About the Play:

Louder, I Can't Hear You is a one-act comedy by William Gleason. This playlet takes a comedic look at the failures of human communication via a long-suffering mother and spouse whose trials and tribulations will seem very, very familiar to every experienced mom just struggling to be heard. Especially recommended for school and contest use.

Louder, I Can't Hear You depicts a mom, whose husband, son, and daughter trample over her and never hear her. In the deft hands of playwright William Gleason, we see a family together but each one is so entirely engrossed in their own needs, treating the mother of house as their perennial servant. The point-counterpoint as each follows a separate line of thought is truly hilarious, but there's a poignancy under it. These people who won't or can't hear each other are losing the ability to communicate. The mother, anxious to reach her self-centred family, tries a radical bid bid for attention. She turns to a psychiatrist for help – only to discover that he can't "hear" either! There's a final effort in which they try to involve themselves a little with each other and a wry, witty conclusion. Louder, I Can't Hear You is a hilarious farce about a sometimes tragic, sometimes humorous, aspect of life today – the fact that people don't listen anymore. They are so into themselves, they can't really hear what others say.

Louder, I Can't Hear You is ideal for contest use or for any high school or community theatre group looking for something amusing and "different." Running time is about forty minutes.

Cast: 3 female, 3 male

What people say:

"The minor parts are all very well written ... there isn't a 'bad' part in the whole play." — Pete Nett, Corning High School

"Delightfully funny. Reminds me of my own home ... today. With as busy as people are today, it was fun seeing life from the other side of the table." — Tiffany Morgan, Avalon I.S.D

"The audience enjoyed the show. It has some great dynamic characters for the students to play and I think the message is clearly observable, without being heavy handed." — Steve Mandelko, Abraham Lincoln High School

About the Playwright:

William K. Gleason is an American playwright and lawyer. His works are constantly performed by schools and community theatres.