An Audience of One

by Michael C. O'Day

[TEN MINUTE] Infatuation. Pursuit. Rejection. Repeat. One last, desperate attempt, against all the obstacles thrown up by a cold and indifferent world, to catch the attention of one loved from afar and sweep them up in the delirious ecstasies of passion. Maybe.

[TEN MINUTE] Infatuation. Pursuit. Rejection. Repeat. One last, desperate attempt, against all the obstacles thrown up by a cold and indifferent world, to catch the attention of one loved from afar and sweep them up in the delirious ecstasies of passion. Maybe.

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An Audience of One

Recommended by

  • Cam Eickmeyer: An Audience of One by Michael C. O'Day
    “

    There's the skill of showing more by saying less and then there's the ART that this short piece climbs to. Each line of dialogue is a short punch and the reader/viewer fills in all the painful, awkward gaps to a beautiful and full story. Very lovely play.

    There's the skill of showing more by saying less and then there's the ART that this short piece climbs to. Each line of dialogue is a short punch and the reader/viewer fills in all the painful, awkward gaps to a beautiful and full story. Very lovely play.

    ”
  • James Perry: An Audience of One by Michael C. O'Day
    “

    A desperate hero seeks respite from the monotonous routine of everyday life. A single climactic monologue, departing from the deliberately sparse and minimalist dialogue, breaks the repetitive cycle and expresses the core message of the play. Tragically, yet humorously, this message remains unheard. Michael C. O’Day has created a truly exquisite piece of theatre.

    A desperate hero seeks respite from the monotonous routine of everyday life. A single climactic monologue, departing from the deliberately sparse and minimalist dialogue, breaks the repetitive cycle and expresses the core message of the play. Tragically, yet humorously, this message remains unheard. Michael C. O’Day has created a truly exquisite piece of theatre.

    ”
  • Paul Braverman: An Audience of One by Michael C. O'Day
    “

    What starts out as a fast-paced "slice of life" piece ultimately reveals itself to be a highly insightful short play on our human need for meaningful contact. The unusual form gets your attention, and then the Hero's eventual eruption grabs you by the lapels. This is master class in short play construct. This was one of my favorite plays at the '24 Valdez Theatre Conference.

    What starts out as a fast-paced "slice of life" piece ultimately reveals itself to be a highly insightful short play on our human need for meaningful contact. The unusual form gets your attention, and then the Hero's eventual eruption grabs you by the lapels. This is master class in short play construct. This was one of my favorite plays at the '24 Valdez Theatre Conference.

    ”
View all 10 recommendations

Development History

  • Reading, Tuesdays at Nine cold reading series, Naked Angels, 2024
  • Reading, Ten-Minute Play Slam, Valdez Theatre Conference, 2024

Production History

  • Community Theater, Old Academy Players, One-Act Bonanza, Philadelphia, PA, 2024