Sunday on the Rocks

by Theresa Rebeck

On a beautiful Sunday morning in mid-October, three housemates decide to have scotch for breakfast in this play by the author of Spike Heels and Loose Knit. Elly is pregnant and considering an abortion, Jen is being harassed by a co-worker who is obsessed with her, and Gayle just feels a bit lost. Their problems are compounded by a fourth roommate, Jessica, a religious young woman who has little compassion for their confused attempts to make sense of life in the nineties. As they drink, joke, and argue it becomes clear how difficult it is to make a moral decision in an increasingly complex world.

Genres: Plays, Drama, Theatre

114 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Theresa Rebeck is a playwright. She also works as a television writer. Her input went into popular shows such as Dream On, Brooklyn Bridge, L.A. Law, American Dreamer, Maximum Bob, First Wave, and Third Watch.
She also wrote and produced Canterbury’s Law, Smith, Law and Order: Criminal Intent and NYPD Blue.
Ms. Rebeck has an MFA in Playwrighting and a PhD. in Victorian Melodrama, from Brandeis University. She is a board member of the Dramatists Guild and has taught at Brandeis and Columbia Universities.
She currently resides in Brooklyn with her husband Jess Lynn and two children, Cooper and Cleo.

Reviews

[Aleigha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll say it a million times over- Rebeck is an actresses dream!

[Em Stern · Rating 5 out of 5]

VERY STRONG women characters, with a lot of depth. Great read challenging characters

[Elizabeth Frohlich · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite plays ever. I re-read it every few years.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I should start by saying, I'm not a huge Rebeck fan. I just don't get what makes her plays so popular, beyond giving a space for female actresses to scream their heads off at each other. This play is no exception in that field, with roommates sparring off in a bout of day drinking that ends in forgiveness and moving on into adulthood.

I got the point. Rebeck is pointed and moves quickly. But there's little plot to speak of, or choices being made -- she seems more interested in polemical outbursts, and honestly, that's just not my bag.

[Sara Elice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good play. Love the small, all female cast. Each character has her own personality and the dialogue is really natural and unforced. I don't know that I'd necessarily call this a comedy...but the story told over the course of the play is pretty interesting. I wish there was a stronger tie-in for Gayle to Jessica's wishes and wants, but otherwise, I like the setup for the climax and the way it goes down.

[Gabrielle Filloux · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite plays all time. Rebeck set up such complex and multifaceted characters, and seeing how they interact and face consequences is fascinating. Truly a story where there is no hero but you experience a win.