Hoax (Short Play)

by Debbie Lamedman

A short play about the politics of mask-wearing. An oblivious non-mask-wearing woman does not recognize her neighbor is deeply distressed and talks incessantly about her own problems.

A short play about the politics of mask-wearing. An oblivious non-mask-wearing woman does not recognize her neighbor is deeply distressed and talks incessantly about her own problems.

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Hoax (Short Play)

Recommended by

  • Lee R. Lawing: Hoax (Short Play)

    Saw this performed as part of the Conversations in America and the actors captured their roles perfectly of those who even to this day don't really think that this virus was real and was just a joke that was being played up by the liberal media. Sadly, there were many days where I wished those people who felt like that it was a hoax would just keep having those super-spreading events to weed out their masses before the next set of elections except it would be people like Charlotte's husband who would and have paid the heaviest of prices.

    Saw this performed as part of the Conversations in America and the actors captured their roles perfectly of those who even to this day don't really think that this virus was real and was just a joke that was being played up by the liberal media. Sadly, there were many days where I wished those people who felt like that it was a hoax would just keep having those super-spreading events to weed out their masses before the next set of elections except it would be people like Charlotte's husband who would and have paid the heaviest of prices.

  • Steven Strafford: Hoax (Short Play)

    Something is brewing underneath this conversation, and it ends up being the biggest piece of news one can get. A simple neighborly conversation, the one you want to avoid turns into something much more despairing in this short play that speaks to our world we live in now.

    Something is brewing underneath this conversation, and it ends up being the biggest piece of news one can get. A simple neighborly conversation, the one you want to avoid turns into something much more despairing in this short play that speaks to our world we live in now.

  • Claudia Haas: Hoax (Short Play)

    Hoax is a conversation I suspect many of us have had. There’s a fine line that is walked here and Lamedman does a fine job not crossing into stereotypical behavior. It’s a conversation that will likely not bear fruit but needs to be stated again and again. Actresses have a lot to work with in this short play and who knows? It may spark conversations in the audience.

    Hoax is a conversation I suspect many of us have had. There’s a fine line that is walked here and Lamedman does a fine job not crossing into stereotypical behavior. It’s a conversation that will likely not bear fruit but needs to be stated again and again. Actresses have a lot to work with in this short play and who knows? It may spark conversations in the audience.

View all 6 recommendations

Character Information

  • CHARLOTTE
    Female, 30s-40s, in shock, distraught, grieving, and emotional. She is wearing a mask.
    Character Age
    30s-40s
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • ALINA
    Female, 30s-50s, CHARLOTTE’S Romanian neighbor. Oblivious to CHARLOTTE’s emotional state. A non-believer regarding the Coronavirus. She thinks the whole thing is made up and refuses to adhere to safety precautions. Involved in her own world. She speaks with a thick Romanian accent. She is not wearing a mask.
    Character Age
    30s-50s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Romanian
    Character Gender Identity
    Female

Production History

  • Type Professional, Organization Women in the Arts & Media Coalition-Zoom Reading for Conversations in America 2020 Vision: The Year We Saw Everything, Year 2022