Perfecting the Kiss: a mockumentary for the stage by Scott Sickles

[FULL LENGTH COMEDY]
In this "Noises Off for Off-Off," a stage manager presents a dramatic recreation of her traumatizing previous production during which she was secretly attracted to playwright Harvest Carruthers who in turn became attracted to the sweet, sexy, and tremendously untalented Jonah "Buck" Jackson who himself developed a crush on director Edwina O'Halloran who is...
[FULL LENGTH COMEDY]
In this "Noises Off for Off-Off," a stage manager presents a dramatic recreation of her traumatizing previous production during which she was secretly attracted to playwright Harvest Carruthers who in turn became attracted to the sweet, sexy, and tremendously untalented Jonah "Buck" Jackson who himself developed a crush on director Edwina O'Halloran who is only doing this very bad gay play to prove that the actor who rejected her romantic overtures, Mike Porter, did so because he's gay thereby enabling her to cope with his rejection. The result is a hilariously catastrophic series of clashing egos and romantic misalliances.

75 minutes, no intermission
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Perfecting the Kiss: a mockumentary for the stage

Recommended by

  • Brenton Kniess:
    17 Aug. 2023
    “ Sickles writes an outrageously gut bustlingly hilarious play! I’m typically not a fan of the play within a play genre, but Sickles truly creates an absurdist atmosphere that makes the laughs land and the characters so interesting to follow. This play is calling to be staged and with the help of a talented director and cast with great comedic timing, this will be an absolute crowd pleaser! ”
  • Alice Josephs:
    3 Jul. 2023
    “ That production linchpin, the stage manager, narrates this farce, designated by the playwright a ‘mockumentary’ in this ‘Our Town’ of the theatrical world. Skewering the hierarchical and sexual politics (and chaotic twists and turns), the playwright skilfully paces an intrically structured piece of unrequited passion and vaulting ambition in a cat’s cradle of cast, crew, director and writer, swirling egos and insecurities. Curtain up on an ensemble piece of technical precision escalating the excruciating misunderstandings and the laughs! ”
  • Stephen Byrum:
    5 Apr. 2023
    “ Scott Sickles provides a hilarious romp with eccentric characters and an absurd premise. It will have you in stitches, uncomfortable with secondhand embarrassment, (and maybe a little personal embarrassment as you remember a time when one of these people was you), and a good "awwww" moment before the final punchline. Sickles is a master storyteller and it shows! Thank you, Scott, from one cringe-loving, gay fellow playwright! ”
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Character Information

  • Stage Manager
    20s/30s,
    Any
    ,
    Female
    referred to by the actress’s name; a stage manager by trade; she is recalling the traumatizing experience of a recent production; she is secretly attracted to…
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Harvest Carruthers
    30s-50s,
    Any
    ,
    Male
    the playwright; touchy and temperamental; gay and homophobic; a lofty, pretentious writer; a vulnerable, lonely man; secretly attracted to…
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s, 50s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Jonah "Buck" Jackson
    20s,
    Any
    ,
    Male
    boyishly handsome; in great physical shape; outgoing and gregarious; has an exuberant acting style (not good); politely direct, but awkward with women; secretly attracted to…
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Edwina O'Halloran
    30s-40s,
    Any
    ,
    Female
    the director; has no idea that she’s attractive and her wardrobe emphasizes comfort over allure; brilliant in the rehearsal room and oblivious to anyone who might be romantically interested; she harbors feelings for her best pal…
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Mike Porter
    20s/30s,
    Any
    ,
    Male
    an actor; friendly but very low-key, both personally and in his acting style; comfortably masculine, he’s also gay and in the closet; he is also secretly attracted to BUCK.
    Or is he?
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male

Development History

  • Workshop
    ,
    WorkShop Theater Company/Mind the Gap Theatre
    ,
    2002
  • Reading
    ,
    WorkShop Theater Company
    ,
    2001
  • Reading
    ,
    Mind the Gap Theatre
    ,
    2001

Production History

  • University
    ,
    Temple Theaters Side Stage
    ,
    2023
  • Fringe
    ,
    Capital Fringe
    ,
    2018
  • Fringe
    ,
    Mind the Gap Theatre/YouBlinked Productions
    ,
    2017
  • Fringe
    ,
    WorkShop Theater Company/Mind the Gap Theatre
    ,
    2003