Tail of the Bell

Eric is a recent college graduate working as an SAT tutor to pay the bills. Tonight he arrives at the Tarzana home of one of his wealthy students but finds that her mother, Michelle, is waiting for him instead. Her daughter Jessica isn't there yet, she explains, but she'll be arriving soon. However, as the conversation between them carries on, it becomes clear that Jessica is not coming at all, and...
Eric is a recent college graduate working as an SAT tutor to pay the bills. Tonight he arrives at the Tarzana home of one of his wealthy students but finds that her mother, Michelle, is waiting for him instead. Her daughter Jessica isn't there yet, she explains, but she'll be arriving soon. However, as the conversation between them carries on, it becomes clear that Jessica is not coming at all, and that Michelle has brought Eric here for different reasons. His relationship with Jessica has become close, she explains, perhaps too close. And despite Eric's denials and explanations, Michelle trots out more and more evidence indicating that something abnormal has been going on between tutor and student.
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Tail of the Bell

Recommended by

  • Andrew Vega:
    10 May. 2022
    Tense, awkward, and somewhat quirky and funny, TAIL OF THE BELL is a very entertaining play to read, watch, or listen to. Michelle seems to be very quick to jump to conclusions, and Eric tries his best to contain her frustrations while offering his own explanation of her accusations. This makes for a high-intensity, high-emotion conversation between the two that has a few good jabs and jokes sprinkled in for good measure.

    Highly recommend it!
  • Nick Malakhow:
    2 Apr. 2022
    A taut and tense interaction between a mother and her daughter's tutor whom she suspects of inappropriate conduct that unfolds in all the irregular and human rhythms of real time. While the mystery of what actually happened between Eric and Jessica drives the piece, Michelle's overall arc is perhaps the most compelling and intriguing throughline in the play--the way her concern for Jessica's wellbeing diverges from and intersects with her own anxieties about parenthood, not knowing her child, and self-actualization. The socio-economic snapshot is also crystal clear and well-rendered.
  • Cheryl Bear:
    6 Aug. 2020
    A fascinating investigation into the truth by a mother who smells something suspicious. She's presented with the conundrum of where to draw the boundary between herself and her daughter's life. A powerful and suspenseful exchange that brings up so many questions wrapping us up in the answers. Captivating and incredibly well done!

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    The Blank Theatre
    ,
    2017

Awards

Finalist
,
National Playwrights Conference
,
Eugene O'Neill Theater Center
,
2017
Finalist
,
Ashland New Plays Festival
,
Ashland New Plays Festival LLC
,
2017
Semi-Finalist
,
Princess Grace Playwriting Fellowship
,
New Dramatists
,
2017