Red Herring
by Michael Hollinger

Red Herring Book Cover
Red Herring Cover

Highlights

1950sEnsemble CastUnit Set/Multiple SettingsComedy

Synopsis

Three love stories, a murder mystery, and a nuclear espionage plot converge in this noir comedy about marriage and other explosive devices.

It’s 1952: America is on the verge of testing the H-bomb, Dwight Eisenhower’s on the campaign trail, and I Love Lucy is on television on Monday nights.

Meanwhile, Senator Joe McCarthy’s daughter just got engaged to a Soviet spy, and Boston detective Maggie Pelletier has to find out who dumped the dead guy in the harbor – or else lose out on a honeymoon in Havana.

A blunt-nosed, sharp-eyed look at love and tying (and untying, and retying) the knot.

Press Reviews

"Exceedingly funny. A genuinely human comedy about six people in search of love in a mixed-up world. A thoroughly engaging piece of theatre."

— Philadelphia Inquirer

"Hilarious. A valentine celebrating love and marriage. A fun, engaging, farcical romp with a cleverly complex plot and a loving heart."

— Main Line Times

"Red Herring is enjoyably silly, and Hollinger’s short scenes, crisp dialogue and sharp wisecracks keep things interesting."

— DC Theater Arts

Characters

Character
MAGGIE PELLETIER

Mid-30s.

FRANK KELLER

Mid-30s. This actor also plays:

PRIEST

,

MAJOR HARTWELL

and recorded voices as necessary.

LYNN McCARTHY

Early 20s. This actor also plays:

CLERK

and recorded voices as necessary.

JAMES APPEL

Early 20s. This actor also plays:

WOODY

,

HARRY

,

BARTENDER

and recorded voices as necessary.

MRS. KRAVITZ

Late 40s, early 50s. This actor also plays:

MRS. McCARTHY

,

MRS. VAN NOSTRAND

and recorded voices as necessary.

ANDREI BORCHEVSKY

Late 40s, early 50s. This actor also plays:

PETEY

,

DR. KASDEN

,

HERBERT

and

CORPSE

as well as any recorded voices as necessary.

Publication

BindingPaperback
ISBN-139780822217886
ISBN-100822217880

Red Herring is a comedy play written by Michael Hollinger and published by Dramatists Play Service.

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Rating

4.0

54 ratings·96 reviews

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Performance Rights

Available for Licensing
Amateur & Professional
Fee:Minimum Fee: $110 per performance
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