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Overview

Synopsis

Todd is youthful, and devastatingly handsome. He is also in the process of writing the kind of tortured and brilliant novel that can only come from the soul of a genius. Todd’s editor, the beautiful and bold Portia, would love get closer to his mind -- and his body -- but Todd keeps her at arm’s length. Under his successful veneer, Todd hides a wicked secret: he keeps a smelly and misshapen gnome named Gene locked up in his apartment, trading Gene’s skillful and creative storytelling for ‘protection’ from the laughing, jeering outside world. Todd and Gene remain locked in a physically and emotionally violent battle of codependence, with Todd at an unfair advantage -- until Gene tries to script a love scene for Todd and Portia, hoping against hope that, at the last minute, he might step into the starring role…..In this vicious, twisted little tale of two Beauties and a Beast, Tony Award-winning playwright Richard Greenberg has given us a world of painful pretension and poignant need, where one deception is fair revenge for another.

Show Information

Book
Richard Greenberg
Category
Play
Age Guidance
Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
Number of Acts
1
First Produced
1987
Genres
Drama, Dark Comedy, Fairy Tale/Fantasy
Settings
Unit/Single Set
Time & Place
todd's apartment (city landscape)
Cast Size
small
Licensor
Dramatists Play Service
Ideal For
Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Young Adult Characters, Small Cast

Context


Plot


Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Todd

Lead

Male

Spoken

Gene

Lead

Male

Spoken

Portia

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Songs

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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

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Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

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Videos

Quizzes

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Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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Quote Analysis

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Guide Written By:

Eleanor Cohn-Eichner

Eleanor Cohn-Eichner