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Scripts in One Act Plays for All Ages by Hal Cohen
Baby Sitters --romantic comedy--1 senior male, 1 senior female, a baby bundle, 22 pages.
A babysitting date has been arranged for two widowed seniors. This first meeting becomes a comic disaster when the baby wakes up crying. Which sitter is able to stop the crying? Are they interested in meeting again under different circumstances? The scenes which follow the initial disaster present an opportunity to correct their first meeting and perhaps then a happy ending appears to be in sight.
Safeguard --farce, 2F, 1 M (30-40 yrs), 25 pages.
The fourth floor apartment is the setting for this farcical view of the “wacky” creative world. A portrait painter and her playwright husband are its occupants. The painter has found a neighbor with “the face that launched a thousand ships” for her next masterpiece. The playwright is busy working on three approaches to one story, hoping to satisfy every producer’s whim. When creative frustrations occur, it is the “strange safeguards” which cause havoc for the “face”.
L & L --comedy, 5 W, 37 pages.
The mother wants to have L (lunch) with her friend, then shop at L (Loehmann’s Dress Store) using her 25% discount coupon during a special two-hour 50% off sale. This joyous event conflicts with the task her daughter has given her--to inform the 100 invited guests that her daughter’s engagement party, scheduled in two days, has been canceled. To add to her misery, the mother must deal with her parasitic sister-in-law from New Orleans who is instrumental in securing a happy ending. When it happens, there is L (love).
Reach Out --light satirical comedy, seniors 4M, 4F, 32 pages.
In the recreation room of a Florida condo, the “Condo Comics” are rehearsing a play for the annual senior theatre convention where companies across the nation come to compete. The groups director would like the “comics” to “reach out” and present this “serious” play. He did not expect the rebellion which reveals the petty problems that may exist with amateurs. But with unexpected help from the most rebellious “comic”, the play is rewritten and becomes a winner.
The Seduction by and the Abduction of Marilyn Monroe (or Tchotchke! Tchotchke! Tchotchke!) --comedy 3F 2M, 46 pages.
Agatha, a collectible “fanatic” is selling her valuable Marilyn Monroe statue to surprise her husband, Curtis, with an anniversary trip to Alaska. With her friend, Miranda, she leaves “Marilyn” at home, assured that “she” will be safe until she finds a buyer. But Curtis is upset that Agatha is probably depleting her savings and crowding up their home with what he believes to be junk. Miranda’s husband, Russell, suggests that the men fake a robbery of the statue, in the hope that she might come to her senses.
Ten--off beat comedy, 1 M, 1F, 20-30 years) 9 pages.
This is a satirical piece, created in response to 10 Minute Play Contests that are sought by theatre companies. The use of the word/number 10 is used in the extreme. A stage manager announces how much time is left until ten minutes are up. Jen wants Ben’s help in scaling down her business presentation to ten minutes; her boss insists. The problem is solved when Jen recalls her mother’s difficulty at the time she was giving birth to Jen.
A Root Awakening: A Definitive Report --comedy/drama, 1 F teen, 1 M, 1 F senior, 1 F mother offstage, 13 pages.
A high school teen has to write a “generation” report for her history class. She thinks the assignment is a pain. The fourth wall is broken when she invites the audience to witness a reenactment of the interview with her grandparents. Since their stories reveal upsetting information, she has to decide to either report the truth or let sleeping dogs do what sleeping dogs do.
www dot Generations dot com --comedy/drama, 1 grandfather, 1 F teen, off stage voice of mother, 43 pages.
A teenager contacts her deceased grandfather via the Internet. Although each has conflicting opinions about life situations, a loving connection exists. The tables are turned when the now older teen seeks an answer to her final inquiry. It is quite possible that one generation does have something of worth to say to another--if only each would listen.
Make Yourself at Home --drama, 4 M 4W, extras, 27 pages.
A Disturbance on Main Street --comedy/drama, 2M, 4W, 40-50 yrs) 13 pages.
To help accept the inevitable, residents of an “old folks home” have Made Themselves At Home by employing some make-believe. But newcomer, Stan, challenges their reliance on make-believe in order to deal with the awfulness of mortality. Left alone, Stan rethinks his position and arranges a party to celebrate his birthday. Against doctor advice, he drinks wine, eats birthday cake, and participates in a great deal of dancing with his new friends. Before his demise, he Makes Himself At Home.
Tap Talk --serious/comedy, 3F 30-40 years, 8 pages.
Tap Talk began with the idea that tap routines should be used to mirror the emotions of the character. The scene is a Tap Dancing Class, part of the Adult Education Program offered by school districts. While waiting for the instructor to return from making calls to see if the absent students who appeared for the first meeting are planning to continue with the course, Helen tells Janet that there is evidence of her husband is having an affair.
Taking the S & H Subway Train --expressionist drama, 2 W 30-50 years, 2 M 30-50 years.
Four people are holding onto individual straphangers in a moving subway car. All are wondering what is going to happen next. Each reveal their suicide after having explained the reasons for doing so. They all blame THE INVESTIGATORS for revealing a minor private occurrence in their lives that placed them on this train.
Chapel Tales --comedy/drama, 5M, 4F (30-50 yrs), 30 pages.
Those in attendance are asked to eulogize a deceased male. As each relate a positive picture of the man, flashbacks reveal the type of person he really was. A fourth pall bearer is needed. The only person available is a homeless-drinking-truth-telling hired chapel employee who refuses and stalls the burial. Despite efforts from everyone in the chapel, it is the widow who is able to secure a “happy” ending.
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