Containing plays by Chekhov, James Barrie, Sacha Guitry, W. W. Jacobs and Margaret Wood, this book provides an introduction, exercises, notes and stage directions which will be extremely useful to student performers.

Six one-act plays by six Newbery Medal-winning authors.

THE STORIES: MARGARET’S BED. Elsie picks up Ben at the symphony and brings him back to the apartment she shares with Margaret, who is away for the night. Ben assumes that this is a prelude to sex, but truly Elsie is just desperate for Ben to sleep in Margaret’s empty bed, because she has a pathological fear of sleeping in an empty apartment. (1 man, 1 woman.) THE KILLING. Mac meets Huey at a bar and brings him home to his apartment to share a bottle of whiskey, but this isn’t the kind of pick-up you might think. Mac, who is a religious man and fears damnation, hopes to convince Huey, who does not believe, to kill him. (2 men.) THE POWER OF SILENCE. Teachers at the same school, Emma and Louise have been receiving mysterious phone calls, and when Emma answers, no one speaks. Louise is less disturbed by the calls, but they make Emma frantic, and she is sure that one of her students is responsible. After several silent calls, someone rings their door buzzer repeatedly. But who’s there? (2 men, 2 women.) PRODIGAL. Terry is a troubled teen who’s been arrested multiple times and is on probation. In fact, if his mother won’t let him stay with her, Terry has to turn himself in and go back to “the farm.” Nancy has a chance at a new life with a new husband, though, and she can’t handle her son anymore. But her decision has dire consequences for others. (1 man, 2 women.) THE CALL. Joe has traveled to New York City from Billings, Montana for a Shriners-like convention and parade, but he is weighed down by his sense of failure and fear of a changing world. He can’t even bring himself to stay with his successful actress sister and her husband in their tony apartment, preferring to drag his heavy suitcase to find a hotel room on a low floor. (2 men.) THE LOVE DEATH. Byron is a successful writer, living alone in a well-decorated apartment, who makes a series of calls to his mother, friends, and the critic who gave his last book of short stories a terrible review to let them know that he is about to commit suicide. (1 man, voices.) MOVED-IN. The super of the apartment complex, Mr. Flicker, is leaving, and the board has offered his job to Carlton. But Carlton, an African American who struggled to get admitted to the complex in the first place, isn’t sure he wants to take the job and give up the hate he feels for many of his fellow tenants. (2 men, 1 woman.)

The world according to David Ives is a very add place, and his plays constitute a virtual stress test of the English language -- and of the audience's capacity for disorientation and delight. Ives's characters plunge into black holes called "Philadelphias," where the simplest desires are hilariously thwarted. Chimps named Milton, Swift, and Kafka are locked in a room and made to re-create Hamlet. And a con man peddles courses in a dubious language in which "hello" translates as "velcro" and "fraud" comes out as "freud." At once enchanting and perplexing, incisively intelligent and side-splittingly funny, this original paperback edition of Ives's plays includes "Sure Thing," "Words, Words, Words," "The Universal Language," "Variations on the Death of Trotsky," "The Philadelphia," "Long Ago and Far Away," "Foreplay, or The Art of the Fugue," "Seven Menus," "Mere Mortals," "English Made Simple," "A Singular Kinda Guy," "Speed-the-Play," "Ancient History," and "Philip Glass Buys a Loaf of Bread."

ATTACK OF THE GIANT TENT WORMS. Billy and Clara are nearing the end of their summer vacation on Cape Cod, as their cottage is being devoured by billions of tent-worms. Worse, Billy has just gotten word from his oncologist that there are no more treatment options for his brain cancer. A darkly humorous exploration of which is more terrifying: bugs or death? (1 man, 1 woman.) DESIRE QUENCHED BY TOUCH. In 1950s New Orleans, a black masseur must account for the disappearance of his favorite white customer. People don’t just vanish inside massage parlors… (3 men.) THE FIELD OF BLUE CHILDREN. Everything in Layley’s life is going according to plan. She belongs to the best sorority at her university and has a devoted boyfriend who could easily become a devoted husband. But Layley suspects that there is more to life than stifling conformity. So she signs up for a poetry class in the hopes of expressing herself. There she meets Dylan, a sensitive poet with whom she enjoys a night of passion that opens up a truly revolutionary prospect: living a life of her own. (3 men, 4 women.) ORIFLAMME. Oriflamme (noun): A red or scarlet banner; a knight’s standard; a rallying principle…Sickly Anna Kimball, on her final day, reaches out for, and becomes, all of these. (1 man, 1 woman.) YOU LIED TO ME ABOUT CENTRALIA. Jim, the Gentleman Caller, leaves the Wingfields’ disastrous dinner party to meet his fiancée Betty’s train. The evening won’t turn out the way either of them expected. (1 man, 1 woman.) THE RESEMBLANCE BETWEEN A VIOLIN CASE AND A COFFIN. Tom and his sister Roe’s childhood comes to a painful end when Richard Miles, who moves in light, arrives in town with his violin in a case. (2 men, 4 women.)

This collection of royalty-free plays contains classics by well-known playwrights: Glaspell's Trifles, Synge's Riders to the Sea, Strindberg's The Stronger, plus works by Aristophanes, Chekhov, Yeats, Barrie, and others.

THE STORIES: Act One: In FOREPLAY OR: THE ART OF THE FUGUE, we find Chuck, a self-styled Don Juan, and his girlfriend on a date at the miniature golf course. When they move to the second hole, a slightly older Chuck II appears with another date. Finally

Philip Glass... is a parodic musical vignette in trademark Glassian style, with the celebrated composer having a moment of existential crisis in a bakery.

Step into the captivating world of "The Anniversary" by Anton Chekhov, a timeless exploration of love, longing, and the passage of time. Immerse yourself in the poignant tale of a married couple on the brink of their 25th anniversary, as Chekhov masterfully captures the complexities of human relationships with his signature blend of wit and insight. Through rich character development and evocative storytelling, he invites readers to ponder the nature of love and the inevitability of change. Themes of nostalgia, regret, and the search for meaning resonate throughout the narrative, offering readers a window into the inner lives of the characters as they confront the ghosts of their past and the uncertainties of their future. Chekhov's keen observations and lyrical prose paint a vivid portrait of a moment suspended in time, where emotions run deep and resolutions are elusive. Character analysis reveals the nuanced dynamics between husband and wife, as they navigate the complexities of marriage and confront the realities of aging. Through subtle gestures and intimate conversations, Chekhov captures the essence of human connection and the bittersweet beauty of shared history. The overall tone and mood of the story are imbued with a sense of melancholy and introspection, reflecting the characters' contemplation of their lives and relationships. Chekhov's deft handling of tone creates a sense of intimacy and poignancy that lingers long after the final page is turned. Critically acclaimed for its depth of emotion and psychological insight, "The Anniversary" has earned praise from readers and critics alike for its timeless relevance and universal appeal. Its exploration of love, loss, and the passage of time resonates with readers of all ages and backgrounds, making it a cherished favorite among fans of classic literature. Whether you're a seasoned admirer of Chekhov's work or new to his literary genius, "The Anniversary" is sure to captivate and inspire. Join the legions of readers who have been moved by this timeless masterpiece and discover why Anton Chekhov remains one of the greatest storytellers of all time. Don't miss your chance to experience the timeless beauty of "The Anniversary." Order your copy today and immerse yourself in the exquisite prose and profound insights of Anton Chekhov's enduring classic.

BORTSOV. You don't understand me. . . . Understand me, you fool, if there's a drop of brain in your peasant's wooden head, that it isn't I who am asking you, but my inside, using the words you understand, that's what's asking! My illness is what's asking! Understand!