Seven Brief Plays About Women in Distress

To go through life as a woman is to be in distress most of the time, so these short plays alight on situations that are inherently distressing -- doctor visits, photo shoots, looking for the right dress and navigating around swimming pools. Since we're blessed with uncanny reserves of strength and imagination, we tend to emerge triumphant. One way or another these are comedies about transformation.

Appearances - (2f) set in the ladies’ dressing room of a department store
A mousy woman hoping to be the belle of the ball tries on dress after dress, exhausting the patience of the woman in charge of the area.

The Divine Fallacy - (1m, 1f) set in a photographer’s studio
A camera-shy novelist needs a head shot for her upcoming novel. Chaos ensues during her photo shoot with a suave fashion photographer.

Through a Glass Darkly - (1m, 1f) set in an optometrist’s office
Things spin out of control when a young playwright visits her optometrist for an emergency eye exam.

Teeth - (1m, 1f) set in a dentist’s office
It’s Bach’s birthday. A neurotic woman has come to her dentist to have a filling replaced, but he’s struggling with his own problems.

Water Music - (1m, 2f) set in the pool area of a health club
Ophelia unexpectedly pops up in the whirlpool of a health club after having drowned in “Hamlet”, creating havoc for the lifeguard and a retired school teacher.

Milk and Water - (6f) set in a pool
The Nursing Mothers’ Water Aerobics class is waiting for their teacher to show up. When she cancels, they take over the class with stunning results.

Skin Deep - (2m, 1f) set on the R train in New York City
Daphne, the wood nymph is being chased through the subway system by Apollo. She flies into the arms of an infamous dermatologist who tries to save her. But can he?