what is a great one-act play?

Question

i am going to direct one next year and i need either a hilarious one, or a serious drama.

Answer 1

my personal favorite one act show is "night, mother". it's a two character cast, a middle aged woman and her elderly mother. it's a drama with very serious subject matter involving suicide. i bawled like a baby the first time i read the script. it is a difficult show to put on, it's very important to have experienced actors to be able to pull it off. but if you've got a strong cast, it'll blow the audience away.

Answer 2

Aaah, the student-directed One-act. This is so hard because it's always difficult to get everyone in your cast to come. I suggest "Act without words" by Samuel Beckett because there is only one actor. Also, there are no lines, which inevitably the cast waits until the dress rehearsal to memorize. Go here: http://samuel-beckett.net/Act_Without_Words.html

The entire text is online as well as images to accompany it. Have fun!

Answer 3

E-mail me and I'll let you use one of mine. It's three vignettes, for a 15th century traveling troupe. There is a children's "The frog and the gargoyle," the serious morality for the clergy "Crystal Road," and The bawdy comedy "The Flea and the Fishwife." interconnected by the troubadour leader. All three are in Metered rhyme. Actors needed 4 to 9.

Example. The Flea and the Fishwife
FISHWIFE
It stung, it bit, upon my knee.
Oh cann'st thou be of help to me?

MALE
(With a nasty grin.)

Now, when it stung your peasants knee,
Twas it the barb of a bumblebee?

FISHWIFE
It moves, it moves, it moves on me.
An upward journey from my knee.

FEMALE
Ah, upwards toward the apogee.
This so courageous little flea.

(Next three lines are worked as a duet and sung if possible.)
MALE
Upwards toward the apogee.
FEMALE
Upwards toward the apogee.

FEMALE AND MALE
Toward the apogee.
FISHWIFE
(Turning around)

Oh you are of no help to me,
your singing of some apogee.

Round to my rear, he doth fast flee.
Please take and hold these fish for me.

I'd use my hands, to squish this flea,
'fore it becomes catastrophy.

(FISHWIFE hands the MALE and FEMALE the two smaller fish and grabs her rear.)

I'll get him now, that pesty flea.
I'll stop his nasty little spree.

Answer 4

"The Problem", by A.R. Gurney or Neil Simon's "Visitor from Forest Hills" are very funny pieces that look at the complexity and problems of marriage. If you're looking for a challenge, have a look at "Springtime" by Maria Irene Fornes. It's a very interesting one act play that looks at issues like homosexuality, pornography, and crime.

Answer 5

Check out 'dentity Crisis by Christopher Durang. It's hilarious *and* serious.

Answer 6

Look into "The Actor's Nightmare" by Christopher Durang. Funny and odd and thought-provoking. Can get by with little to no props.

Answer 7

I love "Museum"! It is a fantastic one act. The only drawback is that you need a large cast. If you don't have that, try "Morning, Noon and Night". It's three one acts in one collection, Noon is my favorite.

Good luck!

Answer 8

"The Twelve Dancing Princesses" - cast of 15
"The Princess and the Princess" - large cast
"The Lost Half Hour" - large cast

these plays are good for middle school aged people

Answer 9

Museum, by Tina Howe.