Hurry Up and Wait!

Book By: Burton Bumgarner
Play #: 2154
Pages: 52 pgs
Cast: 4 m, 4 w

Waiting in line? Waiting your turn? You don’t have time! Here’s a comedy in six scenes for those who are time-challenged. In the first scene a desperate woman has only 20 minutes to get to the airport to catch her flight and no matter what her beleaguered taxi driver says or does, they remain stuck in a traffic jam. In a different scene, things start to get physical at a restaurant when a couple with dinner reservations (and theatre tickets!) see others entering and being seated before them. In another scene, a jumpy hypochondriac is forced to wait in a doctor’s office with other sick patients, including two obnoxious children. An ensemble of 4 men and 4 women can perform all the roles, or additional actors can be used. The play appeals to everyone who’s wanted to scream when told “Patience is a virtue.” So sit back, relax and enjoy the laughs! About an hour.

Product tags
Sample Now
Perusal Only
Delivery Method
All orders with downloads must be paid by credit card
Single Copy for Perusal Only - $9.95
Perusal copies are limited to one per customer.
Buy Now
Delivery Method
All orders with downloads must be paid by credit card
Production Script - $9.95 each
Must order at least one per performer.
Royalty Licenses - $65.00
Royalty Licenses are required even if you do not charge admission.
Performance beginning date

Productions

BRIGHTON ACADEMY 1 Performance(s)
SPRING HILL, KS 12/11/2024
LITTLE ROCK CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 1 Performance(s)
LITTLE ROCK, AR 5/14/2024
HERITAGE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 1 Performance(s)
MECHANICSBURG, PA 5/10/2024
MILLSTONE TWP MIDDLE SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
MILLSTONE TWP, NJ 5/9/2024
NCS PEARSON, INC. 1 Performance(s)
AUSTIN, TX 2/21/2024
MASD 3 Performance(s)
MONTOURSVILLE, PA 10/28/2023
JIM THORPE AREA HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
TAMAQUA, PA 5/12/2023
CLIFFORD PIERCE MIDDLE SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
MERRILLVILLE, IN 4/21/2023
CENTRAL WISCONSIN CHRISTIAN 2 Performance(s)
WAUPUN, WI 3/23/2023
PROVIDENCE CLASSICAL CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
LAKE STEVENS, WA 2/4/2023
CLIFFSIDE PARK HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
CLIFFSIDE PARK, NJ 11/3/2022
U3A REDLANDS 1 Performance(s)
WELLINGTON POINT, AUSTRALIA 6/23/2022
NORTH LITTLE ROCK MIDDLE SCHOOL DRAMA 1 Performance(s)
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR 5/13/2022
PEREGRINE PLAYERS 1 Performance(s)
SAN ANSELMO, CA 5/13/2022
NORTHEASTERN HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
FOUNTAIN CITY, IN 4/8/2022
ROYAL HIGHLANDS COMMUNITY THEATER 1 Performance(s)
LEESBURG, FL 11/5/2021
PERSONAL ADDRESS 2 Performance(s)
INDIAN HARBOUR BEACH, FL 10/14/2021
BREEZY HILL HOMESCHOOL ACADEMY 2 Performance(s)
NORTH AUGUSTA, SC 4/30/2021
THIEF RIVER FALLS COMM THEATER 1 Performance(s)
THIEF RIVER FALLS, MN 4/20/2021
BLUE VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL DRAMA 2 Performance(s)
RANDOLPH, KS 3/11/2021
WEST MARSHALL DRAMA 6 Performance(s)
STATE CENTER, IA 11/13/2020
BIG SPRING ISD 1 Performance(s)
BIG SPRING, TX 4/15/2020
NANSEMOND SUFFOLK ACADEMY 2 Performance(s)
SUFFOLK, VA 10/25/2019
WILTON CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
WILTON, CA 5/10/2019
BOWLING GREEN CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 2 Performance(s)
BOWLING GREEN, KY 5/3/2019
LAKOTA HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
LAKOTA, ND 4/25/2019
WEST FORK HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
SHEFFIELD, IA 4/12/2019
WEBSTER TRANSITIONAL SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
CEDARBURG, WI 6/9/2018
SEYMOUR HIGH SCHOOL 4 Performance(s)
SEYMOUR, WI 11/15/2017
NARRAGANSETT MIDDLE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
BALDWINVILLE, MA 6/1/2017
FAMILY YOUTH COMMUNITY CONNECT 4 Performance(s)
ALBERTVILLE , MN 10/17/2016
CLAIRMONT HILLS BAPTIST CHURCH 1 Performance(s)
STONE MOUNTAIN, GA 9/30/2016
CLAIRMONT HILLS BAPTIST CHURCH 1 Performance(s)
STONE MOUNTAIN, GA 9/30/2016
GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH 1 Performance(s)
DES MOINES, IA 8/27/2016
VALLEY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
SPOKANE VALLEY, WA 5/12/2016
MAZAMA HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
KLAMATH FALLS, OR 4/21/2016
WEST CENTRAL MIDDLE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
FRANCESVILLE, IN 4/8/2016
PLAYHOUSE PLAYERS 1 Performance(s)
MESA, AZ 3/24/2016
SANDUSKY HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
SANDUSKY, OH 11/19/2015
WWCHS PERFORMING ARTS TEAM 1 Performance(s)
WASHINGTON, GA 10/31/2015
JAMES VALLEY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
HURON, SD 4/22/2015
HARPETH HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TN 4/18/2015
CLARK PLEASANT MIDDLE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
GREENWOOD , IN 4/16/2015
DUPREE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
DUPREE, SD 3/27/2015
BEAVER ISLAND COMMUNITY SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
BEAVER ISLAND , MI 3/20/2015
MARTINO JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
NEW LENOX, IL 2/19/2015
CARROLL HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
FORT WAYNE, IN 2/15/2015
GEORGE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
LUCEDALE, MS 11/17/2014
LAUDERDALE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
ROGERSVILLE, AL 11/13/2014
THEATRE GROUP 1 Performance(s)
BETHESDA, MD 10/1/2014
THEATRE GROUP 1 Performance(s)
GRAND JUNCTION, IA 7/26/2014
CRESWELL HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
CRESWELL, OR 5/1/2014
CONCORD ACADEMY PETOSKEY 2 Performance(s)
PETOSKEY, MI 11/14/2013
COVENANT CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 3 Performance(s)
LOGANVILLE, GA 10/3/2013
SC OPERA HOUSE PLAYERS 1 Performance(s)
SOUTH CHARLESTON, OH 6/22/2013
L-M JRSR HIGH 2 Performance(s)
LETTS, IA 3/1/2013
SAG HARBOR UFSD 3 Performance(s)
SAG HARBOR, NY 11/15/2012
RED LAND HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
ETTERS, PA 11/15/2012
POWDER VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
NORTH POWDER, OR 5/11/2012
GAYVILLE-VOLIN SCHOOL DISTRICT 2 Performance(s)
GAYVILLE, SD 3/30/2012
LIBERTY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
NEW LENOX, IL 3/15/2012
GOOD SHEPHERD EPISCOPAL SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
DALLAS, TX 12/15/2011
ST CROIX COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
KINGSHILL, VC 11/17/2011
SUNAPEE MIDDLE HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
SUNAPEE, NH 11/15/2011
WEST SIDE HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
GREERS FERRY, AR 5/12/2011
SURREY HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
SURREY, ND 4/21/2011
HERBERT SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
HERBERT, SK 4/19/2011
LINN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
PURDIN, MO 3/25/2011
LINTON MIDDLE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
PITTSBURGH, PA 1/21/2011
BASIS ORO VALLEY 1 Performance(s)
ORO VALLEY, AZ 12/10/2010
HARPETH HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
KINGSTON SPRINGS, TN 11/19/2010
REGENCY OAKS 1 Performance(s)
CLEARWATER, FL 10/27/2010
JAY M ROBINSON HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
CONCORD, NC 10/23/2010
OSKALOOSA COMMUNITY THEATER 3 Performance(s)
OSKALOOSA, IA 5/20/2010
ROCKY POINT HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
ROCKY POINT, NY 4/29/2010
TABIONA HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
TABIONA, UT 3/26/2010
MASON DISTRICT HOSPITAL 2 Performance(s)
HAVANA, IL 3/19/2010
NEW SMYRNA BEACH HS 2 Performance(s)
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, FL 2/18/2010
WILSON HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
FLORENCE, AL 2/4/2010
WADENA DEER CREEK HIGH SCH 3 Performance(s)
WADENA, MN 1/28/2010
GREEN MIDDLE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
SMITHVILLE, OH 12/15/2009

Behind The Scenes

BURTON BUMGARNER TALKS ABOUT

“HURRY UP AND WAIT!”

 

Q.. WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE THE PLAY?

A. Irritating people to whom time means nothing: the creep who drives down the highway in the left lane at 63.5 miles and hour and won’t let me pass waiters who bring out everyone else's food ahead of mine, even through I ordered first all of the traffic which causes gridlock when I’m in a cab and the meter is running the old lady ahead of me who wants to visit with the bank teller when I’m parked in a tow away zone. The list goes on and on and I wish they’d just get out of my way!

 

Q. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THE PLAY?

A. The part where Lady Macbeth goes crazy and sees blood every where. No, wait. That’s a different play. Is this the one about the star-crossed lovers whose families hate each other? Or is it the Prince of Denmark who can’t make up his mind? I can’t remember. I’d better read it again. I’ll get back to you.

 

Q. WHERE DID THE CHARACTERS COME FROM? ARE THEY BASED ON PEOPLE YOU KNOW?

A. The characters are based on people who cause stress: taxi drivers, high school teachers, waiters, high school teachers, nurses, people with malaria, high school teachers, parents who can’t control their young children, car salesmen. Did I mention high school teachers? I’ve known them all. Especially the high school teachers.

 

Q. WHAT DID YOU TRY TO ACHIEVE WITH THE PLAY?

A. I hope the audience and actors will take away this simple assumption: patience may be a virtue, but sometimes people really are in hurries for perfectly good reasons and you’re in the way! Pay attention! Get out of the way! MOVE! HURRY UP! I also want the audiences to laugh till they cry.

 

Q. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO ADD?

A. The play needs to be performed fast so people can get out of the theater and on with their lives! They don’t have all day! Spit out those lines! Be ready backstage! Your director is under enough stress already! The sooner you get through this thing the sooner you can get to the cast party!