In a cafe near the couple’s studio the 8 or so guests who
have chosen to stay are saluting to the marriage and discussing
the couple’s future prospects as well as each other. |
| 3.00pm |
Toasts are still being delivered by close relatives to the
sound of whistling and cheers from the seated crowd. The bride
sits next to her husband exhausted from having accepted hundreds
of personal greetings and presents. |
Hristo, Kremena, Kremena’s mother and sister are parting in
front of the café. |
| 5.00pm two days later |
The last of the guests have finally departed (or being carried)
home. The bride and groom have already departed to a seaside
resort for a week- long honeymoon. |
Hristo and Kremena have just finished their day at work. Kremena
on her way to meet her sister and planning to do some shopping
on the way, while Hristo is heading to meet his friends at a
local bar. |
