The Difficult Crossing
Andrew Wild
Genre: Drama
Cast size: 2
Duration: 30 - 35 mins approx
Andrew Wild | Drama | One Act | 1m, 1f
Short synopsis
- Synopsis
- Characters
‘The Difficult Crossing’ is a short piece that offers opportunity for two actors to explore a relationship independently, but together. It looks at two perspectives of the same conscious moment: when we fall into the suspended state of sleep. Throughout, ‘Him’ is asleep and is acting out his dreams, and ‘Her’ is awake and is voicing her thoughts.
He goes through flights of fancy as his dreaming self skips between unrelated comic scenes, whilst she is grounded in the realities of real life. It opens with ‘Him’ apparently waking up into a dream-like place where not everything is as it should be. He is initially confused but ‘goes with the flow’ of the events that occur. Meanwhile, ‘Her’ muses on life, and the difficulties she has in communicating directly with ‘Him’.
Celebrities and superficial thoughts are brought to life in his imagination which echo a human need for 'dreams' as a route to happiness. A need to achieve something great is nodded at in his obsession with the famous figures of the past. She however, has more emotional depth and wears her heart on her sleeve as she confesses to herself that she is expecting a child, but cannot find a way to tell him. Their coming together at the end, the first time they interact, brings all the thoughts full circle. There is scope in the production of this piece to add considerable directorial vision.
Applying for and paying royalties
To apply for royalties, please complete the form on our apply for royalties page.
To pay for fixed fee royalties having received your Quotation from us, please go to this payment form.
More information
If you require any additional information regarding this script, please don’t hesitate to contact us here.
Frequently asked questions
Can we try before we buy?
Of course! All our plays and pantomimes have a free Preview Script available for download as an A4 pdf file that contains 60-75% of the full script. If you like what you read then you can buy an inexpensive e-script of the entire play (typically less than half the cost of a traditional printed script) which is licensed to you for your personal use. Purchasing a script copying licence allows you to make just enough copies to support rehearsals and performances.
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.
Some titles have the facility to read the entire script online on our website.
Do we need a Licence To Perform?
The simple answer is, yes.
Under the international laws of copyright, you must be in possession of a valid, unexpired licence before performing any piece of theatre unless the owner or managers of the copyright has waived their rights.
Why do you insist on providing a formal royalties quotation?
When you request a quotation, it is logged in our system, it forms part of an orderly queue and protects your place in that queue should multiple licensing requests occur for the same show.
Need help?
Contact us
If you need help with our scripts, please contact our customer service team, we would be more than happy to help.
Established for over 25 years
Unearthing future talent
Stagescripts is a trusted licensing company run by theatre professionals with decades of experience on and off stage. Our curated catalogue includes over 1,000 carefully selected plays, musicals, and pantomimes — from fresh, undiscovered writing to well-loved classics.
We’re passionate about helping theatre-makers at every level discover scripts that inspire, challenge, and connect with audiences. Whether you're staging a village hall production or leading a professional company, our team offers expert advice, flexible support, and a responsive, personal service to help your next performance shine.
