Cockeye(D)

by Duncan Pflaster

When a 23-year-old movie actor claims that an older director molested him when he was 15, it ruins the director's film career, and he vows revenge. Finding work in theatre, the director begins an all-male adaptation of The Bacchae. When the actor hears the director has been telling people the molestation never happened, he also vows revenge, and attempts to infiltrate the play. An adaptation of The Bacchae...

When a 23-year-old movie actor claims that an older director molested him when he was 15, it ruins the director's film career, and he vows revenge. Finding work in theatre, the director begins an all-male adaptation of The Bacchae. When the actor hears the director has been telling people the molestation never happened, he also vows revenge, and attempts to infiltrate the play. An adaptation of The Bacchae based around current events.

  • Inquire About Rights
  • Recommend
  • Download
  • Save to Reading List

Cockeye(D)

Recommended by

  • Rachel Feeny-Williams: Cockeye(D)

    I sometimes think dark theatre gets a very bad rep. An audience doesn't always want to roll on the floor with laughter, sometimes they need to think and sometimes they need to feel. That is precisely what this play gives you, a roller coaster of feeling! Any audience seeing this piece I feel would be privileged to witness this deeply emotional and very socially relevant piece.

    I sometimes think dark theatre gets a very bad rep. An audience doesn't always want to roll on the floor with laughter, sometimes they need to think and sometimes they need to feel. That is precisely what this play gives you, a roller coaster of feeling! Any audience seeing this piece I feel would be privileged to witness this deeply emotional and very socially relevant piece.

  • Jarred Corona: Cockeye(D)

    I'm unsure how to explain my thoughts without unloading unnecessary trauma . I can surely say the writing is great. Pflaster sure knows exactly how to compose a verse and bring life to speech. Full characters. Catharsis, perhaps. Catharsis is what I can say. Few pieces of media of any sort have given me terribly strong emotion. The last time I cried at a play was "Tribes" by Nina Raine. I'm... somewhere, at the moment. Scared, I move, and survive. Thank you for giving me a show to survive. I hope you read this as sincere compliment, because it is.

    I'm unsure how to explain my thoughts without unloading unnecessary trauma . I can surely say the writing is great. Pflaster sure knows exactly how to compose a verse and bring life to speech. Full characters. Catharsis, perhaps. Catharsis is what I can say. Few pieces of media of any sort have given me terribly strong emotion. The last time I cried at a play was "Tribes" by Nina Raine. I'm... somewhere, at the moment. Scared, I move, and survive. Thank you for giving me a show to survive. I hope you read this as sincere compliment, because it is.

  • Mark Loewenstern: Cockeye(D)

    Not just a devastating revenge story. Not just a canny depiction of the claims and counter-claims that come when abuse is alleged. Pflaster here launches a searing investigation into the mutual sexual jealousy between young and old, between vitality and experience.

    Not just a devastating revenge story. Not just a canny depiction of the claims and counter-claims that come when abuse is alleged. Pflaster here launches a searing investigation into the mutual sexual jealousy between young and old, between vitality and experience.

View all 4 recommendations

Character Information

DENNIS KIRKLAND: M, 40s, a filmmaker and theatre artist.

HARVEY LEPORELLO: M, 40s, his nerdish confidante and manager.

CORUM DIAMOND: M, 30s, a playwright.

FRANKLIN GABRIEL: M, 20s, a wacky rakish actor. Something appealingly feral about him.

JOSH EPSTEIN: M, 20S, a more full-figured, bro-y actor, Franklin’s frequent costar.

SCOTT PITTS: M, 20s, a prettyboy actor, somewhat new to Hollywood; friends with Franklin and Josh.

CHORUS: M, any age, 6 to 20 nearly-naked men who will play ACTORS in the play-in-a-play, as well as all the other roles: CLERK, KEVIN, CHRISTY, ALONSO, MATT, BOBBY, JOEY, LENNY, TIM, CURT, JACK, WOODY, RODNEY, KYLE, STEVEN, CHELSEA, CLINT, DAVE, WILLIAM, DONNA, BASIL, CLIVE, CHORUS LEADER
  • Scott Pitts
    Very pretty actor, suddenly a big deal in Hollywood, but still very naive about it.
    Character Age
    20s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Chorus
    7 to 20 half-naked men who will play all the other roles in the play, with as much doubling as you prefer.
    Character Age
    Any Age
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Any (but probably Male)
  • Dennis Kirkland
    A filmmaker and theatre artist. Accused of molesting a male teenager who has now grown up to be a movie star and found his voice.
    Character Age
    40s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any (but probably white)
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Harvey Leporello
    Dennis' manager. Kind of nerdy and thirsty
    Character Age
    40s-50s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Corum Diamond
    A playwright; geek for classical theatre
    Character Age
    30s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Franklin Gabriel
    A wacky rakish movie actor. Something appealingly feral about him. Kinda bicurious.
    Character Age
    20s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Josh Epstein
    Franklin's best buddy, also an actor, who's been in a ton of movies with him. more full-figured and bro-y.
    Character Age
    20s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Male

Development History

  • Type Reading, Organization SFEAGLE Players, Year 2023
  • Type Reading, Organization Turn to Flesh Productions, Year 2018
  • Type Reading, Organization TOSOS - The Other Side of Silence, Year 2018
  • Type Reading, Organization EMG Playwright Group, Year 2017