Skin Deep
by Jon Lonoff

Skin Deep Book Cover
Skin Deep Cover

Highlights

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

Synopsis

Comedy / 2m, 2f / Single Set In Skin Deep, a large, lovable, lonely-heart, named Maureen Mulligan, gives romance one last shot on a blind-date with sweet awkward Joseph Spinelli; she's learned to pepper her speech with jokes to hide insecurities about her weight and appearance, while he's almost dangerously forthright, saying everything that comes to his mind.

They both know they're perfect for each other, and in time they come to admit it.

They were set up on the date by Maureen's sister Sheil

Press Reviews

"It’s a little Paddy Chayefsky, a lot Neil Simon, and a quick-witted, intelligent voyage into the not-so-tranquil seas of middle-aged love and dating. The dialogue is crackling and hilarious; the plot simple but well-turned; the characters endearing and quirky; and lurking beneath the merriment is so much heartache that you’ll stand up and cheer when the unlikely couple makes it to the inevitable final clinch."

— NYTheatreWorld.com

"Skin Deep is poignant, hilarious, a must-see. Although playwright Jon Lonoff's brilliant, bittersweet script is unapologetically sentimental, it's also unfailingly astute – never backing off from being painfully honest when it comes to just how much insecurity about one’s physical appearance impacts life… His believable, poignant, imperfect characters and their individual attitudes about themselves always ring true and hit you right in the heart. However, in the midst of feeling sorry for their emotional plights, you'll find yourself helplessly laughing out loud."

— Redwood Curtain Theatre (CA)  TriCity Weekly (Beti Webb Trauth)

"Skin Deep… proves that love comes in all shapes and sizes… in this clever romantic comedy. Lonoff has written a wonderfully quirky and hilarious modern love story in an exceptionally witty and unexpected style."

— The Old Opera House Theatre Company (WV) DC Metro Theater Arts (Johnna Leary)

"Compared with comedy, dying is easy, the old adage goes. Skin Deep had its audience quaking with laughter, which is not something you or I could make happen. Skin Deep is well-crafted, well-executed comedy."

— Lake Theatre (NY), Lake George Mirror, Anthony Hall

Characters

Character
MAUREEN MULLIGAN

A large, earthy, attractive, lovable lonely-heart; she lives in Forest Hills, Queens, is a devout Catholic and works as a dental hygienist.

SHEILA WHITING

(neé Mulligan) – Maureen’s very beautiful sister, fashionable, flamboyant and full of advice; she grew up with Maureen and six more brothers and sisters in Queens and went on to marry old Connecticut money and move to New York’s Upper East Side; she wants what she presumes is genuinely best for everyone.

SQUIRE WHITING, JR

. – A handsome “government relations” lawyer in a prestigious “white shoe” law firm; full of charm and self-mocking humor.

JOE SPINELLI

An endearing, lonely guy from Bensonhurst.

Publication

Publisher Samuel French
Year 2009
Binding Paperback
Edition Samuel French a ed.
Pages 74
Place New York
Language English
ISBN-13 9780573696336
ISBN-10 0573696330
LCCN 2011389388
LCC MLCS 2011/41080 (P)

Skin Deep is a American comedy play written by Jon Lonoff and published by Samuel French in New York (2009).

Digital editions available on Amazon Kindle .

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Rating

4.1

15 ratings · 16 reviews

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Performance Rights

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

Restrictions: Major Markets Only (US) / Standard Restriction (UK)

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