About this book
One-Act Play Collection 005 by Various gathers ten concise, electric one-act dramas that showcase the range and resilience of the short-play form. From James M. Barrie’s sharp social wit to Susan Glaspell and George Cram Cook’s probing modernist realism, and Frederik Pohl’s speculative edge, this anthology spans social satire, domestic tension, psychological mystery, and early science fiction. Also included are works by Hereward Carrington, Marjorie Benton Cooke, Alice Gerstenberg, St. John Hankin, George Middleton, David Pinski, and an evocative piece by an unknown Japanese author, reflecting international currents in dramatic writing.
Rooted largely in the vibrant theatrical experiments of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, these short plays illuminate shifting ideas about gender, class, imagination, and the limits of theatrical form. The one-act structure keeps momentum taut while offering memorable characters and scenes ideal for performance or study.
Ideal for listeners who love dramatic works and play anthologies, theatre students, actors seeking audition pieces, and anyone curious about the evolution of modern drama, this collection is a compact, varied entry point into classic and genre-bending short plays.
