The Bite Magazine - Autumn/Winter 2025 - Issue 38

bitetheatre Images courtesy of Ahmed Kamara with his eyeballs bulging, heaving as if he'd just come back from the end of the world.” I inwardly laugh at this description as I imagine a cartoon version of said horse. Wife announces that her cousin is getting engaged, and chatter about Mother’s disapproval of the union ensues. Wife will have nothing bad said about her cousin; however, Mother-in-Law reminds her that Leon- ardo knew Bride for three years before he got with Wife, and therefore knows what he’s talking about. Leonardo quickly shuts the chatter down, almost berating his mother for bringing that fact up. A village girl pays Mother-in-Law a visit to gossip about the luxury items the Bridegroom and his Mother bought to gift his wife-to-be, from the shop she works in. Leonardo shouts at the girl for bringing up idle gossip, and she leaves sob- bing. Wife confronts Leonardo about his moody behaviour. They exchange harsh words, and he storms out, but in doing so, wakes the sleeping baby, leading the women to begin another un- nerving lullaby. The next scene’s image projection takes us through a forest and desert fields before settling on a ranch-like house where Mother and Bride- groom are greeted by a female Servant (Sangita Modgil). They are left waiting; during this time, Mother expresses pessimism about the arid envi- ronment in which this family lives. Bridegroom, however, is too excited to be perturbed by his mother’s persistent ominous remarks. Bride’s Father (Giles Fouhy) arrives to welcome them, commenting that their four-hour jour- ney meant they missed a part of the land he had hoped to show them. He, a rural man by nature, exuberantly comments on the land’s harvests and commends the Bridegroom for his recent vine- yard purchase. After a brief exchange to formal- ise matters, they agree on a wedding date for the following week. The Bride (Sabrina Robinson) enters and offi- cially meets her soon-to-be mother-in-law. The meeting is polite and appears promising. Bride, however, is rigid, saying all the right things ex- pected of her. Bridegroom and Mother then head back home, and Father escorts them for a distance. The Servant is excited by the gifts and urges the Bride to peek at them, but the lack of enthusiasm confuses the Servant. “Girl, girl, what's the matter? Can't you bear to give up this queenly life of yours? You mustn't think painful thoughts. You have no reason to. None whatsoever. Let's look at the presents.” Bride dismisses her abruptly. Upon changing the subject, the Servant asks if Bride heard a horse in the very early hours of that morning. The Bride talks it away, with absurd excuses. However, the Servant saw the horse rider go to the Bride’s win- dow and force a confession from her. Act 2, Scene One, still at the Bride’s house, is on her wedding day. A conversation between her and the Servant, who is affixing a wreath to her hair, has the Servant daydream of the intimate desires that will transpire between the newly- weds. However, the Bride confides in the Servant of her apprehension and hesitation, explaining that despite these feelings, she still needs to keep her promise (to the Bridegroom). Servant opens a door-knock for Leonardo, who is the first of the guests to arrive. We hear singing in the distance as guests arrive for the wedding. All very exciting! Leonardo asks some rather personal, nosy questions about the Bride and fidgets. Upon hearing Leonardo's voice, the Bride comes out in her petticoat slip. I’m shocked; what a minx! She and Leonar- do bicker over the traditional orange blossom