Act 1 Scene 1

The play opens in the kitchen of a Jewish family; we see Rivka being fitted for her wedding dress by her grandmother Malka while her friend Leela flicks through a copy of OK! magazine. They discuss Victoria Beckham and her response to her husband’s alleged infidelity. Rivka’s father Shmuley arrives home and is visibly moved by the sight of his daughter dressed or her wedding, particularly as the dress belonged to his late wife.

We realise that Rivka is wearing a wig and she asks Leela her opinion of it. Her grandmother shares her memories of wearing a wig for the first time when she was married. There is talk about the arrangements for the wedding which is only two weeks away.

Leela asks Rivka to cover for her so that she can meet her boyfriend Patrick. He is a tree-sitter protesting about the destruction of a nearby wood, but she is Hindu and has not told her mother about her relationship. Their talk turns to sex – Rivka is forbidden by Jewish law to touch her fiance David before they are married and is becoming very nervous about the impending wedding. She is also afraid that there may not be any physical chemistry between them when they eventually marry.

David arrives. When they are alone together David tells Rivka a story from the Book of Ruth about how although your wife might be almost a stranger to you, you should still commit. Rivka is filled with even greater doubts.

Shmuley enters in confusion. Word has reached him about a controversy over the wearing of the sheitels (wigs). A chance remark from Victoria Beckham has led to an investigation into the source of the hair used in the wigs that Jewish women must wear to cover their own hair after marriage. It seems that the hair may come from a temple in India where it is sacrificed during the worship of idols. If this proves to be true then the wearing of these wigs will be forbidden. A Rabbi has gone to India to fact find.

David goes to call his father. Shmuley does not know what they should do. Rivka becomes upset – her perfect wedding is under threat.