One Act Comedy Plays (1)

Comedy (A-G)

	A Bird In The Bush by Ron Nicol (2m, 3f) 45-50 mins It’s a hot summer night, and Bernard’s stomach ache and his abiding hatred of a cooing pigeon combine to keep his whole family awake. When he determines to track the pigeon to its lair, his daughter’s fiancé and the next-door neighbour become entangled in his growing fixation. Eventually the police are called, and Bernard has to face the consequences – and the wrath of his long-suffering wife.

	A Bit On The Side by Tony Edwards (3m, 3f) 40-50 mins - A play in the 'Frank And Aggie' series Frank being out of work isn’t helping the family budget, so Aggie threatens to cut back on spending, so Frank does some gardening for his mate, Alf. But the man from DHSS arrives with information that Frank is moonlighting. There doesn’t look any way out of a certain prosecution, until Monica arrives home early and reveals some information of her own which changes the whole situation!

	A Family Affair by Christopher Owen (1m, 2f), 45 mins Prize Winner The comedy is set in Dilys and Brian’s dining room in their house in a small town in Wales. They and Dilys’ sister Miriam are having Sunday lunch. Dilys and Miriam are sisters who have always been jealous of each other especially where men are concerned. Brian, Dilys’ husband, is caught in the middle. However, it turns out he has a few surprises up his sleeve.

	A Field Full by Alan Bates (2m, 3f), 15 mins Set in the lounge of a seaside hotel in November. It is the end of an over fifties holiday and the coach to take nearly all of them home has arrived. David has fallen for Edwina and he has thirty minutes to make his feelings known, as Edwina has her own transport and won’t be going on the coach. During this time David is thwarted in his attempts to woo by hilarious interventions from other guests and officials.

	A Quiet Night In by Tony Edwards (2m, 2f) 40-50 mins - A play in the 'Frank And Aggie' series Money is tight in the Spratt household, so Aggie decides to stop Frank and Monica from going out every evening and squandering their money. She wants a quiet family night in, with games, stories, and a chance to speak about their precarious relationship. After much protesting from Frank and Monica, they start the games, but then the interruptions start, from telephone calls to visits from roving Evangelists. All this accumulates in so much noise and mayhem, that Aggie pays them all to go out for the night!

	A Run Of Bad Luck by Les Clarke (1m, 1f) 40-50 mins Stuart has broken up with his girlfriend and takes up jogging. One day, he collapses onto a park bench where Christine happens to be sitting and relaxing at the time. Could it really be love at first sight? They talk and meet there again regularly, sharing their past lives with each other, but can their relationship move on?

	A Town Like Dead Wood by Tony Layton (14m, 16f, 7m/f) - but plenty of scope for doubling, 60 mins A pastiche of 'Under Milk Wood' in which we see the life of the town reflected through cameos of various characters. The brief glimpses we have of their lives is enough to leave us with the clear impression that recession is having its effect on the community. However, as long as you have a group of people holding on to the remnants of their society, you will always have intrigue, complex personal relationships, sex … in fact everything you find in life’s comedy.

	A Waste Of Space by Phil Mansell (1m, 2f) 50 mins A play exploring the relationship between long-suffering Ruth, her recently retired husband Graham, who is addicted to car boot sales, and their gay neighbour Libby. While Ruth adopts a minimalist approach to decor, Libby tries to persuade her to try a more alternative lifestyle – with her. Graham, meanwhile, continues to cart home boxes of assorted junk. Something has to give in this comedy written to be performed with social distancing.

	Accommodation Haunted by Alan Richardson (1m, 3f) 40 mins When Brian finds himself on an unexpected visit to a property letting (or real estate) agency for ghosts, he realises he is encountering a death changing experience. But even in the next life, you can still have a laugh and a spot of romance.

	Ancient And Modern by Martin Roche (1f) 40 mins Stella is now of an age whereby she realises she is from a different age. Opinionated, unforgiving, exacting, even gently and unwittingly xenophobic. She is a woman of routines, of rituals, of standards. And now, on Christmas Eve, forced by circumstances, surrounded by recollections and shadows and conditioned by expectations, the extremes of her ancient and modern worlds gently collide with humour, sincerity and a wholly unexpected personal revelation.

	Bedlam by Jack Felton (2m, 2f) 50 mins A middle aged couple, George and Suzie, struggle with an ordinary, everyday event, in this case buying a new mattress. The ordering and paying last week was easy … now comes the hard part, waiting at home for the delivery man to arrive. When George finds out they’ve delivered it next door, his blood pressure takes a turn for the worse as he alternates between frustration and rage in his dealings with the supplier to get it redelivered. A common problem, experienced by most of us!

	Beggar Your Neighbour by Ron Nicol (2m, 2f) 50 mins Mrs Freebody has copied every detail of Mrs Lightfoot’s living room - or has she? Then Mrs Lightfoot reports the disappearance of her husband and twelve children. Mrs Freebody is responsible - or is she? Constables Boulter and Cadbury investigate, and are just about to make an arrest for kidnapping, body snatching and mass murder when the truth is revealed.

	Branching Out by Keith Trezise (1m, 2f) 50 mins Three intrepid eco-warriors take up positions in a condemned tree with the sole purpose of saving it from the road developer’s axe. Only one of them, Pauline, is truly there for the tree’s sake, and even she’s on a deadline of her own. Rachel is there for the publicity it will bring her, and Derek turns up because he fancies Rachel. Are their convictions strong enough to actually save the tree?

	Bright Lights by Alan Richardson (1m, 2f) 40 mins Renowned critic Gerald Thornwood is feared in theatre-land. His vitriolic reviews can close a show and he exploits this power by routinely seducing young actresses on his promise of a favourable mention. But on the verge of another conquest, he’s confronted by an ex-actress who paid the price of spurning his advances. He’s been lured into a sting, but Gerald is not easily stung. Caustic exchanges ensue as truths, lies and revelations rebound in a bitch-fest with three substantial and rewarding roles.

	Bunkered by Phil Mansell (3m, 2f) 40-45 mins Business is bad at Tom’s run-down crazy golf course and the Igloo Ice Cream where his friend Kath works. All the holidaymakers are going to the spanking new pleasure beach at the other end of the bay. All looks lost until ageing hippy dropout and sandwich board man Dylan comes to the rescue.

	Butter Side Up by Maggie Dealey (2m, 3f) 55mins Breakfast is served at Chuckfarthing House. Which is tough when you have hangover and you’re the one who has to serve it. Will the organic grapefruit be worth the wait? Will the newly-weds ever make it down to breakfast? Will the past always come back to haunt you? Find out in this poignant comedy.

	CCTV by Derek Webb (3m, 1f) In the security control room of The Oaks shopping centre, Rich is coming on duty for the night shift, relieving Alex and Jane, two other guards. It is, it seems a ordinary evening at The Oaks – until the arrival of Keith, a robber of quite breathtaking incompetence, intent on robbing the shopping centre... Easily staged with some extremely funny scenes, CCTV has been a big hit in one-act festivals.

	Celebulite by Derek Webb (1m, 3f) We live in a celebrity-obsessed society. So, when minor celebrities measure their success on how many times they have appeared on a reality TV show, and how often they are recognised in the street, what must it be like for them to lose their looks overnight? In 'Celebulite', we meet Victoria Ingram-Brown – who wakes up one morning to discover she has aged 20 years – and Russell, who has put on five stone.

	Chairs by Ron Nicol (6f, 1m/f) 35-40 mins Marion, an enthusiastic young lecturer, is determined to foster better communication among the college staff. She enlists the help of her colleague Kath to re-arrange the chairs in the staff-room, hoping it will encourage the staff to talk to each other. Meanwhile, long-serving lecturer Mrs Douglas and newly-appointed Tessa become involved in a feud about where each should sit. Moving the chairs has unforeseen consequences; feelings are hurt and tempers rise, Kath gives up her job, and Mrs Douglas has a break-down. For some people, insignificant things can have an importance which others don’t always appreciate.

	Cinderella's Time Out by Jane Lockyer Willis (4m, 4f, 5m/f) 25 mins approx Cinderella yearns for a new life without straight roads and predictable endings. Abandoning the story and the doting Prince Charming, she travels the world seeking independence. But back home though, things are brewing …

	Connection Failed by Jack Llewellyn (3m, 3f) 60 mins The internet gave us social networking; our lives played out to invited guests. This play focuses on the lives of young professionals surviving the dating game, balancing relationships in full view of 'friends'. Everyone knows who you've poked! (Full Length version also available).

	Crazy Horses by Mark Norman (7m, 2f, 2m/f) 60 mins Also available as a two act version Staging a coup against God is all very well, but only if the people staging it know what they’re doing... which the Four Horsepeople of the Apocalypse don’t. To make matters worse, Satan proves not to be quite the evil genius they were expecting and there’s more to God than meets the eye …

	Dinner Is Served. My Lady by Tony Edwards (2m, 4f) 40-50 mins - A play in the 'Frank And Aggie' series Snooty Mrs Clegghorn has the lead in the local play, written and directed by the vicar’s wife, mousy Mrs Connors. Aggie is thrilled to be offered the part as maid to Mrs Clegghorn, with just one line to say… “Dinner is served, my Lady”. However, only a week before the play is on she is told that she is no longer required. Aggie is devastated, but then something happens which means Aggie has a lot more than one line to learn!

	Dirty Business by Derek Webb (1m, 2f) 50 min version Cuts are on their way big time at the local County Council as it struggles to find ways to meet Government spending targets. Josie and Angela are cleaning the office of one of the Council's Department Heads one evening when they come across a file which seems to show that their jobs are on the line too. They also discover some incriminating evidence which seems to show the same Department Head is guilty of marital infidelity. Armed with this, they set out to try and persuade him to change his mind about some of the planned cuts. But not everything goes quite according to plan...

	Early Birds by Laurence Marks & Maurice Gran (5m, 5f with doubling) 50 min approx If you've ever wondered how 'Birds Of A Feather' came to be written this is a one-act comedy that chronicles the conception and birth of one of Britain’s most popular and enduring TV situation comedies. This play was premiered to critical acclaim at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2018, and maps out the bumpy road travelled by Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran as they turned three hard working actresses into national icons. The characters of Linda Robson, Pauline Quirke and Lesley Joseph appear as themselves as part of the plot and also in two very brief 'Feathery' scenes as the eponymous Tracey, Sharon and Dorien.

	Ephesus Schmephesus by Laurence Marks & Maurice Gran (2m, 1f) 15-20 min approx Saul was a nice Jewish boy until he went on that holiday to Damascus. On the way there he had a revelation and now he’s telling everyone he’s found God and insists on being known as Paul, well, preferably Saint Paul. His poor mother, Miriam, summons Rabbi Mordachai, a wise and aged sage. Can the Rabbi knock some sense into the boy before he starts a new religion and everyone has to start eating shellfish?

	Exit Right, Running by Tony Layton (4m, 3f) 45 mins Prize Winner England in 1642 sees two actors fleeing from persecution as Royalists by Cromwell's men. As they try to meet their friend who will help them escape, they run into two 'ladies of the night' who recognise them as actors. Will they hold their tongues? Can they be bought? What revelation is one of the actors forced to make to the other?

	Fairground Attraction by Colin Barrow (2m, 4f, 1m/f) 50 mins (approx) This humorous tongue-in-cheek play takes place inside a psychic reading attraction at a fairground. Gypsy Rosa Pentalegro takes money from customers as if feeding a slot machine. Best friends Sandra and Becky have had a reading. John arriving in Rosa's absence, recognises Becky as a cast member from a play he's seen and read about. Rosa finds herself in a hold-up as John tries a desperate attempt to steal her takings.

	Flumes And Fumes by John Bartlett (5m, 6f) 60 mins Madcap mayhem, debauchery, lust and mistaken identity abound in this Commedia-style play set in 'Floaters Leisure Centre' just prior to an inspection by the local councillor, Mr Pantalone. Isabella, the Centre's Manageress, is in a flap; however her dysfunctional staff are not perturbed in the slightest. Add a good measure of lunacy to this theatrical pot of nonsense and you have all the ingredients for a crazy rollercoaster ride that builds and builds into an insane, ludicrous, climax that would not be amiss within the walls of Bedlam!

	Flushed by Ron Nicol (3f) 40-45 mins It’s a singles night, and Jan and Meg are taking a break in the Ladies Room. Jan is criticising Tara, unaware that Tara is hiding in one of the toilet cubicles. When Tara’s presence is revealed a fight ensues and Jan confesses the reason for her jealousy. Then Meg discovers that the door to the room seems to be locked, and the succeeding series of mishaps and misfortunes ruins Jan’s appearance and assurance. Tara eventually manages to open the door, but on the threshold of escape they find that Meg is trapped in one of the cubicles.

	Flushed Again by Ron Nicol (3f) 40-45 mins It’s Jan’s wedding reception, and Meg, Jan and Tara are taking a break in the Ladies Room. Feelings run high because Jan suspects that Tara was involved with new husband Mike. They find that the door to the room is jammed, and a succession of mishaps involving faulty wiring, leaking pipes, a rat and pieces of cake follow. Rescue is imminent when the lighting fails and the pipes burst, bringing a wet end to their miserable evening.

	Four Play by Keith Trezise (2m, 2f) 50 mins A ‘fifty-minute-farce’ in which Gary, whose marriage to Claire has all but finished, attempts to seduce, at his flat. the lovely Kate who he has just met in a pub. But Kate is married to Pete, who is Gary’s work colleague and who has arranged with Gary to stay with him next week to sort out his failing marriage. Claire has arranged with Gary to see if things can be patched up. The problem is that Pete, then Claire, arrive earlier than expected. What could, as they say, possibly go wrong!

	Frank Sumatra by Mike Yeaman (1m, 4f) 45 mins Performed in the style of a radio recording. Imagine Paddington Bear gone wrong. And not a bear. Bev and Keith are a nice young couple who care about the environment. They pay 10 quid a month to sponsor an orphan orangutan in Sumatra. They’re also trying hard for a baby. Their world is turned upside down when their orangutan turns up on their doorstep and they find themselves parents to a large, hairy delinquent teenager.

	French Toast by Diana Raffle (3m, 4f) 45 mins After twenty-five years of marriage, Frederique and Jasper are delighted to find that their marriage was never legal and they are happily free from each other. However, their daughter's wedding to an international rock star must come first, and so when an interfering member of the Press gets wind of this story, they endeavour to act like a happy family for all they are worth. This is a fast-paced comedy and with a very funny twist - great for one-act evenings or festivals.

	Gardening Leave by Nicolas Ridley (2m, 1f) 35 mins Bob’s in a bit of a pickle. He’s on ‘gardening leave’ and has been since his company ‘let him go’ a few months back. For Bob, work is everything and he’s desperate ‘to get back in the saddle’ – which is why he’s arranged to meet Tom, the friend of a friend, in a West End club. Can Tom help Bob? Well, that remains to be seen…

	Gilly's Gem by Sandy Taylor (1m, 4f) 45 mins Gold digger Toby thinks he is on to a good thing when he amorously cultivates the attentions of rich and independent Gilly. But Milly, the live-in cleaner, and her friend, prove to be invaluable in finding a way of getting rid of him without upsetting the boss. Regular favourite as a festival entry.

	God Bless America! by Geoff Buckingham (2m, 1f, 2m/f) 45 mins In 2060 a hen-pecked husband from West London mistakenly enters the lottery to become the next President of the United States, and, to his surprise, he finds out he's won. With a wife who's dead set against it, a presidential aide desperate to find a replacement for the previous president who has mysteriously disappeared, and a mischievous interfering robot, the scene is set for complications, confrontations and comedy.