A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

A Deadly Habit, or The Superbowl Massacre

Full-Length Play, Dramatic Comedy  /  5w, 6m

Tom Chiodo

The crowd-pleasing mystery – involving an angry football widow, a sleazy football commisioner, a crafty cheerleader and a boisterous referee – provides loads of laughs and plenty of opportunities for audience participation.

A Deadly Habit, or The Superbowl Massacre

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    5w, 6m
  • Duration
    Duration
    60 minutes (1 hour)
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Mystery/Thriller
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult

Details

Summary
A sports widow is “mad as hell” and she's not going to take it any more! The football commissioner mysteriously resigns. A cheerleader stages her own kidnapping. A referee is up to his ears in drug deals and bad calls. This deadly game goes into overtime for an intricate scheme of revenge and coverups that invites a lot of audience participation.
History
A Deadly Habit, or The Superbowl Massacre was first performed at the United States Military Academy’s Hotel Thayer in West Point, New York in Februrary 1989. The production was directed by playwright Tom Chiodo.
Keywords

SHEELA SLUTSKY – Aggressive housewife from the Bronx. Anti-sports. Pro-bitch and moan. Late thirties.
JIM “PORKY” NASIUM – Referee. Former Steeler's football coach. Boisterous. He sports a big paunch and carries a little whistle.
BUNNY “BLEACHERS” NAGURSKY – Wild cheerleader in pigtails and pompoms. Man in drag. 40 years old. From Pennsylvania.
MADAME SHUSHATSKI – Wrinkled French ballet mistress. Speaks broken French and German. Carries a ballet baton at all times. Whacks people and objects with baton to emphasize statements. 40 years old. Plays ancient.
MRS. “CHICKY” KNUTE ROCKNE – Penniless cocktail waitress. Adorable and foul-mouthed. Wife of the late Knute Rockne. Secretly bitter since losing her husband’s pension from the professional football league. 70 years old.
MRS. TESS BUMBLEGARDNER – Food editor for Better Homes and Gardens. She is a sharp, organized writer. She knows about family life, food and politely advises people on how to run their lives. As a food editor, she knows the ingredients to everything, including murder. She never misses a trick and always has a note pad in hand. Colorful and quirky dresser. Large woman. Jessica Fletcher type.
COMMISSIONER DANFORTH BUSH – National Football League commissioner. He started out in the minor leagues and sleazed his way up to the top. Plays tough and conservative with all but himself. 60 years old.
BOBBY “THE BUNS” BUTKIS – Handsome football player.  Expected to this year's #1 draft choice of the Dallas Cowboys, the lowest ranked team this past season. Plays quarterback. Ballet dancer.

BUNNY “BLEACHERS” NAGURSKY and MADAME SHUSHATSKI are both drag roles played by the same man.

BUNNY “BLEACHERS” NAGURSKY and MADAME SHUSHATSKI are both drag roles played by the same man.

  • Time Period 1980s
  • Setting 1989.
  • Features Contemporary Costumes / Street Clothes
  • Additional Features Audience Participation/Interactive, No intermission, Drag Performance
  • Duration 60 minutes (1 hour)
  • Cautions
    • Mild Adult Themes

Media

“Great fun for sports fans and foes.” – New York Newsday
“Super Bowl Sunday was never like this!! Great fun for sports fans and foes.” – New York Newsday

Licensing & Materials

  • Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.

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Authors

Author

Tom Chiodo

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