A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

Hotline

Short Play, Dark Comedy  /  1w, 4m

Elaine May

In Hotline by Elaine May, a neurotic woman with enough urban angst to fill a neighborhood calls a suicide crisis hotline late one night...

Part of the one-act collection, Death Defying Acts.

Hotline

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    1w, 4m
  • Duration
    Duration
    40 minutes
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Not Applicable
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult, Teen (Age 14 - 18)
Accolades
Accolades
  • 1995 Outer Critics Circle Award Nomination for Outstanding Off-Broadway Play. 

Details

Summary
In Hotline by Elaine May, a neurotic woman with enough urban angst to fill a neighborhood calls a suicide crisis hotline late one night. The counselor who gets the call is overwhelmed - it is his first night on the job. Hotline is dark and desperate, and makes for a wildly funny forty minutes of theatre. 
History
Hotline premiered in an evening of three new one-acts titled, Death Defying Acts in 1995 at Variety Arts Theatre, under the direction of Michael Blakemore. 
Keywords
Performing Groups
KEN
DR. RUSSELL
MARTY
DOROTHY
DELIVERY BOY
  • Time Period Contemporary, Present Day
  • Setting A New York City apartment, and the phone room of a suicide crisis hotline. 
  • Features Contemporary Costumes / Street Clothes
  • Additional Features No intermission
  • Duration 40 minutes
  • Cautions
    • Mild Adult Themes

Media

“A wealth of laughter.” - Newsday

“Lighter than air, an elegant diversion.” - The New York Times

Music

  • Musical Style N/A (Not a musical)
  • Vocal DemandsN/A (Not a musical)
  • Chorus Size N/A (Not a musical)

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: $55 per performance
    $90 with other plays in collection

Scripts

Available Formats:
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Authors

Author

Elaine May

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