Misfortune (a ten minute play)

by Mark Harvey Levine

A couple gets some disturbing news from an unlikely source.

"by far the best...It just gets funnier and funnier ..."
-- Robert W. McDowell, Triangle Arts & Entertainment

A couple gets some disturbing news from an unlikely source.

"by far the best...It just gets funnier and funnier ..."
-- Robert W. McDowell, Triangle Arts & Entertainment

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Misfortune (a ten minute play)

Recommended by

  • Rebecca Kane: Misfortune (a ten minute play) by Mark Harvey Levine
    “

    I swear this is better than most of what I've seen on Saturday Night Live for years. This would be at home just about anywhere -- ten minute play fests, sketch shows, maybe as part of the reel for an actor showing they can do REAL comedy on stage. It's such an efficient, clever idea and I would kill (how fitting!) to see it performed live!

    I swear this is better than most of what I've seen on Saturday Night Live for years. This would be at home just about anywhere -- ten minute play fests, sketch shows, maybe as part of the reel for an actor showing they can do REAL comedy on stage. It's such an efficient, clever idea and I would kill (how fitting!) to see it performed live!

    ”
  • Dan McGeehan: Misfortune (a ten minute play) by Mark Harvey Levine
    “

    Mark Harvey Levine's "Misfortune" is the gold standard. It's the perfect short play: absolutely hilarious with a marvelous twist. I've seen it performed a couple of times and it never fails to grab the audience's attention and keep them laughing.

    Mark Harvey Levine's "Misfortune" is the gold standard. It's the perfect short play: absolutely hilarious with a marvelous twist. I've seen it performed a couple of times and it never fails to grab the audience's attention and keep them laughing.

    ”
  • Allan Lopez: Misfortune (a ten minute play) by Mark Harvey Levine
    “

    Hilariously absurd

    Hilariously absurd

    ”
View all 13 recommendations
Cindy: The waitress at a Chinese restaurant. Not necessarily Asian.
Barry: 20's-50's, Stephanie’s husband, a little touchy
Stephanie: 20's-50's, Barry’s wife, mischievous
Non-Speaking Roles:
Man at Restaurant, Woman at Restaurant (optional)
An all-female version of the play is also available.

Production History

  • Professional, Gather Repertory Newburg, OR, 2025
  • Professional, Ixion Ensemble, Lansing, MI, 2025
  • Professional, Short + Sweet South India, Chennai, INDIA, 2025
  • Professional, Short + Sweet Sydney, Sydney, AUSTRALIA, 2025
  • Professional, Teatro do Clube Curitibano, Curitiba, BRAZIL, 2025
  • Professional, The Theatre at Hollywood and Vine, Plymouth, MA, 2025
  • Professional, Town & Gown Theatre, Stillwater, OK, 2025
  • University, University of Montenegro, Niksic, MONTENEGRO, 2025
  • Community Theater, Lofte Community Theatre, Manley, NE, 2024
  • Community Theater, Not Your Average Theater Group, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 2024
  • Fringe, Bangkok Fringe Festival, Bangkok, THAILAND, 2024
  • Fringe, Big Bite-Size Breakfast Show, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Edinburgh, SCOTLAND, 2024
  • High School, El Dorado High School, Placentia, CA, 2024
  • High School, Oneida High School, Oneida, TN, 2024
  • Professional, Short + Sweet Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City, VIETNAM, 2024
  • Professional, Stratton Players, Fitchburg, MA, 2024
  • Professional, Washington Street Players, Holliston, MA, 2024
  • Community Theater, Aberdeen Community Theatre, Aberdeen, SD, 2023
  • High School, Academy for Visual & Performing Arts/Theatre, Paramus, NJ, 2023
  • High School, Bellevue West High School, Bellevue, NE, 2023
  • High School, Hilliard Darby High School, Hilliard, OH, 2023
  • High School, Mater Dei Catholic High School, San Diego, CA, 2023
  • Professional, Club 529, Attica, GREECE, 2023
  • Professional, XFade Productions, Various Cities, IA, 2023
  • High School, Worthington Kilbourne High School, Columbus, OH, 2022
  • Professional, Art’s Sake Studios, Winter Park, FL, 2022
  • Professional, Flexible Grey Theatre Company, Dallas, TX, 2022
  • Professional, Ixion Ensemble, 2022
  • Professional, Middle Kingdom Creatives, Beijing, CHINA, 2022
  • Community Theater, TAG of Coral Lake Coral, Lake, FL, 2021
  • High School, Deer Park High School. Deer Park, NY, 2021
  • Professional, Chaska Valley Family Theatre, Chanhassen, MN, 2021
  • Professional, Dramatis Personae, Westmount, Quebec, CANADA, 2021
  • Community Theater, Panhandle Community Theatre, Pace, FL, 2020
  • Professional, Colonial Playhouse, Philadelphia, PA, 2020
  • Professional, Fat Turtle Theatre Company Indianapolis, IN, 2020
  • Professional, Giù La Maschera, Bari, ITALY, 2020
  • Professional, Areté Ensemble, Giovinazzo, ITALY, 2019
  • Professional, New Short Play Festival, New York, NY, 2019
  • Professional, Teatro Augusta, Sao Paulo, BRAZIL, 2019
  • Professional, The Colac Players, Inc., Victoria, AUSTRALIA, 2019
  • Professional, The Cricket Club Players, Toronto, CANADA, 2019
  • Professional, We Three Productions, Whitinsville, MA, 2019
  • University, University of Tampa, Tampa, FL, 2019
  • Professional, Areté Ensemble, Giovinazzo, ITALY, 2018
  • Professional, Canal Café Theatre, London, ENGLAND, 2018
  • Professional, Etcetera Theater, London, ENGLAND, 2018
  • Professional, Forge Theatre, Phoenixville, PA, 2018
  • Professional, Giù La Maschera, Bari, ITALY, 2018
  • Professional, Short Attention Span Theatre, Chestertown, MD, 2018
  • Professional, Tipping Point Theatre, Northville, MI, 2018
  • Professional, Areté Ensemble, Giovinazzo, ITALY, 2017
  • Professional, La Chinchilla MX, Mexico City, MEXICO, 2017
  • Professional, PencilPoint TheatreWorks, Ypsilanti, MI, 2017
  • Professional, See Far Project, Seoul, SOUTH KOREA, 2017
  • Professional, The Barn Theatre, Montville, NJ, 2017
  • Professional, Town Players of Pittsfield, Pittsfield, MA, 2017
  • Professional, La Chinchilla MX, Mexico City, MEXICO, 2016
  • Professional, Lionheart Theatre Co., Norcross, GA, 2016
  • Professional, Seoul Players, Seoul, SOUTH KOREA, 2016
  • Professional, SlamBoston, Boston, MA, 2016
  • Professional, Theatre Quadra, Quadra Island, British Columbia, CANADA, 2016
  • Professional, Boiling Point Players, Houston, TX, 2015
  • Professional, Colonial Playhouse, Philadelphia, PA, 2015
  • Professional, Dramatis Personae, Montreal, Quebec, CANADA, 2015
  • Professional, Hi5 Entertainment, Bangalore, INDIA, 2015
  • Professional, Laurel Mill Playhouse, Laurel, MD, 2015
  • Professional, Teatro Augusta, Sao Paulo, BRAZIL, 2015
  • Professional, The Horse And Stables Theatre, London, ENGLAND, 2015
  • Professional, Cabaret La Ruse, St. Peter, MN, 2014
  • Professional, Cary Players, Cary, NC, 2014
  • Professional, Changing Scene Northwest, Bremerton, WA , 2014
  • Professional, City Theatre of St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg, FL, 2014
  • Professional, Marronnier Summer Festival Seoul, SOUTH KOREA, 2014
  • Professional, Oh Dragon Theatre Co., Austin, TX, 2014
  • Professional, Theatre Down South, Parañaque, PHILIPPINES, 2014
  • Professional, Alleyway Theatre, Buffalo, NY, 2013
  • Professional, Annual Fifteen Minute Play Festival, New York, NY, 2013
  • Professional, Awkward Turtle Productions, Daejon, SOUTH KOREA, 2013
  • Professional, Blackout Theatre Company, Sydney, AUSTRALIA, 2013
  • Professional, Brewster Theatre Company, Brewster, NY, 2013
  • Professional, J.E.T. Productions, North Hollywood, CA, 2013
  • Professional, Pensacola Little Theatre, Pensacola, FL, 2013
  • Professional, Snowdance, Racine, WI, 2013
  • Professional, Stoner Little Theatre, Somerset, KY, 2013
  • Professional, Above The Curve Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, 2012
  • Professional, Acme Theatre Company, Maynard, MA, 2012
  • Professional, Artists Exchange, Providence, RI, 2012
  • Professional, Changing Scene Northwest, Bremerton, WA, 2012
  • Professional, Madlab Theatre, Columbus, OH, 2012
  • Professional, Minnesota Shorts Play Festival, Mankato, MN, 2012
  • Professional, Orange Tea Theatre Co., Amsterdam, THE NETHERLANDS, 2012
  • Professional, Secret Theatre, New York, NY, 2012
  • Professional, Silver Spring Stage, Silver Spring, MD, 2012
  • Professional, The Mirror Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, 2012
  • Professional, Triangle Theater, Chapel Hill, NC, 2012
  • Community Theater, North Park Vaudeville, San Diego, CA, 2011
  • Professional, Lakeshore Players, White Bear Lake, MN , 2011
  • Professional, Little Fish Theatre Co., San Pedro, CA, 2011
  • Professional, Neo Ensemble Theatre, Los Angeles, CA , 2011
  • Professional, Play De Luna, Winter Park, FL, 2011
  • Professional, Vortex Theatre, Albuquerque, NM, 2011

Awards

  • First Place
    Making It Happen Festival
    Winner
    2026
  • Audience Favorite
    Corti Nella Corte, GIU' La Maschera, Bari, ITALY
    Winner
    2018
  • Winner
    Lakeshore Play Festival, White Bear Lake, MN
    2011
  • Best Play
    Minnesota Shorts Festival, Mankato, MN
    Winner
    2012
  • "The Charlie" (Audience Favorite Award)
    Acme Theatre New Works Winter Festival
    Winner
    2012
  • Best Play
    SlamBoston
    Winner
    2016