A WOMAN IN NEED

by Martha Patterson

10-minute noir play: on the patio of a New Orleans bar, a detective confronts a suspicious-looking woman.

10-minute noir play: on the patio of a New Orleans bar, a detective confronts a suspicious-looking woman.

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A WOMAN IN NEED

Recommended by

  • Claudia Haas: A WOMAN IN NEED by Martha Patterson
    “

    This is almost too much fun. Patterson has a field day with the femme fatale of crime noir and takes it where it needs to go. Move over, Hitchcock and Welles, there’s a new writer in town. If any actor wanted to emulate Bogey and Bacall, here’s your chance. A delight for audiences.

    This is almost too much fun. Patterson has a field day with the femme fatale of crime noir and takes it where it needs to go. Move over, Hitchcock and Welles, there’s a new writer in town. If any actor wanted to emulate Bogey and Bacall, here’s your chance. A delight for audiences.

    ”
  • Morey Norkin: A WOMAN IN NEED by Martha Patterson
    “

    I admit I read this hearing my best Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall impressions in my head. That’s how vivid Martha Patterson’s dialogue is. There’s nothing quite like noir to bring out the fatale in femme fatale, and the appropriately named Randy exceeds expectations. This one has it all. Just like Bogey and Bacall.

    I admit I read this hearing my best Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall impressions in my head. That’s how vivid Martha Patterson’s dialogue is. There’s nothing quite like noir to bring out the fatale in femme fatale, and the appropriately named Randy exceeds expectations. This one has it all. Just like Bogey and Bacall.

    ”
  • Paul Donnelly: A WOMAN IN NEED by Martha Patterson
    “

    A hardboiled detective meets a truly fatal femme fatale to surprising effect, The noirish atmosphere, noirish characters, and noirish dialogue add up to a most engaging entertainment.

    A hardboiled detective meets a truly fatal femme fatale to surprising effect, The noirish atmosphere, noirish characters, and noirish dialogue add up to a most engaging entertainment.

    ”
View all 12 recommendations

Character Information

2 males, 1 female:
HUMPHREY - 30s-40s, a male detective wearing a trench coat and a fedora
RANDY - 20s-30s, a loose woman dressed in a fancy way
WAITER - 30s-40s
  • Humphrey
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • Randy
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Waiter
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s

Production History

  • Fringe, Scribe Stages' "Crime Plays," Los Angeles, 2021