Thugs

Thugs (1994/1996) is a 150 minute main stage comedy for 4 male and 5 female actors.

A film noir farce, this play concerns a down and out private detective who specialises in cases of male infidelity. Ex-wives, male escort agencies, and middle-aged male encounter groups figure prominently.

Thugs won Third Prize in the Mobil Playwriting Competition at the Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester in 1994.

Characters
Mike Smithsonian late forties, a private investigator
Daphne Ontario mid thirties, his partner, and Brick Martini's ex-partner
Doris Tomorrow late thirties, his ex-wife, owner of a male escort agency
Thursday Summers early thirties, his therapist
Winston Thin mid twenties, a member of his male encounter group
Mercedes Golden late thirties, owner of a male escort agency
Dean Straight mid twenties, her employee and "best escort"
Brick Martini late forties, her private investigator
Gladys Tomato early forties, owner of another male escort agency