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An Assortment Box of Shorts (Volume 1)

Philip Ayckbourn

Genre: Comedy

Cast size: 2-4

Duration: Various (average 15-20 mins)

Philip Ayckbourn | Collections | Shorts | 2m, 1f, Various 1m/f

Short synopsis

Six stand-alone 15/20-minute comedy playlets. Can be performed as individual pieces or mixed and matched to comprise a complete evening’s entertainment… or two.

Contains six short comedy plays.

  • Love After Death
    Stan visits the grave of his recently deceased wife Sally. Sally is there waiting for him although Stan can’t see her. Each have an awkward confession to make.
  • Mea Culpa 
    Nick and Joanna get into an argument as both claim themselves to be the most culpable for their recent break-up.
  • N.D.E 
    Death arrives disguised as a young woman to collect Victor whose time is ‘up’. Victor doubts she’s actually the Grim Reaper and, what’s more, believes a possible romance could blossom between them.
  • Critical Analysis 
    Adele and Tom visit a modern art gallery. Adele educates Tom as to the deeper meaning of the exhibits. However, the exhibition is not what it appears. 
  • Conspiracy Hamlet
    Hamlet has returned to Elsinore castle and meets up with his old school friend Horatio. Hamlet however is full of more conspiracy theories than Horatio could ever dream of in his philosophy. But is Horatio the friend he purports to be. 
  • Androids Break 
    Two androids meet in their recreation area to discuss their human owners, the inconsistencies of human love and their own android plans for world domination. Things take a turn for the worse when they begin to speculate on the nature of God, the origin of the universe and the concept of infinity.

Love After Death (1m, 1f)

  • Sally – older woman. Yorkshire accent.
  • Stan – older man. Yorkshire accent.

Mea Culpa (1m, 1f)

  • Nick – age flexible.
  • Joanna – age flexible.

N.D.E (1m, 1f)

  • Death – younger woman.
  • Victor – middle-aged man.

Critical Analysis (2m, 1f, Various m/f)

  • Adele – younger woman.
  • Tom – younger man.
  • Frank – age flexible.
  • Punters – age flexible.

Conspiracy Hamlet (2m)

  • Hamlet – age flexible
  • Horatio – age flexible

Androids Break (1m, 1f)

  • Ann 4787 – age flexible.
  • Roy 2698 – age flexible.

There is also 'An Assortment Box of Shorts' Volume 2

Fringe Review: "Exciting Work"

Type
Free

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An Assortment Box of Shorts (Volume 1)

Free
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All our musicals are included in our perusal service. Through this, representatives of producing organisations can request a USB Stick of perusal material  which comprise the script/libretto and piano/vocal score as PDF files; a Cast (or Studio) Recording as MP3 files and (where available) an MP4 file video of either the premiere production or of a subsequent production.

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