Lucinda's Bed

by Mia McCullough

LUCINDA’S BED chronicles the life of Lucinda, a “Good Girl”-then-woman, through the significant moments that happen in and around her bed. It begins with a bed piled high with frilly, girlie sheets, but as each new stage of her life comes, a layer of bedding is pulled away to reveal something new. The two men who populate the piece are the “Monster”-under-her-bed, who portrays the various men that compromise...

LUCINDA’S BED chronicles the life of Lucinda, a “Good Girl”-then-woman, through the significant moments that happen in and around her bed. It begins with a bed piled high with frilly, girlie sheets, but as each new stage of her life comes, a layer of bedding is pulled away to reveal something new. The two men who populate the piece are the “Monster”-under-her-bed, who portrays the various men that compromise Lucinda’s self-worth and tempt her darker side, and Adam who represents all the “Nice Guys” who promise to protect her but hurt her anyway.

As the play proceeds each of the characters tries to break from their mold. Lucinda desperately wants out of her “Good Girl” shackles, but by the time she figures out how to not be an unfailing rule-follower, there is too much to lose. The Monster, bound to Lucinda, finds himself falling in love with her despite his job as instigator and seducer. Adam is the only one who manages to release himself from his role as “Nice Guy,” but not without gravely hurting Lucinda in the process.

With each new betrayal Lucinda becomes harder and more bitter. Finally, with her heart turning to stone, Lucinda turns into a monster herself, releasing Adam from a hero role he cannot possibly fulfill, and seducing the love-sick Monster into granting her final wish.

A full-length cautionary tale in one act. (There is some argument whether it's dark comedy or a funny drama. Dramedy, maybe?)

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Lucinda's Bed

Recommended by

  • Cheryl Bear: Lucinda's Bed

    An honest and revealing look at self worth and the men that affect us. Powerful and well done.

    An honest and revealing look at self worth and the men that affect us. Powerful and well done.

  • John Patrick Bray: Lucinda's Bed

    McCullough has a real gift for blending Realism with the Magic, allowing for humor without falling into sentimentality. Some of the moments in the play will feel *too real* and the magical elements, rather than taking us out of those moments of discomfort, plunges us deeper in, submerging us in the sexual-psychology of the characters in a way that forces us to examine our own without letting us off the hook. I highly recommend this play.

    McCullough has a real gift for blending Realism with the Magic, allowing for humor without falling into sentimentality. Some of the moments in the play will feel *too real* and the magical elements, rather than taking us out of those moments of discomfort, plunges us deeper in, submerging us in the sexual-psychology of the characters in a way that forces us to examine our own without letting us off the hook. I highly recommend this play.

  • Eric Pfeffinger: Lucinda's Bed

    Alternately raw and funny, LUCINDA'S BED is a masterfully assembled character study, built around a strong and surprisingly flexible design element and a fanciful but robust facility for metaphor. Eminently stageable, relentlessly involving and theatrically ingenious.

    Alternately raw and funny, LUCINDA'S BED is a masterfully assembled character study, built around a strong and surprisingly flexible design element and a fanciful but robust facility for metaphor. Eminently stageable, relentlessly involving and theatrically ingenious.

View all 4 recommendations

Production History

  • Type Professional, Organization BrainSpunk Theater/Philadelphia Fringe Fest, Year 2013
  • Type Professional, Organization Chicago Dramatists, Year 2009