A quietly devastating and beautifully structured drama, UNHEARD explores the painful distance between what we feel and what we say. Glenn Alterman crafts spare, naturalistic dialogue that gradually reveals layers of regret, love, and missed connections. The play’s haunting conceit culminates in a deeply moving realization, making for an intimate and unforgettable theatrical experience.

In Glenn Alterman’s “Unheard,” awkward silences punctuate the conversation of an estranged father and son, between whom incommunication has been a primary characteristic. Ironically, then, offstage sounds (hospital bells, a commanding voice over an intercom), move the action forward to an unexpected revelation. The result is a piercing meditation on the mysteries of filial attachment and the silence of death. A powerful ten-minute play, “Unheard” can be produced either in an audio format or in a fully staged production. Strongly recommended.

This beautiful piece starts out like a typical deathbed scene but quickly turns into something different and more. The device used is both funny and poignant and provides a message for us all, in the deepest, most heartfelt way. I have a feeling I’ll think back to this play the next time I have to say a final goodbye to a loved one.