▁in ▁Dist ress , ▁the ▁play ▁was ▁written ▁to ▁use ▁the ▁identical ▁set ▁to ▁the ▁other ▁two ▁plays . ▁As ▁with ▁most ▁Ay ck b ourn ▁plays , ▁it ▁was ▁originally ▁performed ▁in ▁the ▁Round ▁for ▁its ▁original ▁production ▁at ▁the ▁Stephen ▁Joseph ▁Theatre . ▁However , ▁it ▁was ▁adapted ▁for ▁the ▁Pro sc enium ▁for ▁subsequent ▁performances ▁elsewhere . ▁ ▁The ▁play ▁is ▁performed ▁in ▁two ▁Act s . ▁The ▁first ▁Act ▁is ▁divided ▁into ▁two ▁scenes , ▁and ▁the ▁second ▁Act ▁is ▁one ▁continuous ▁scene . ▁ ▁Syn opsis ▁ ▁Act ▁ 1 ▁ ▁Sc ene ▁ 1 ▁The ▁play ▁opens ▁where ▁Justin ▁Laz en by ▁and ▁Jul ie - An n ▁Job son ▁are ▁busy ▁prepar ing ▁for ▁a ▁dinner ▁party . ▁Jul ie - An n ' s ▁parents ▁are ▁expected , ▁as ▁is ▁Justin ' s ▁mother ▁with ▁her ▁current ▁" man - friend ". ▁It ▁is ▁intended ▁Justin ▁will ▁announ ce ▁their ▁eng agement ▁but , ▁there ▁are ▁already ▁warning ▁signs ▁that ▁they ▁are ▁perhaps ▁not ▁fully ▁compatible . ▁Jul ie - An n ' s ▁des per ation ▁to ▁get ▁every ▁detail ▁perfect ▁isn ' t ▁a ▁good ▁sign , ▁neither ▁is ▁Justin ' s ▁reaction ▁to ▁her ▁suggestion ▁of ▁living ▁ch ast ely ▁apart ▁until ▁their ▁wed ding ▁night . ▁In ▁the ▁meant ime , ▁Justin ▁receives ▁a ▁series ▁of ▁phone ▁calls ▁from ▁his ▁mother , ▁Arab ella , ▁indicating ▁that ▁she ▁will ▁be ▁both ▁dr unk ▁and ▁late . ▁ ▁However , ▁after ▁Jul