Hairdresser on Fire
by Scott C. Sickles
Lawrence is on the rebound. His best pals — ex-lover Niles and devout virgin Briony — can only provide so much comfort. Then in walks Allan, a handsome attorney who whisks him away from his problems… and soon begins to separate Lawrence little by little from the people and things he cares about. Allan’s plan to control Lawrence starts to backfire when Lawrence reveals himself to be a stronger person than the heartbroken sad sack he was the night they met. But is Lawrence strong enough?
- Cast Size: 4M 2W
- Running Time: 90+ minutes
- Royalty Rate: $75 per performance
Order Script Copies (Mar 1)
Order Digital Download (Will NOT download to phones) (Mar 1)
With the wit of Noel Coward and the tension of Edward Albee, Scott Sickles takes us on a journey through the twists and turns of the relationship between Lawrence and his new friend Allan. Despite the best efforts of his ex-lover Niles and bestie Briony, this roller coaster ride is destined for trouble, and all you can do is breathlessly hold on and watch to see what happens.
Lawrence needs love and Allan needs a needy lover. Lawrence’s friends realize it’s a recipe for disaster but Lawrence must figure that out for himself. Sickles handles his material–both its emotional and technical content–surehandedly in this relatively early work. The ending is highly satisfying but whether it’s a happy one or not is for the audience/reader to decide. Highly recommended.
Rich, textured dialog and beautifully drawn characters anchor this intriguing play. Sickles creates the perfect manipulator in Allan, whose reasoning is just plausible enough to draw in his unsuspecting new lover. A play about the power of love, the dangers of relinquishing control, and the strength it takes to walk away.
A terrific play about recognizing and purging toxicity from one’s life. The characters and their relationships feel lived-in and real. I loved seeing Lawrence’s evolution over the course of this script. His final, biting lines of dialogue are ones I won’t soon forget!
Review Hairdresser on Fire.