The Cake

by Bekah Brunstetter

Dramatic Comedy / 1m, 3f

Della makes cakes, not judgment calls - those she leaves to her husband, Tim. But when a girl she helped raise comes back home to North Carolina to get married, to a woman, Della's life gets turned upside-down.

Genres: Plays, Drama, School

73 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2018

About the author

Bekah Brunstetter plays include CUTIE AND BEAR (Upcoming, The Roundabout) A LONG AND HAPPY LIFE (Upcoming, Naked Angels) BE A GOOD LITTLE WIDOW (ARS NOVA, Spring 2011; Collaboraction – Chicago) HOUSE OF HOME (Williamstown Theater Festival), OOHRAH! (Atlantic Theater, 2009; Steppenwolf Garage – 2012), and MISS LILLY GETS BONED (Finborough Theater 2010, Lark Playwrights Week 2009, Finborough Theater, June 2010).

She is a a New York New Voices Fellow through the Lark Play Development Center, member of The Primary Stages Writer's Group, the Naked Radio writing team. She is an alumni of the Women's Project writer's Lab, the Ars Nova Play Group, and the Playwright's Realm. She was the Playwright in Residence at the Finborough Theater, London, 2010-2011. She is a two-time Samuel French Short play festival winner, and two-time winner of the New York Innovative Theater Award for Best New Play.

She is currently working on an EST Sloan commission, and writing for a new MTV series created by Craig Wright, Underemployed.

Reviews

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it💪🏽😍 also the stage notes were top tier poetry

[Kira]

Mixed feelings! Don’t know that I co-sign this play’s perspective or what it’s trying to say. Felt a little simple at times for all that it was seeking to explore. But the ending was powerful and thought-provoking, a really great place to leave us as readers / audience members.

[mengwe · Rating 5 out of 5]

so sweet so gay so good

[Lauren Stripling]

I just read this for my theater appreciation class and it was soo good. Really emotional, funny, and thought-provoking. I can't wait to analyze it in class because I'm sure I'll get even more out of it.

[Jessica Whittemore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this a few months ago, so I'm trying to remember. Can't remember if I cried or not, which would be a bad sign if I didn't because I'm a big crybaby, but I really can't remember either way. I feel like the conservative characters were maybe a little reductive and crumpled too easy, but then also it felt so awful to watch the hometown lesbian harm herself trying to win them over (and possibly lose what she stands for in the process). The opening is SO cringey, why would the out-of-towner talk with Della like that?! I didn't get it. I really wanted to love it, but I think I just liked it ok. Looking forward to seeing a live production of this play on its feet!

[GrosvenorMedia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read that Callie Khouri and Reba McEntire were adapting Fannie Flagg's "The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion," with Bekah Brunstetter, so I had to check her out.

I'd love to see a production of this play - it's very bouncy and visual, while dealing with some heavy relationship and social issues. A much breezier read than Edna O'Brien... but I mean, what isn't?

I'm really looking forward to seeing what the team comes up with for the adaptation now!

[Jedidiah Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a devastatingly beautiful story about people confronting their world views and processing their pain at the same time. It's tumultuous upheaval with a lot of comedy sprinkled in, and I'm grateful for it because the emotional parts hit hard. The stage directions were also a mix of this, at times emphasizing the emotional turmoil and at times adding to the comedy.

[Em Stern · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVELYYYY story. About a lesbian couple going back to white gf hometown and her moms bff not accepting of her but also loving her and being torn at the same time. Growing up around conservatives and rejecting that lifestyle while also feeling connected to it.

Scenes:
Tim + Della — scene 2
Jen + Macy —- scene 2
Tim + Della — scene 4
Macy + Jen — scene 5

[Jessica Hirsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is short, sweet, cringey, maddening, and super lovely. Knowing that Debra Jo Rupp originated Della made it even better. This play doesn't attempt to provide answers, and it doesn't provide a solution, but it does give perspective on a wonderful place to start.

[olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

read in script analysis - i LOVED this. especially reading with my friends (i read for jen), we all laughed, kinda cried, and had a great time with this script. shoutout to my script analysis professor for picking it for us!!

[Periko · Rating 4 out of 5]

me ha gustao la verdá, podría haber llegao más pallá pero está bien

[Becks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bawled reading this. Fantastic dialogue, beautiful rhythm, and a devastatingly gorgeous story.

[Daniel Ballard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read this before, but it’s been a while. It’s really good, and hearing it with actual people reading it was extra special.

[Madeline · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow i almost cried in class reading this

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unexpected ending very good read

[Steven Christiansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very fun play! I’d love to see it. Hopefully someone here in Portland will put it on.
Would have been five stars, but I found Tim not very believable.
Well written and funny.

[Gianna Vetrano · Rating 4 out of 5]

that hurt like a mofo

[Aaron Gould · Rating 3 out of 5]

Feels like this play is trying to present both sides of the argument, but it does a poor job of presenting the religious side. She gives in way too easily in the end.