Explore this Show
Overview
Synopsis
Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s darkly comedic Fleabag began as a 10-minute comedy piece about a cynical, grief-stricken woman. Waller-Bridge turned that piece into a one-woman show for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where it won the Fringe First Award. Fleabag’s titular character is an emotionally dysfunctional, hypersexual millennial interviewing for a job she desperately needs because her cafe is on the verge of bankruptcy. Through a series of jaw-droppingly honest monologues, Fleabag describes the events of the past week with the sort of explicit details normally reserved only for one’s very closest confidante. As she does, we hear the voices of the various characters in her life: her cranky sister, her deceased best friend, her sometimes boyfriend, and a colorful Cockney man who frequents her cafe. Fleabag is an unconventional character and a comedic powerhouse of a role. In 2016, Waller-Bridge adapted the play into a widely acclaimed TV series, which critics have cited as a cultural phenomenon and one of the best series of all time.
Show Information
- Book
- Phoebe Waller-Bridge
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Mature Audiences (M)
- Number of Acts
- 1
- First Produced
- 2013
- Genres
- Dark Comedy
- Settings
- Contemporary, Simple/No Set
- Time & Place
- A bare stage
- Cast Size
- small
- Ideal For
- Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Female, Mature Audiences, Mostly Female Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Small Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Not Specified |
Non-singer |
Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
Also called “black comedy,” takes a pessimistic view of the world.
When an actor breaks the fourth wall to speak directly to the audience.
A speech given by a character.
A play with only one act. One-act plays may have several scenes and vary in length, from short single scenes to full-length scripts.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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Guide Written By:
Kevan Dunkelberg
Oklahoma-based drama teacher, actor and playwright