A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

Better Half Dead

Full-Length Play, Comedy  /  2w, 3m

Joan Torres

"Wicked dialogue. Very clever." - The Chicago Tribune

"Wonderfully wacky." - DramaLogue
"A real twister! Hilarious!" - The Star Telegram
"The play is a howl." - WMAQ Radio

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    2w, 3m
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Mystery/Thriller

Details

Summary
Rena is sick of her sinking beach house and her husband Dermot, a disinherited son of "The Landfill King." She's packing, taking a gun and returning to her first husband, the artist Stanley Riverstein. Stanley wants his painting returned with his ex wife. Dermont protests, there is a struggle, the gun goes off and Rena falls to the floor dead. Stanley will remove the body, for a price. Dermot agrees. Rena's sister Jodi, who was dumped by Dermot but still loves him, is told that Rena has gone back to Stanley. Dermont fails to mention the gun, the body or blackmail. But wait! Things are not what they seem. Who's shot and who's not? And why? Is another murder imminent? The mayhem includes a storm, a disguise, a strangulation and a murderous fur coat.
History
BETTER HALF DEAD was first performed at The International City Theatre in Long Beach, California in January 1991. Directed by Peter Grego
RENA BRADDOCK - acidic sophisticate, married to Dermot.
STANLEY RIVERSTEIN - macho artist, once married to Rena.
DERMOT BRADDOCK - charming sportsman, married to Rena.
GERALD LEVINE - gay attorney, friend of Stanley's.
JODI BOYD - unstable optimist, Rena's younger sister.
DR. STAHL - Jodi's psychiatrist, over 70, Viennese lady.

DR. STAHL and JODI BOYD are played by the same woman. For the purpose of surprise, Dr. Stahl should be billed as a separate cast member, using an invented name, biography and photograph ("Georgette Spelvin)".

  • Time Period Present Day
  • Features Contemporary Costumes / Street Clothes

Media

"Wicked dialogue. Very clever." - The Chicago Tribune

"Wonderfully wacky." - DramaLogue

"A real twister! Hilarious!" - The Star Telegram

"The play is a howl." - WMAQ Radio

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: $110 per performance

Scripts

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Authors

Author

Joan Torres

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