Shtick
by Henry Meyerson

Highlights

Female

Male

90 mins Present Day Strong Role for Leading Woman (Star Vehicle) Interior Set Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes Comedy

Synopsis

Helen's life became complicated after her husband Murray's stroke and her sister Gladys's revelation, wanting to set the record straight in case Murray should die, that she and Murray had been having an affair.

Helen suspected Murray was no angel when she married him.

After all, as a stand-up comic he was always on the road and she knew comics could be loose cannons.

Helen knew she was trading the risk Murray would bring to any relationship, let alone marriage, for the excitement of the gamble.

While Helen might have been willing to adjust to Murray and his new stroke induced limits, the stakes were raised and the game was changed by Gladys's admission of the affair.

So now Helen is left on the horns of dilemma: How can she be a nurturing caretaker for a man who has deceived her (with her own sister, yet) while knowing he is a snake with no visible conscience?

Press Reviews

"Mainstream success...spicy situation...moving effect...abundance of jokes...wittily cynical lines...Whoever like to be moved and entertained in one evening will enjoy this show."
— Lidove Noviny, Prague

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
Murray 60; Murray is in a wheel chair and partially paralyzed; having always been sarcastic and irascible, his stroke certainly hasn’t improved his disposition.	male	—	60; Murray is in a wheel chair and partially paralyzed; having always been sarcastic and irascible, his stroke certainly hasn’t improved his disposition.
Gladys 55; Helen’s freewheeling, younger sister; more stylishly attired than Helen, but perhaps a tad too glitzy. While she is no match for Helen’s verbal ability, she is the breezier, more self-assured of the sisters. Gladys lives by the creed of honesty and having a good time.	female	—	55; Helen’s freewheeling, younger sister; more stylishly attired than Helen, but perhaps a tad too glitzy. While she is no match for Helen’s verbal ability, she is the breezier, more self-assured of the sisters. Gladys lives by the creed of honesty and having a good time.
Helen 60; a woman who is ready and able to cope not only with her husband Murray’s physical problems, but his rotten disposition, as well. She radiates energy and is as skilled at verbal repartee as Murray.	female	—	60; a woman who is ready and able to cope not only with her husband Murray’s physical problems, but his rotten disposition, as well. She radiates energy and is as skilled at verbal repartee as Murray.