Black Balloons

​​Three people arrive at a birthday party for someone they don't know, and don't remember why they are there. The only clues are the brightly colored balloons and presents they carry....
v2.2

​​Three people arrive at a birthday party for someone they don't know, and don't remember why they are there. The only clues are the brightly colored balloons and presents they carry....
v2.2

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Black Balloons

Recommended by

  • John Busser: Black Balloons

    10.26.25 - Talk about grabbing you by the throat and not letting go! This creepy little tale of birthdays, balloons and blackouts had me riveted from page one. I had NO idea where this was going, but once I got there, like the three characters in the play, I couldn't get back out. I HAD to know where this was going. Barry Wallace hooked me like I was a trout in a stream. I know this because my mouth was hanging open throughout my read. This was excellent.

    10.26.25 - Talk about grabbing you by the throat and not letting go! This creepy little tale of birthdays, balloons and blackouts had me riveted from page one. I had NO idea where this was going, but once I got there, like the three characters in the play, I couldn't get back out. I HAD to know where this was going. Barry Wallace hooked me like I was a trout in a stream. I know this because my mouth was hanging open throughout my read. This was excellent.

  • Kyle R. Thomas: Black Balloons

    Wow. An audience should be warned to unsettle into their seats for this one. This piece is very intriguing and mysterious. The word I keep coming back to is unsettling, and I mean that as a compliment.

    Wow. An audience should be warned to unsettle into their seats for this one. This piece is very intriguing and mysterious. The word I keep coming back to is unsettling, and I mean that as a compliment.

  • James Binz: Black Balloons

    It's creepy all right. This is a fun piece for a group to perform - the story is straightforward and well done. The characters are unique and the pacing is just right. Barry Wallace has created a strong ten minutes slice of , well, maybe not life, but theater. Well done!

    It's creepy all right. This is a fun piece for a group to perform - the story is straightforward and well done. The characters are unique and the pacing is just right. Barry Wallace has created a strong ten minutes slice of , well, maybe not life, but theater. Well done!

View all 7 recommendations

Character Information

2 men, 1 woman. Any age
  • Tom
    Character Age
    Young Man
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Emily
    Character Age
    30's
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • Ronald
    Character Age
    60's
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Male

Development History

  • Type Commission, Organization 2021 Playwriting Challenge, Year 2021

Production History

  • Type Professional, Organization The Ugly Radio Audio Sci-fi/Horror Anthology: Season 4, Episode 8, "Live. Die. Repeat." https://open.spotify.com/episode/5e0TI9yiBDyIHkp2UOVmJs?si=uMfloLScS0q5rSHowubrDw, Year 2024
  • Type Professional, Organization The Ten Show, presented by the Hive Collaborative, Provo UT, Year 2022
  • Type Professional, Organization We All Shine Productions, Ontario, Canada, Year 2022
  • Type Workshop, Organization Pipeline-Collective's THE SALON, Year 2021

Awards

  • BEST SCREENPLAY
    The Ten Show, Presented by The Hive Collaborative
    Winner
    2022