←Recommendations of ONE PHONE CALL (a ten minute play)

A mysterious call at work leads Charles to question his wife Melinda about their past which, in turn, leads to an unraveling of every he thought he knew about her…and them. Marj O'Neill-Butler Does an exemplary job escalating the tension in the ten-minute two-hander at the perfect pace. The final gut-punch lands with a force and precision that not only leaves Charles staggered and catching his breath, but will have the audience doing so as well.

Melinda has a shocking secret, the revelation of which shatters her marriage in this taut, captivating drama. The reveal is devastating and brings down a darkness from which there is no escape. The skill on display in bringing these characters and this narrative to life is truly impressive.

Wow, not sure what I could add to all the great reviews written below, but this is a crackerjack of a play with advancing tension, underlying terror, and a shocking revelation. I couldn't imagine a more potent and satisfying play. A real triumph for playwright Marj O'Neill-Butler, who has packed a wallop of a story in the ten-minute play format.

Melinda's got a secret, and Charles won't rest till he ferrets it out. Filled with twists and turns, this short play shows the mastery of playwright Marj O'Neill-Butler and her unerring way with building dramatic tension. Another feather in her playwriting cap, and hooray! Another short play of hers to read, enjoy and produce!

Like a poisoned arrow, this short, incisive piece deftly establishes it's premise, then hurtles to a satisfying - though open-ended - finish. And the fact that it leaves just a few loose ends at that finish adds to the delight, if you will, of this work. What's missing is a live performance! Kudos!

With perfect Pinteresque pacing, O’Neill-Butler slithers into a glacial marriage, exposing it for what it really is. ONE PHONE CALL has the requisite plot twists of a well-made 10-minute play, but the real story is found between the deftly-crafted lines of dialogue. Audiences will be discussing this disquieting two-hander long after the closing coup de grace.

A swift and powerful one-two punch of suspicion, dread, and discovery. Marj O'Neill-Butler has crafted a terrific two-hander that delves into long-standing relationships and the pliable nature of love and trust. An excellent example of what can be done with the 10-minute format.

One fascinating situation unravels through the course of this excellent ten-minute play. What I loved about this was the technique in using the dialogue to feint and jab, parry and dodge. It certainly builds up the intensity until you reach a climax that is earned and at the same time allows you as the reader/viewer to draw your own conclusions. This should be brilliant to see staged and provides some meaty roles for actors to sink their teeth into. They won't be phoning it in, to be sure.

Master of the ten minute play, Marj O'Neill-Butler has crafted vivid a cat and mouse game between a husband and wife. The urgency is palpable. One phone call and the revelation of a secret changes the marriage of Melinda and Charles. The audience is kept wondering about the secret until the very end. Bravo Marj!