MATES is the first play of the MATES TRILOGY. Each play stands alone - but, collectively, they follow the two main characters' lives for six consecutive hours - from "seven past seven" until "seven past one" of a very fateful day. The three plays explore the meaning of friendship, courage and success. The other plays are MATES IN PARADISE (produced at the Melfi Repertory in Binghamton, NY, in 1993; and then produced, twice, at the 450-seat Orpheum Repertory Company in Foxborough, MA, in 1995) and MATES AT LAST (produced at the Melfi in September of 1995).MATES won the Wykeham Rise Playwrighting Contest in 1973. It was produced off-off-Broadway at Lolly's Theater Club in 1973. In 1993, it was produced at the 250-seat Leonard Melfi Repertory Theater in Binghamton, New York.