Category Archives: Dramas

Serious plays with deep meaning.

A CONTEMPORARY CHRISTMAS CAROL – CHRISTMAS PLAYS

In modern day Beverly Hills, high powered Talent and Literary agent Elgin Scroge goes about his daily business running the shop with his one employee, Bob Cricket. It is the Christmas season of the year and Bob wants to leave early so he can buy Christmas presents for his family and Elgin finally lets him go with comments about how Elgin is left again to run the business.

The day turns to night and Elgin, who lives in his agency, pulls out the Murphy bed and prepares to go to sleep. In the middle of the night he is wakened by sounds from the Spirit of Christmas past played by a puppet. The spirit takes Elgin back in time and allows him to see how the past has formed his present situation.

The play follows the Dickens story with the Spirit of Christmas present and Christmas future, both puppets, bringing Elgin’s life to a full circle and making him realize that he has not been the man he thought he was. The play is an updated version of, A Christmas Carol, including most of the cast from the original story.

Mark Mcquown is an award winning playwright and screenplay writer.

Author: Mark Mcquown

Genre: Christmas Play

Type: Long one act play.

Length: 90 Minutes. 1.5 hours

Ages of actors: Aged 11 and up to old age

Number of Actors: Twelve (12) as a minimum to Thirty Two (32) maximum. Some actors can play a no of smaller parts

Suitable for : All ages

Level of Difficulty: 8/10 – technical aspects with the ghosts and projecting scenes filmed previously on a big screen.

Set: Two main – an office cum bedroom – the main character lives in his office. The second is the Cricket household.

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Cost is $7 for this digital editor’s choice script

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Copyright August 2013 Mark McQuown and Off The Wall Play Publishers

Like this play? Looking for something else? Have a look at our other Christmas scripts:

Santa’s Holiday – a South African Christmas play
Sleeping Beauty – a modern day pantomime
Shriek – hilarious panto fairytale for teens up

Dramas, One act plays, Teens

Someone to Remember – One Act Teen Drama

June 30, 2013 Demmer Dewan 1 Comment

one act teen drama

SOMEONE TO REMEMBER – ONE ACT TEEN DRAMA

Someone to Remember is a one act teen drama that follows Jean, a young teen, who sees a ghost named Morgan. Together, they set out on daily “jobs” to prevent others from taking their lives. From friends to enemies, the pair takes on any challenge, with Jean testing the intentions of others.

But what happens when Jean is the one thrust into a world of mystery, where he/she is left to unravel the secrets that revolve around the enigmatic appearance of Morgan?

This is Jean’s story – a psychological drama and dark journey into the depths of human nature and free will that begs the question: who’s next?

PRODUCTION HISTORY

Norfolk State University – VA, USA – 2018
Norfolk State University – VA, USA – 2021
St. Mary’s Catholic School, TX, USA – 2023

Author: Ash Crestfelt

Type: One act play

Genre: Teen drama, one act teen drama

Length: Thirty minutes

Number of actors: Five all can be either sex.

Ages of actors: One young teen, three older teens, one adult.

Level of difficulty: 7/10 – achieving the tension in this drama

Set: A house with a kitchen area, needs at least a table and some chairs. A blank space with a ledge/box to climb on.

Read a Sample of the Script

Cost is $10.50 for this digital script. Just Click Shakespeare!

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Copyright June 2013 Ash Crestfelt and Off The Wall Play Publishers

Like this play? Looking for something similar?

Rebecca, The Child – a one act teen play about peer pressure and growing up
Family exercise – a short one act family drama with a teen and adult cast
Anna, alone – a one act drama about a girl with multiple personality disorder
Shriek, the fairytale – a full length funny musical fairytale for middle and high school

Dramas, Play in four acts

A House Divided – a civil war play in four acts

June 26, 2013 Demmer Dewan 1 Comment

civil war play

A HOUSE DIVIDED – A CIVIL WAR PLAY IN FOUR ACTS

This period drama in four acts is set around the time of the American Civil War. It looks at the lives of ordinary Americans, as well as that of the President and his wife. It examines how the war affected everyone, from the common soldier, the President and his family, to the Sioux Indians and Negroes now fighting in the war that was meant to free them. And although many people were crying out for an end to the war, it continued to its inevitable conclusion. For once events were set in motion, it became as impossible to stop, as it was possible to justify.

Author: Sterling Cullipher

Genre: Period drama, civil war play

Type: Four act play

Length: Two hours

Level of Difficulty: 8/10 – the Old English can be challenging for some actors and audiences

Number of actors:Twenty Nine (29) 18M, 11F

Ages of actors: All Teen to old age

Set: Various – A few offices, a bedroom, a hospital and a field.

Read more about playwright Sterling Cullipher

Read a Sample of the Script

Dramas, One act plays

Blasphemous Rumours – a hellish tongue in cheek drama in one act

June 12, 2013 Demmer Dewan Leave a comment

BLASPHEMOUS RUMOURS – A hellish tongue in cheek drama in one act

Meet Shelby – he’s the general manager for hell. It’s his job to welcome the new recruits, and assign them. Unfortunately hell is running out of space and so….the new recruits are given one last chance. If they can prove why they don’t belong in hell, they will be free to go. Each new recruit is given a T-8 form to fill out, submit and then the wait begins in this drama in one act.

Blasphemous rumours follows three sets of recruits, from the stoner teen killed at the Greenday concert to the God Fearing Southern minister’s wife – they’re all there and ready to prove they’re worthy. Or not….

PRODUCTION HISTORY

Azle High School, TX, USA – 2021
Hobart High Theatre, IN, USA – 2022
Monaghan Dramatic Society, Monoghan, Ireland – 2023

Author: Agustin D. Martinez

Genre: Drama, full length one act drama play

Type: Full length one act play

Length: Just over an hour

Suitable for: PG 10.

Ages of actors: 16 to 50 or middle aged

Number of actors: Eight 8 actors, 4M 4F

Set: Simple. There are no visible walls. Two hanging window frames on USL and USR. A black backdrop is all that is seen through and around the frames. the audience sees a comfortably furnished room with a writing desk, chairs but no bed. Silk plants decorate the room, giving the room dimension, and a tropical, relaxed atmosphere, as that of a cozy hotel room, cheaply furnished.

Level of Difficulty: 7/10 – the characters themselves have good stage directions Playing them realistically and not over the top is the challenge.

The play must be produced as it is written. Read more about author Agustin D. Martinez

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Cost is $10.50 for this previously performed digital script! Just Click Shakespeare!

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Copyright June 2013 Agustin D. Martinez Off The Wall Play Publishers

Like this script? Want something different? See these other off beat dramas and comedies.

Death of a Gerbil – a one act dark comedy about waking up to find you’re dead
You do love me, don’t you? A funny but scary one act thriller about bringing that new boy home to meet the folks…
The Appointment with God – drama in one act about a mysterious life and death phone call
War Stories – a three act cop drama where some cops go bad

Dramas, One act plays

Restaurants at Beautiful Times – one act drama for four actors

May 19, 2013 Demmer Dewan Leave a comment

short one act dramas

RESTAURANTS AT BEAUTIFUL TIMES – ONE ACT DRAMA FOR FOUR ACTORS

In this one act drama for four actors, the stage and the actor’s lives are divided into the ‘restaurant’ and the ‘place where the food is prepared.’ Jean and Myceneaus live and work in the place where the food is prepared. They have never known another existence, and theirs is grim existence at best. Their only interaction is with the head waiter who liaises between both sides of the stage – both worlds, as it were. This one act drama for four actors compares the worlds of the very rich and the very poor, and plays on the fact that neither side has any no idea what happens on ‘the other side.’ The play has been produced in Las Vegas by the Nevada Conservatory Theatre and in New York by Working Man’s Clothes thus far.

The author would request that he approves/disapproves any dialogue changes or renaming of characters, but genders may be altered at the theatre’s discretion. Read more about David McGinnis

Author: David McGinnis

Genre: Drama

Type: One Act Play

Suitable for: All ages

Number of actors: four, 4

Ages of actors: Middle aged actors

Set: Simple. A table, a chair, a rope hung from the fly/ceiling/rafters, and some clutter in Jean and Myceneaus’ area.

Level of Difficulty: 6/10 – achieving tension and maintaining it

Read a Sample of the Script

Cost is $7.50 for this digital play script

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Copyright 2010 David McGinnis Off The Wall Play Publishers

Biography, Dramas, One act plays

Disney in Deutschland – drama play about Hitler + Walt Disney

May 15, 2013 Demmer Dewan Leave a comment

play about hitler

DISNEY IN DEUTSCHLAND – DRAMA PLAY ABOUT HITLER + WALT DISNEY

In August, 1935, Walt Disney and his wife Lillian were invited by the League of Nations (in Paris) to receive a prize for the international popularity of Mickey Mouse. As this was Walt’s first holiday in years, he suggested they make it a tour of Europe. The well-known animator was invited by dignitaries of all sorts, including Mussolini. The Volkische Beobachter, the official newspaper in the new Nazi Germany, welcomed Disney as ‘a hero against the Jews of Hollywood,’ and it is recorded that he met with Hitler in Munich. What they said at their meeting, and precisely where it happened, is still unclear, but Disney was known to have admired Hitler back in the US, even attending bund rallies in support of the Nazis. (See DISNEY’S WORLD by Leonard Mosley, and other sources). Disney also expressed antipathy toward the growing union movements in the Hollywood studios, calling them a Jewish conspiracy. And indeed, in 1938, Disney invited Nazi filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl to Hollywood, where her visit was roundly boycotted by other studio heads.

The Neutschwanstein Castle (referred to in the play) was designed by Ludwig of Bavaria in the 1860s, to celebrate the music dramas of Richard Wagner. This castle’s design is remarkably similar to the Sleeping Beauty castle used in most Disney theme parks to this day; and it was one of the Fuhrer’s favourite places. ‘Disney in Deutschland’ is a full length one act biography based on these very events. Warning: Because of the nature of the play about Hitler and Walt Disney, the characters it contains do make some anti Semitic remarks and references, which may offend sensitive readers.

Author: John Powers

Genre: Biography, Drama play about Hitler

Type: Full Length One Act Play

Length: 1.5 -2 hours

Suitable for: All ages

Ages of actors: 30’s to late 40’s, thirty to late forties

Number of actors: Six, 6 4M, 2F

Set: Simple – long elegant table upstage centre, projection of the Alps upstage through the windows and a model of ‘The New Germania’ – the new capital of the Third Reich they were designing in the foreground.

Read a Sample of the Script

Cost is $5

Contact Off The Wall Plays with any queries regarding Disney in Deutschland

Copyright May 2013 John Powers Off The Wall Play Publishers

Action, Dramas, Plays in three acts, Teens

Peter’s Dream – a three act play for high school

May 9, 2013 Demmer Dewan Leave a comment

PETER’S DREAM – A THREE ACT PLAY FOR HIGH SCHOOL

In this three act play for high school, Peter’s family is about to lose the cottage they have lived in all their lives to their wicked uncle, Marmaduke. Marmaduke believes that his dead brother’s fortune is hidden somewhere in the cottage grounds and will do anything to get hold of it. He is aided by three slightly stupid louts whom he uses to do his dirty work for him and who threaten Peter’s aunt with violence in order to force her to leave. Peter’s family’s prospects seem bleak, until Peter receives a mysterious scroll in a dream that will help solve his family’s problems. With the help of the plucky “Angel,” they set about finding the hidden treasure and getting their revenge on the wicked Marmaduke. With a cast of twenty one, this play is ideal for middle and high school productions.

Author: Keith Passmore

Genre: Adventure, period piece

Type: Three act play for high school

Length: Two hours

Number of actors:Twenty one (21) but some parts can be done by more than one actor

Suitable for: All ages, a family audience

Set: The inside of a cottage, a bar, and an office, as well out outdoors. Much can be done with a few simple furnishings.

Level of Difficulty: 6/10 – an exciting easy, fun filled adventure script

Read more about playwright Keith Passmore

Read a Sample of the Script

Cost is $5

Contact Off The Wall Plays with any queries regarding Peters Dream

Copyright May 2013 Keith Passmore Off The Wall Play Publishers

Dramas, Play in four acts

Taylor – four act play about loss of a spouse

April 28, 2013 Demmer Dewan Leave a comment

TAYLOR – A FOUR ACT PLAY ABOUT LOSS OF A SPOUSE

The journey of a writer after he has lost his wife and is dealing with raising his young daughter as a single parent. In this four act play about loss, he also has to learn to allow himself to love again. This is a beautiful story about letting go of the past in order to move towards the future.

Author: Raymond Hobson

Genre: Drama

Type: Four act Play about loss

Suitable for: PG 10 – language at one point

Length: Full length play up to two hours with scene changes

Number of Actors: Eight, 8, 3M, 4F

Ages of actors: 1 F child, 2 middle aged F, 2 middle aged M, 1 older F, 1 older M, 1M any age

Set: Various – an office, a restaurant, a church

Level of Difficulty: 7/10 – getting the audience to identify with the actors

The author will allow workshopping of the play.

Read a Sample of the Script

Cost is $7 for the digital play script

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Copyright 2013 Raymond Hobson Off The Wall Plays

Dramas, One act plays

Family Exercise – short one act dramas

April 18, 2013 Demmer Dewan 2 Comments

FAMILY EXERCISE – SHORT ONE ACT DRAMAS

This short one act play, written entirely in free verse is an excellent short festival play. It highlights a typical family at the moment when everyone in the family finds out a big secret – that ‘dad’ has been having an affair with his son’s school teacher and that they have an illegitimate three year old son together. It is told from the son’s perspective as the events unfold in front of him. The mother, father, daughter and her Pilot boyfriend are active participants in the son’s simply told story. Great example of short one act dramas.

PRODUCTION HISTORY

Northwood High School, MD, USA – 2016
Frontier Academy, CO, USA – 2017

Author: Eldad Cohen

Type: One act play, one-act 1 act play

Genre: Family drama, short one act dramas

Number of actors: Five 5, 3M, 2F

Ages of the actors: 1M 1F middle aged, 1M twenties 20’s, 1F older teen, 1M boy 8-12

Suitable for: PG 10

Set: Minimal 3 chairs only

Level of Difficulty: 7/10 – getting the audience to set the scene in their minds with minimal set

Read about author Eldad Cohen

Read a Sample of the Script

Cost is $10.00 for this popular digital script. Just Click Shakespeare!

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Copyright April 2013 Eldad Cohen Off The Wall Plays

Like this play? Other family dramas we have available for your enjoyment:

Memory Palace – family drama spanning generations about a family home and moving on
Daughter like you – family drama about losing a child
Irish Jack – family comedy drama about marrying outside your culture

Dramas, One act plays

The Appointment With God – a one act family drama

April 11, 2013 Demmer Dewan 1 Comment

THE APPOINTMENT WITH GOD – A ONE ACT FAMILY DRAMA

This is a one act family drama about a husband and wife who have moved to the USA in order to attain ‘the good life’ and yet live past each other, remaining happy in their own little worlds. All seems to be going as normal when Frank receives a mysterious phone call. He is not exactly sure who it is that called him and set a very important appointment for later the very same day. He is told it is a matter of life or death that he is at the appointment, and so reluctantly he agrees and cancels his golf game to be there. June, his wife, who tends to be a bit self obsessed and materialistic, assumes it is a big promotion from work with a great move and loads more money. Little do they know who really called that day…

PRODUCTION HISTORY

Franklin and Friends one act play festival, South Africa
International Theatre Studio (ITS), Malaga, Spain – 2018

Author: Dave Morgan

Genre: Family Drama

Type: One act play, one-act play, 1 act play

Length: Thirty minutes

Suitable for : All ages

Actors: 1M 2 F, one man two women

Ages of actors: All the their 30’s-40’s

Level of Difficulty: 5-6/10 – the play has full stage directions which can very easily be followed

Set: Two or three piece lounge suite, coffee table with a telephone, a door on stage right, with another door leading off the the kitchen stage left, various ornaments and a drinks cabinet.

The play must be produced unaltered.

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Copyright April 2013 Dave Morgan Off The Wall Play Publishers

Dramas, One act plays

Shapeless – a full length one act dark satire about body size

April 3, 2013 Demmer Dewan Leave a comment

SHAPELESS – A FULL LENGTH ONE ACT PLAY

Shapeless is a full length one act play within a play about body image and eating disorders. In this play, four actors are trying to put on a comedy play that deals with body size and shape. Each actress is of a particular size – there is a slightly anorexic girl, a girl with a medium figure and one that is quite overweight. The male character, Mike has written the script and in the play that he has written, he highlights those things that ‘aren’t talked about’ in society, openly mocking the very large and the very thin. The characters bring their own personal experiences and angst to their performances which leads to a build up of tension between the girls as they begin to run each other down ‘in the play’ but start taking it personally in real life. Although the script the players are putting on is comedic, I would class this play as a drama or a very dark satire.

SHAPELESS was produced by Weird Sister Productions at the Tarragon Theatre in Toronto and had a very successful run there. Then it was produced again for the National Eating Disorder Awareness Week at the Robert Gill Theatre in Toronto.

Further Production History

Los Medanos Community College, CA, USA – 2017
Artists Playground, QUEZON, Philippines – 2018

“I, Sean always thought it would make a great touring play. Little set, few actors, a good message while be entertaining at the same time.”

Read a Sample of the Script

Cost is $8 for this digital previously performed script

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Like this play? Other teen plays of a similar genre:

Dreamtime – story about the notorious murder of two professors by teens
Lady T – teen drama with an imaginary friend
Survivors include – play about teen suicide

Dramas, One act plays

The Condition – one act dramedy scripts

March 13, 2013 Demmer Dewan 1 Comment

one act drama scripts

THE CONDITION – ONE ACT DRAMEDY SCRIPTS

In this art festival style play set in a park, Roger, the central character is constantly harassed by various members of the public, some of whom he knows and some of who he is meeting for the first time. Each character that joins Roger in this one act drama script, interacts with him in a way that allows Roger to reflect on his own life and who he is. Many of the characters are humorous in their outlook on life, in contrast to Roger. As the play culminates with a twist, the audience will get to understand exactly why Roger is where he is and who the man inside is.

This one act drama play is ideal for festivals as it requires minimal set and is largely dependent on the skill of the actors.

PRODUCTION HISTORY

Greensboro Fringe Festival in North Carolina – 2014
Sagewood College, Midrand, South Africa – 2017
Panorama Theatre, WA,USA – 2019

Author: Alex Emerson Acuff

Type: Medium to long one act play – one act drama scripts

Genre: Dramedy

Length: 45 -55 minutes. Forty five minute long play script

Number of actors: 7, seven, 5M 4F ( one male is a child)

Ages of actors: one middle aged to older man,

Set: minimal – a park bench

Level of Difficulty: 6/10 – maintaining audience focus

The play must be produced unaltered from the original script.

Read a sample of the script

Cost is $6 for this one act dramedy play script

Contact off The Wall Plays with any queries about The Condition

one act drama scripts

Crime, Dramas, Plays in 2 acts

War Stories – Three Act Drama Play

January 16, 2013 Demmer Dewan 1 Comment

WAR STORIES – THREE ACT DRAMA PLAY

Phil Lavan an ex cop, haunted by his past, has decided to go into business with an acquaintance of his, Carmen Guzzo. Carmen owns a pet store and his aim is to sell the business to Lavan. Lavan has secrets in his past as a cop that he shares with his ex partner, and close friend, Joey Nicks. When internal affairs sends an investigator to the pet store because they suspect Joey of being a dirty cop, the friendship is threatened as Joey becomes paranoid that Lavan will expose him now that Lavan has left the force. Joey gets a local girl, Jane Smith to spy on Lavan in order to try and find out if he will expose him. Tensions climb throughout this three act drama play to reach a bloody climax where all the secrets and lies are exposed for good.

Donald Dewey is an established playwright and author and has had more than 30 plays staged in the United States and Europe, as well as published 33 books of fiction, nonfiction, and drama. More about Donald Dewey

Author: Donald Dewey

Genre: Drama

Type: Three act play, 3 act play, three-act plays

Length: Full length play 2 hours.

Number of actors: 5 actors, 4M, 1F, 4 men 1 woman

Ages of actors: 30-65 – there are four younger characters and one older man

Suitable for: PG 12 violence

Set: 2 different areas or sets on stage can be used. The main action takes place in a pet store, which should have a counter as well as various cages to contain the animals. The other part of the play takes place in an apartment where the bedroom with a doubled bed in it is shown as well as a refrigerator in another room.

Level of difficulty: 8/10 Maintaining the tension and building slowly to a climax. This play could do very well with the right accomplished actors.

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Dramas, Plays in 2 acts

The Scepter has Departed – a Jewish drama play script in two acts

December 5, 2012 Demmer Dewan 1 Comment

Jewish drama play script

THE SCEPTER HAS DEPARTED – A JEWISH DRAMA PLAY SCRIPT

The year is 1937 – before world war two erupts in Europe and anti Jewish sentiment is rife. Hitler is gaining power and the persecution of the Jews has begun. Millions of Jews from around Europe have fled their homelands in Poland and Lithuania and moved back to Jerusalem, the city of their forefathers. Tension is high from the Arab population in Palestine leading to the Arab riots against immigrant Jews. The British Balfour Declaration has increased pressure on both the British and Palestinians to obstruct Jewish presence in Palestine.

At a Tipat Chalav in one of Jerusalem’s Jewish neighborhoods, Jewish militants of the Irgun meet to discuss their ongoing response to the Arab riots. A new arrival from Lithuania who has made aliyah is instructed about the many concerns confronting his new organization.

Then the murders begin. A “non – Zionist” Rabbi is murdered, and a grenade is thrown into a bus full of Palestinian civilians. The British capture some of the militant Jews responsible for the attacks and they are sentenced to death.

“The Scepter has Departed” , a Jewish drama play script, explores all sides of this age old conflict, asking the question, “Who is right and who is responsible?”

Author: Sterling Cullipher

Type: Two act Play

Genre: Political Drama – Jewish drama play script

Suitable for: All ages

Ages of actors: Adult

Number of actors: 19, 18M, 1F

Length of play: 90 minutes

Set: There are a number of scene changes from a number of simple rooms, to a bar, a warehouse, a market place and a prison. The changes can be simply accomplished by changing basic furnishings in the room and alternating sides of the stage that are used.

Level of Difficulty: 9/10 This play has a lot of dialogue, so keeping the focus of the audience is important. It also deals with a sensitive issue which should be dealt with respectfully.

View a sample of the script

Cost is $5.50 for this digital script

Contact Off The Wall Plays with any queries about The Scepter has Departed

Dramas, One act plays

Two Brothers – a two hander one act play

November 21, 2012 Demmer Dewan 1 Comment

two hander one act play

Two Brothers – a two hander one act play

Two Brothers – a two hander one act play is a drama about two brothers, Gary and Jeremy, and the responsibility of caring for their aging mother, who has Alzheimer’s disease. Although she hardly knows them, they feel that they have a responsibility to care for her, but on the other hand, there is also a need to move on with their own lives. There is a feeling of being trapped in their situation.

When Jeremy decides to break free from their situation and move to Las Vegas with his wife, Gary feels that Jeremy is abandoning their mother and also leaving him with most of the responsibility.

Author Morley Shulman tackles this delicate situation that is so well known to many families by diving straight into the subject! This is a character driven short two hander one act play that should be simple to perform in a one act play festival, for example.

Morley Shulman is the author of the award winning play, Naked, that took top spots at the both Franklin players festival of one act plays and the EADS festival of one act plays in 2012.

Production History:

Alabama State University, Montgomery, Alabama, USA – 2016
West Des Moines Valley High School, IA, USA – 2022

Author: Morley Shulman

Type: One act festival play

Genre: Drama

Length: 15 minutes

Ages of actors: 20s-40s.

Cast: 2M, two men, two male actors

Set: Simple – a living room

Suitable for: PG 12 – language

Level of difficulty: 7/10 – the play starts on a medium to high level of emotion and then increases further before dipping to a conclusion. Maintaining the focus and energy.