Tightly Wound, Witty & Mysterious: Steven Dietz’s Fiction

Title:
Fiction

Author:
Steven Dietz

What It’s All About:
Michael and Linda are a married couple, both writers. Michael is a successful household name, while Linda now teaches and has only had one hit book. Near the beginning of the show, Linda is diagnosed with cancer, and her dying wish is to be granted the opportunity to read Michael’s journals. Hesitantly he concedes, and Linda reads about an affair Michael had with a woman named Abby while away at a writer’s retreat. Michael admits he met the woman, but that the affair was all an act of fiction. But Linda isn’t exactly 100% truthful with Michael either.

Why You Should Do This Play:
Steven Dietz writes a very tightly wound play that at certain points feels like a mystery of infidelity, while still having witty and barbed turns of phrase on every page. Fiction is a play about writers that doesn’t feel exclusive to those who aren’t writers.

The Particulars:
A small cast of three (2F, 1M) with no need for set other than a desk, a table, and a few chairs. The play has several locations that can be as fleshed out as the producer would like to be.

A Bit Extra:
The first scene of the play pits Linda and Michael in an argument over the greatest rock and roll vocal performance ever. Linda’s vote “Piece of My Heart” by Janis Joplin. Michael’s is for John Lennon’s performance in “Twist and Shout” by The Beatles. Which would you choose?

To purchase a copy of Fiction click here, and to learn more about licensing a production, click here.