A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

A Bench at the Edge

Short Play, Dramatic Comedy  /  2any gender (adult)

Luigi Jannuzzi

"Dialogue riddled with humor and empathy for the human condition and the
decisions of life and death. A fine piece of writing." - Dramalogue

A Bench at the Edge

Request licence
Get the Script
  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    2any gender (adult)
  • Duration
    Duration
    40 minutes
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Fantasy, Adventure, Mystery/Thriller, Experimental
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult, Senior, Teen (Age 14-18)
Accolades
Accolades
  • Winner! Samuel French Off Off Broadway Festival
    Winner! 2001 Best Play: British One-Act Finals
    Winner! 2007 Best Play at ALL IRELAND FINALS at ROSSMORE, IRELAND.
    Winner! 2012 Whitemoss Trophy (UK)

Details

Summary

A person sits on a bench at the edge of an abyss.  In the style of Theatre of the Absurd, this is simply done as a bench on the edge of the apron. Along comes a second person contemplating "a heroic dive." Their repartee, the meaning of where they really are and what they are really there for, draws out the humor and conflict of the edge. What is the abyss and what are these people doing here? Comic and terrifying concepts mix with these lives that are drawn to the edge, the confrontations here, and the concludion that life is precious after all. A terrific, bare stage, 2 character piece!

Published in Off Off Broadway Festival Plays, 6th Series.

History
Selected by New York Theatre Critics and published by Samuel French as one of the winning plays in the 6th Annual Off-Broadway play festival. 
Keywords

Could be cast with 2 Females or 1 Male and 1 Female. Feel free to change
genders. This comedy works well with an all FEMALE, all MALE, or mixed
cast.

  • Time Period Contemporary, Present Day
  • Setting The present.  A bare stage with a bench. 
  • Features Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes
  • Additional Features Local Celebrity Cameo
  • Duration 40 minutes

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £40 per performance plus VAT when applicable.

Scripts

Available Formats:
Get the Script

Authors

Luigi Jannuzzi

Luigi Jannuzzi

Luigi Jannuzzi is an award-winning playwright of one-act theater pieces, as well as full-length plays, who combines romantic/absurdist comedy with serious themes of love, truth and the need to rise above it all. His one-act plays, such as A Bench at the Edge and The Barbarian ...

View full profile

Now Playing