Sorry, Wrong number by Lucille Fletcher

English Grade 9

1. Learning Competencies: Identify the distinguishing features of Anglo-American one-act-play Analyze a one-act-play Explain how the elements specific to a one-act play contribute to the development of its theme Ms. Shyrey Mae D. Macabitas

2. SORRY, WRONG NUMBER (A Radio Play) by Lucille Fletcher Topic 3

3. VOCABULARY DIRECTION: Give the meaning of the underlined words in these sentences. Choose your answers from the synonyms in the box. Mrs. Stevenson is identified as a querulous and self-centered neurotic. She became imperious when she could not connect to the number she dialed. When she dialed again, she only got bland buzzing signal and heard the conversation on the cross line

4. 4. The telephone operator’s failed attempts to connect to her husband’s office number unnerved her. 5. She gave a highhanded reply when she sensed Sgt. Duffy did not take action on her complaint.

5. Uninteresting Authoritative Complaining Overbearing Upset ANSWERS: Querulous - complaining Imperious – authoritative Bland – uninteresting Unnerved – upset Highhanded - overbearing

6. About the Author Fletcher was born in Brooklyn, New York, on March 28, 1912. She later attended Vassar College and graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1933. Shortly afterward, she worked at the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS), typing up radio plays, managing the music library, and writing publicity. She became convinced during this time that she could write radio dramas at least as good as the plays she was typing.

7. Background of the story Fletcher is best known for the thrillers she would go on to write for radio. Her most notable play is  Sorry, Wrong Number , which first aired in 1943. She later adapted the radio play into a screenplay, which was produced in 1948 .

8. SUSPENSE -- _SORRY, WRONG NUMBER_ (1948).mp4

9. CAST/CHARACTERS Mrs. Stevenson Operator First Man Second Man (George) Chief Operator Second Quarter 7. Sergeant Duffy 8. Third Operator 9. Woman at Henchley Hospital 10. Western Union Clerk 11. Information Operator

10. RADIO PLAY A dramatized and lively acoustic performance broadcast on a radio With no visual component

11. One-Act-Play This is a play that takes place, from beginning to end, in a singe act. It can range from one minute to one hour long.

12. FEATURES of a ONE-ACT-PLAY THEME Theme necessary Ask yourself: What is the play about? (Revenge ? Self- discovery ?) Mind needs to be clear about the theme Characters , plots, and sub- plots need to point to and support the theme Sub- plots might be missing in one- act plays

13. 2. PLOT Different in one- act play from a full length play In a one- act play, there is only time for one significant event Determining place for hero, where all can be won or lost Events leading to this, can be included without being shown to audience The events that follow must be inferred or understood by the audience

14. 3. CHARACTER There is not much area to develop all the characters The hero or the protagonist’s character needs to be more developed and focused on The antagonist can be developed to show conflict Some other characters can also be a little bit developed to move the story forward

15. 4. DIALOGUE Each line must be crafted carefully to focus on the theme, the incident and the character of the protagonist The dialogues need not be terse, but concise and full of meaning Dialogues irrelevant to the plot, must be altered or omitted immediately