Fifty Words

by Michael Weller

While their nine-year-old son is away for the night on his first sleepover, Adam and Jan have an evening alone together, their first in years. Adam's attempt to seduce his wife before he leaves on business the next day begins a suspenseful nightlong roller-coaster ride of revelation, rancor, passion and humor that explores a modern-day marriage on the verge of either a breakup or deepening love and understanding.

Genres: Plays

48 pages, Paperback

First published June 28, 2009

About the author

Michael Weller studied music composition at Brandeis University, then worked as a jazz pianist before taking his graduate degree in theater at the University of Manchester, England. His best-known plays are Moonchildren, Fishing, Loose Ends and Spoils Of War. His films include Hair and Ragtime and a teleplay of Spoils of War. He co-founded (with Angelina Fiordelissi and Suzanne Brinkley) and serves now as supervising mentor of the Mentor Project of the Cherry Lane Theatre, currently in its tenth season.

Mr. Weller's work has received an Academy Award nomination, an N.A.A.C.P. Outstanding Contribution Award, Critics Outer Circle Award, a Rockefeller Foundation Grant and a Kennedy Center Fund for New American Plays Award, and has been honored by The Broken Watch Theatre Company which gave their playhouse his name. He is on the counsel of the Writer's Guild Fund and the Dramatists Guild of America. He lives in Brooklyn.

Reviews

[Andy Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one takes you through the ringer of emotions. I hated the way it made me feel at it times, but it did so though brilliant writing. I’d love to see this performed.

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant and brutal, fifty words is a superb play that merits a wider audience. A seemingly perfect couple is deconstructed and torn apart word by word over the course of one night.

[Krista · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but not fantastic. Neither character drew me in enough.