The Bed Trick

by Jillian Blevins

ONE—ACT TRAGIC SEX FARCE. A man wants a woman who doesn't want him back. To protect her purity, she enlists a decoy to pretend to be her. A comic device as old as time isn't so funny for the decoy or her target in this play inspired by Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure, classical tropes and modern love.

ONE—ACT TRAGIC SEX FARCE. A man wants a woman who doesn't want him back. To protect her purity, she enlists a decoy to pretend to be her. A comic device as old as time isn't so funny for the decoy or her target in this play inspired by Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure, classical tropes and modern love.

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The Bed Trick

Recommended by

  • Kacie Hall: The Bed Trick by Jillian Blevins
    “

    Incredibly captivating. A beautifully raw piece & fantastic writing. Blevins created such a vivid stage picture for the reader. Fantastic.

    Incredibly captivating. A beautifully raw piece & fantastic writing. Blevins created such a vivid stage picture for the reader. Fantastic.

    ”
  • DC Cathro: The Bed Trick by Jillian Blevins
    “

    What a spectacular exploration of love, sex, consent, boundaries, and the myriad forms of desire and yearning. It’s brutally forthright and in-your-face, hard hitting yet hysterical, a true rollercoaster of a short play that will stay with you long after you finish reading. Powerful messages, delightful dialogue, and great roles. Brilliant.

    What a spectacular exploration of love, sex, consent, boundaries, and the myriad forms of desire and yearning. It’s brutally forthright and in-your-face, hard hitting yet hysterical, a true rollercoaster of a short play that will stay with you long after you finish reading. Powerful messages, delightful dialogue, and great roles. Brilliant.

    ”
  • Mike Byham: The Bed Trick by Jillian Blevins
    “

    What a clever little play this is. The clues for the final reversal (perhaps just a realization?) are sprinkled throughout. "Everyone hurts each other. All the time." On its surface - THE BED TRICK appears to be an exploration of misogyny and power dynamics between sexes. At its heart - Jillian Blevins creates a masterpiece commentary on what we're willing to put up with when we find the object of our desire, and what happens when this desire is unrequited. Love hurts. Impressive work.

    What a clever little play this is. The clues for the final reversal (perhaps just a realization?) are sprinkled throughout. "Everyone hurts each other. All the time." On its surface - THE BED TRICK appears to be an exploration of misogyny and power dynamics between sexes. At its heart - Jillian Blevins creates a masterpiece commentary on what we're willing to put up with when we find the object of our desire, and what happens when this desire is unrequited. Love hurts. Impressive work.

    ”
View all 19 recommendations

Character Information

  • THE MAN
    similar age to THE OTHER WOMAN
    he/him
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • THE VIRGIN
    similar age to THE MAN and THE OTHER WOMAN, or younger.
    She/her
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • THE OTHER WOMAN
    similar age to THE MAN
    She/her
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female

Development History

  • Workshop, Valdez Theatre Conference Play Lab, 2023