Matthew McLachlan

Matthew McLachlan

Matthew McLachlan is a Scotland born, New York-based playwright who is currently Abingdon Theatre Company's Artist in Residence. His plays include: This God Damn House, The Murder Play with Jack & Melissa, Orion, The Knowledge of Sin, Online Dates Are Hard To Handle, and Men’s Monthly, among others. His plays have been presented by Ruddy Productions, The PIT, Thespis Theater Festival, New Works...
Matthew McLachlan is a Scotland born, New York-based playwright who is currently Abingdon Theatre Company's Artist in Residence. His plays include: This God Damn House, The Murder Play with Jack & Melissa, Orion, The Knowledge of Sin, Online Dates Are Hard To Handle, and Men’s Monthly, among others. His plays have been presented by Ruddy Productions, The PIT, Thespis Theater Festival, New Works Festival, The Farm Theater and performed regionally in Kentucky, Massachusetts, & Florida. He is the resident playwright of Ruddy Productions, a Pulse Ensemble Theatre member, and a Wynn Handman playwright in observance. Other credits include: Nominated for Best Writer of a Web-Series (ADULTish), The Roast of Michael Musto (Head-Writer), & his published works A Collection of One-Acts & Other Things You May or May Not Enjoy is available at The Drama Bookshop & on Amazon.

Plays

  • The Demand of Avarice by Matthew McLachlan
    Cast: 
    4
    ·
    Genre: dark comedy, drama + 2 more
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    Keyword: dark, billionaires + 7 more
    Genre: dark comedy, drama, horror, political
    Keyword: dark, billionaires, wealthy, hero, superhero, income inequality, McDonagh, drama, horror.
    (Full Length) When the world’s three wealthiest billionaires wake in a dank basement to find that they have been kidnapped by a masked vigilante, they soon discover that their wealth and power will do nothing to grant them their freedom. In fact, the cost will be far greater than they could ever fathom. This play examines the greed of the wealthy, the anger of the people, and just exactly how far we are willing...
    (Full Length) When the world’s three wealthiest billionaires wake in a dank basement to find that they have been kidnapped by a masked vigilante, they soon discover that their wealth and power will do nothing to grant them their freedom. In fact, the cost will be far greater than they could ever fathom. This play examines the greed of the wealthy, the anger of the people, and just exactly how far we are willing to let the avarice of the powerful be punished before we lose our own humanity.
  • This God Damn House by Matthew McLachlan
    Recommendations: 3
    ·
    Cast: 
    5
    ·
    Genre: drama
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    Keyword: family, drama + 5 more
    Genre: drama
    Keyword: family, drama, siblings, difficult mothers, Relationships, pregnant mothers, Bechdel Test
    (Full Length) After getting a 24-hour eviction notice from the bank, two brothers help their mother pack up and move out of their childhood home in Central Florida. Problem is, the house is an indoor trash heap and their mother is overweight and unable to help. As the brothers dig through the filth of their home and memories, past trauma and unspoken hurt rise to the surface as their 24-hour deadline inches...
    (Full Length) After getting a 24-hour eviction notice from the bank, two brothers help their mother pack up and move out of their childhood home in Central Florida. Problem is, the house is an indoor trash heap and their mother is overweight and unable to help. As the brothers dig through the filth of their home and memories, past trauma and unspoken hurt rise to the surface as their 24-hour deadline inches closer. Will they be able to pack up the house before the sheriff shows up or will their mother’s inability to let go and tell the truth drive everyone away.
  • The Murder Play with Jack & Melissa by Matthew McLachlan
    Recommendations: 6
    ·
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: adventure, comedy + 1 more
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    Keyword: funny, McDonagh + 4 more
    Genre: adventure, comedy, dark comedy
    Keyword: funny, McDonagh, cabin, dark, friendship, alone
    (Full Length) In a cabin, on a mountain, during a rainstorm, Melissa wakes up to find herself tied to a chair and in the company of a kind-hearted Dexter-like serial killer named Jack...and he just wants a friend. This gruesome comedy explores the outrageous things we do to not feel so alone and the unlikely people who end up helping us along the way.
  • The Place We Are Meant To Be by Matthew McLachlan
    Cast: 
    8–16
    ·
    Genre: drama
    ·
    Keyword: gentrification, identity + 3 more
    Genre: drama
    Keyword: gentrification, identity, class privilege, Race, privilege
    (Full Length) Spring Ridge Apartments is an old tenement building in an “up and coming” area in a city you may know. The building and its tenants try to survive the gradual change to their neighborhood as new residents make their home there. Inspired by Spoon River Anthologies, the entire story is told in monologues by different residents of the same apartment building, showing the gradual change and impact,...
    (Full Length) Spring Ridge Apartments is an old tenement building in an “up and coming” area in a city you may know. The building and its tenants try to survive the gradual change to their neighborhood as new residents make their home there. Inspired by Spoon River Anthologies, the entire story is told in monologues by different residents of the same apartment building, showing the gradual change and impact, for better or worse, of gentrification on a close-knit community.
  • Orion by Matthew McLachlan
    Recommendations: 3
    ·
    Cast: 
    4
    ·
    Genre: comedy, drama + 1 more
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    Keyword: Relationships, breakup + 4 more
    Genre: comedy, drama, romantic comedy
    Keyword: Relationships, breakup, love, young love, friendship, college
    (Full Length) When Sam and Gwen's relationship comes to an abrupt end, Sam is guided through the wreckage with the help of his friends Scott and Abby to find his place in Gwen's life, while a part of Gwen may not be ready to let go of Sam, either. Orion tells a story of love’s complexity at the start of our adult lives and those love relationships that end, but never really leave us.
  • 3 Characters Figure It Out by Matthew McLachlan
    Recommendations: 11
    ·
    Cast: 
    4
    ·
    Genre: adventure, comedy + 1 more
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    Keyword: meta, plays about plays + 3 more
    Genre: adventure, comedy, satire
    Keyword: meta, plays about plays, why, playwright, absurd
    (Ten Minute) Lights up on 3 characters who await instruction from Stage Directions on how to proceed with the play they are in. Once it begins, the 3 characters are forced to act out the most random, nonsensical acts, much to the enjoyment of Stage Directions. When things get a bit too ridiculous, tensions rise and the point of the whole thing is questioned. This comedic love letter to writers goes on a...
    (Ten Minute) Lights up on 3 characters who await instruction from Stage Directions on how to proceed with the play they are in. Once it begins, the 3 characters are forced to act out the most random, nonsensical acts, much to the enjoyment of Stage Directions. When things get a bit too ridiculous, tensions rise and the point of the whole thing is questioned. This comedic love letter to writers goes on a rollercoaster of meta-proportions to teach us that if you want to write something well, you must have a solid reason why. (Zoom version also available.)
  • Toxic Norse-culinity by Matthew McLachlan
    Recommendations: 10
    ·
    Cast: 
    3
    ·
    Genre: comedy, docudrama/historic + 1 more
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    Keyword: Toxic Masculinity, Vikings + 2 more
    Genre: comedy, docudrama/historic, fable/folktale
    Keyword: Toxic Masculinity, Vikings, masculinity, feelings
    (Ten Minute) After a recent raid on a foreign land, the Viking Sven visits his estranged friend Bretl, high on a mountain. When his welcome is not well met, Sven pleads with Bretl to witness his greatest treasure from his most recent raid: Kevin, a regular guy in torn jeans and a T-shirt. Sven explains that Kevin has helped teach not only him but the entire village of Vikings how to be better men, embracing...
    (Ten Minute) After a recent raid on a foreign land, the Viking Sven visits his estranged friend Bretl, high on a mountain. When his welcome is not well met, Sven pleads with Bretl to witness his greatest treasure from his most recent raid: Kevin, a regular guy in torn jeans and a T-shirt. Sven explains that Kevin has helped teach not only him but the entire village of Vikings how to be better men, embracing their truth and abandoning their toxic notions of what a man should be. But can Bretl be convinced of Kevin’s words or will his anger towards Sven for a past wrong keep him in his old ways?
  • Guardian by Matthew McLachlan
    Recommendations: 2
    ·
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: comedy, fable/folktale
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    Keyword: angels, religion + 3 more
    Genre: comedy, fable/folktale
    Keyword: angels, religion, god, church, friendship
    (Ten Minute) After Derrik's latest (and most ridiculous) injury yet, he is forced to do what no human has ever done before: fire his guardian angel, Gabe. That is if Gabe shows up sober enough to hear the news.
  • Online Dates Are Hard To Handle by Matthew McLachlan
    Recommendations: 3
    ·
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: comedy, dark comedy
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    Keyword: dating, online dating + 3 more
    Genre: comedy, dark comedy
    Keyword: dating, online dating, bar, friends, Relationships
    (Ten Minute) When Craig and Mark meet up after work to talk about their lives and a recent date of Craig's, Craig reveals that his date wasn't exactly what she showed on her profile. What ensues is a comedic and thoughtful treatise on modern dating as the audience is left to ponder our own standards, insecurities, and inability to get out of our own way to let ourselves be happy.
  • Haywire by Matthew McLachlan
    Recommendations: 1
    ·
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: comedy, romantic comedy
    ·
    Keyword: love, Relationships + 7 more
    Genre: comedy, romantic comedy
    Keyword: love, Relationships, couples, fight, funny, Clever, humor, Heartwarming, laughs
    (Ten Minute) After Erica finally says those three little words, Allan doesn't exactly respond the way she hoped he would. Together, they struggle to find a middle ground in their battle between head and heart.