Sorry, Wrong Number is a classic and highly influential suspense play and radio drama penned by Lucille Fletcher. It is renowned for its gripping plot that unfolds entirely through telephone conversations, building intense psychological suspense around a single, helpless protagonist.
The Premise of Sorry, Wrong Number
The play centers on Mrs. Stevenson, a housewife afflicted by extreme anxiety, which confines her to her bed. Her world is limited, as she never leaves the house and primarily interacts only with her husband, Elbert, and her maid, Eloise.
The suspense begins when Mrs. Stevenson, attempting to make a phone call, accidentally overhears what she believes to be a murder plot being planned on an crossed line. Trapped in her bed and increasingly terrified, she desperately tries to alert the authorities and anyone who will listen, but her efforts are met with skepticism and unhelpful responses, amplifying her sense of isolation and impending doom.
Key Aspects of Sorry, Wrong Number
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Genre | Suspense, Thriller, Radio Drama, One-Act Play |
| Creator | Lucille Fletcher |
| Protagonist | Mrs. Stevenson |
| Premise | A bedridden, anxious housewife accidentally overhears a murder plot via a misdialed phone call, leading to escalating terror. |
| Setting | Primarily Mrs. Stevenson's bedroom, with the outside world only perceived through phone calls. |
Why Sorry, Wrong Number Endures
Lucille Fletcher's masterpiece remains a staple in the suspense genre for several reasons:
- Psychological Thriller: It masterfully uses the power of suggestion and sound to create an atmosphere of dread, focusing on the character's internal terror rather than explicit violence.
- Confined Setting: The limited setting of a single bedroom enhances the feeling of claustrophobia and helplessness, trapping the audience alongside Mrs. Stevenson.
- Relatable Fear: The scenario taps into universal fears of vulnerability, miscommunication, and the inability to escape danger.
- Innovations in Radio Drama: As a radio drama, it demonstrated how sound effects, voice acting, and dialogue alone could create a vivid and terrifying experience for listeners, cementing its place in the history of audio storytelling. It popularized the concept of suspense built purely through auditory cues.
The play's enduring popularity led to its adaptation into a critically acclaimed 1948 film noir starring Barbara Stanwyck, further solidifying its status as a significant work in the suspense canon.
[[Suspense Play]]
