Rites is Maureen Duffy's one-act play about female gender roles and expectations in the male-dominated world of 1969 London, England.

As the play begins, staggered groups of workmen wearing white work clothes enter the stage and construct the interior of a public restroom. The men bow to the foreman, as they leave the room to reappear with more items to finish the room, such as a sanitary towel machine, perfume, two white chairs, a large mirror, and a venereal disease prevention poster.

Their work completed, the men bow once more and leave the room, while a woman carrying a small bag rushes in and enters stall number One. The two restroom attendants, Meg and Ada, enter. Ada begins her daily ritual of applying makeup and touching up her hairstyle. Meg inspects the stalls and flushes the commodes to make sure they are working properly.

Meg reports...