Student-written 10-minute plays prove short is sweet

 Love, power, and money.

These are not uncommon words in our vernacular and in fact they tend to motivate many of our human actions. We are creatures of self-importance and we know it. It only makes sense that short, slice-of-life plays would reflect these three themes.

 Four student playwrights, for a class on the subject, were made to concoct a ten-minute-or-less play in which there were three characters, with each character’s mind set on one of the three qualities. This was an interesting and eye-opening device that ensured the plays would not run dry on excitement. 

 Matthew Mazuroski, professor of theater, opened the festival by pointing out directors and playwrights in the audience and further asking them to explain the background for the projects. This year is the first for the festival and he was appropriately excited for it to begin. 

 The first play, entitled “Mike Weil’s piece”, was written by Mike Weil ’12. While simple, the driving forces were clearly represented in a surreal at-home scene. Hilarity ensues when a lovesick boss visits his money-driven employee and the power-hungry wife for dinner– if you’re astute, you might have an inkling of the events. After a whimsical throw-down, the boss ends up lovingly playing second fiddle to the woman who now oversees his business and the former employee is happy with more money and no one else to spend it on. 

 The next play, done out of order, was called “Carma”. Written by Henry Fandel ’10 and directed by Courtney Edwards ’10, this short, funny play showed that what goes around comes around. Starring Nicholas Gallo ’13 as a father who hates having a woman as a boss yet gets bossed around by his gold-digger girlfriend, the glimpse into a son’s needs riotously drew the audience through an awkward car ride with a momentous end that may or may not have involved a female police officer. 

 “The Prostitute”, written by Ian Steffy ’12, was a nice follow-up, but was lighter than the first two plays. In it, two men wish to film, as it was so delicately put, a porno with a prostitute. The hooker is of high class and demands extra money for “the back door.” Only problem? One of them has fallen in love with her! While the director haggles, the actor ogles and eventually asks her to dinner. In a well-acted climax, she makes sure that he will pay for a high-quality dinner ... at Olive Garden. 

 Finishing up the festival was “Deceit”, the longest of the four. Written by Danielle Murphy ’13, this play also ended up being the darkest. Instead of taking a purely humorous look at human emotion, Murphy, the only female playwright, delved into the desperate side. When a skittish man is played for his money by a woman he adores, all goes much worse than they could have imagined. Not without humor, the ending serves to shock viewers and provoke introspection, something college students should practice more often.

 Although all four plays together took no more than 45 minutes, they provided valuable entertainment that drew audiences into the arts. The length was perfect for busy schedules and provided a neat tidbit to chew over. Two of them were directed by Edwards, while Joshua Sanchez ’12 directed the other two. The acting and flow worked superbly well for each playwrightís purpose and brought their visions to life. Funny, interesting, and short, the Ten-Minute Play Festival was definitely a success.

 For more information, contact Matthew Mazuroski ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )

 First-year Lauren Bejzak is a Layout Assistant. Her email is This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .