Heavenly Snapshot

Scene 1: 1856 outside the Pearly Gates

The Set is a chamber, just inside the pearly gates - which can be seen at stage left - where relatives wait for their newly departed to arrive. There are several ornate wrought iron benches, painted white, placed in a semi circle within the chamber. As the curtain opens, the women (except for Jane) are sitting on the benches looking excited. Jane approaches slowly from off stage left, and opens the gates looking very puzzled and walks through. The others cluster around her as she enters.

Each of the women (except Jane) appears to be about 35 (supposedly the ideal age) and they are obviously sisters as they have the same large noses and high foreheads - none of them could be claimed a beauty. They are all (except Jane) wearing Roman style togas in pastel tones, and open sandals. Jane is wearing the black dress she was buried in - typical of 1850’s mourning wear. She is made up to look old and grey.

Characters:

Elizabeth Burgess (Born 1774 - died 1820 - married to Edward Michell and Michael King)

Maria Burgess (Born 1775-died 1842 - never married)

Sarah Burgess (Born 1756 - died 1840 - married to James Robinson)

Mary Burgess (Born 1759 - died 1841 - married to Henry Nailard)

Jane Burgess Born 1763 - died 1856 - married to Edward Botting)

Ann Burgess- (Born 1772, died 1844 - married to George Sharp)

Maria: Well, finally, Jane. We have been waiting for you for donkey’s years. How could you manage to hang on so long?

Jane: What is this? I don’t understand. I thought when I died, I would go to Heaven or the other place. What are you all doing here? And you all look so young?

Mary: It is a bit of a shock, isn’t it? But families are the big thing this side of the grave. Natural families - not the ones you marry into. So that is why we have been so patiently waiting here for you. You will get younger too, but as you are so old at the moment, 96 isn’t it, it will take longer for you to get back to our ideal age of thirty five. But look at your hands. Even you must be able to see they are less wrinkled than they were. We all died in our 80’s, except for Elizabeth of course, who was only 66, and Ann was 72.

Jane: And what happens now? Do I have to spend the rest of my life, or death, I suppose I should say, with my five sisters - who I didn’t really get along all that well with in real life?

Sarah: There’s gratitude for you. And we were so anxious for you to arrive. Ann, Mary and I have been here for 15 years, and poor Elizabeth died 35 years ago. But you see, we all have to be in on it. You have to agree too.

Jane: What are you talking about?

Elizabeth: Well, I think it is only natural that she should need some time to adjust. After all, she has only just passed through the ether. But what you should know, Jane, is that way back when I first arrived, I was rather lonely - and decided to enter a competition. The prize, which I won, was to get a glimpse back on earth, every 10 years, to see what we have left behind and how our families are getting on without us. But the problem was that it was a family prize - so I had to wait for all of my sisters to die before we could get any benefit. We have already wasted 1841 and 1851, but now that you are here, we can start planning for 1861.

Jane: This is all very confusing. What will happen in 1861?

Elizabeth: We will be allowed one day, the 25^th of March to be exact, to view one of our relatives on earth - to see how they are getting on. We can’t talk to them or influence them, but can just watch their activities for a period of time on that day. I am quite excited about the idea. It has been so long since I left, I really want to find out what has gone on with my many children and grandchildren.

Ann: And we need you to agree for it to happen. What we also need is decide is which of our children we most want to know about for the visitation in 1861. Our progeny are so enormous that there wouldn’t be time to tune into everyone’s lives, so we need to pick the one with the most interesting life.

Jane: But that is still five years away.

Ann: You will find that time has no real significance anymore. It does tend to fly by.

Jane: So if I agree, we will get a snapshot each ten years on March 25^th, of one of our descendants - but unless the whole family agree, it won’t work, is that it?

Sarah: More or less, but don’t you think it is exciting? Don’t you want to know how your children and grandchildren are doing? I expect they are curious about what life was like when we were young, and now we are curious about what their lives are now. I can’t wait. But of course, you have only just died, you know more or less all there is to know about yours.

Jane: And, therefore, it would be fair for me to go last and I don’t mind that. I think I am catching on to this. All right. I agree to do this. So now is can be official. I do feel younger already. Where can I get one of those comfy looking frocks?

Elizabeth: I’ll show you when we finish here. But now we have to decide between us who to visit as only one visit can be made each decade. So I think that since I have been here longest, it should be my family that gets visited first.

Maria: I have no family, as you well know, but since I have to be part of this activity, I think I should be first. After all, I have only my godchildren - and especially Mary, who was named after me, to really be concerned about.

Mary: What makes you think she was named after you and not me?

Maria: Well, I was asked to be her godmother, so I just assumed that it was me.

Elizabeth: She was named after both of you. But, she is my daughter, you know.

Maria: Well, in that case, we will both benefit, but as you had loads of children, you can choose another of them when it comes your turn. So can we agree on that?

Elizabeth: I will just get on and fill out the paperwork and we can go about our ordinary lives, or deaths I suppose I should say. Do we agree that we will meet back here on March 25th, 1861?

Chorus of yesses. Scene fades.