“Harry Dinker, Private Eye”

Micci, Ronald, V. (American playwright, advertising proofreader-editor, 1948-____), “Harry Dinker, Private Eye,”

a 10-minute detective parody in English, set in Harry Dinker’s office in the “downtown section of a grimy city nobody has any use for,” afternoon, 1998,

1m1f or 2m,

© 1998 by V. Ronald, scripts and rights available from Ronald Micci. Cited by Ronald Micci via ftp, May 27, 1998; Micci says,

  § Dramatis Personae Harry Dinker (m), a private eye; Miss Robinson (f or m), a damsel in distress.

  § Synopsis “This is a classic parody, perhaps most inspired by the Sam Spade/Maltese Falcon opening. Dinker introduces himself to the audience, sets the stage—enter Miss Robinson, a damsel in distress. In fact, she’s the notorious ‘cross-dressing bandit’ in disguise.  And she brings a tale of woe—her maid has been stealing from her.  This morning, she caught the maid stealing fillings from her teeth. What’s she gonna do?

    ‘What days does she come in?
    ‘Tuesdays and Thursdays.
    ‘Aha, I’ve got a maid comes in Mondays and Wednesdays, and I’ve been missing things.’

Or words to that effect. He puts a move on her, then exposes her as the culprit come to spy on him.  But even though he’s a man in drag, what the heck, it’s been a long time since Dinker’s had a woman. One or two gaglines.  Then, ‘Come on, toots, let’s make sparks.’ And he scoops her up.  Curtain.

  § Comment “This really played beautifully at First Stage, got lots of laughs.  Very cute.  And the video has had people in stitches back here.”

Addendum 020312: “Harry Dinker, Private Eye (1m,1f) (10 min.)
Hard-boiled detective Dinker ("I'm Harry, wanna see?") matches wits
with a cross-dressing bandit.”

  § Themes damsel in distress, detective, Maltese Falcon, parody, Sam Spade, transvestism.
  See also Ron Micci’s:

• “Addie and Me,” a melodrama, set in the bedroom of Melanie, a teenage girl, night, 2000, 1f
• “Biff Bang, American Hero,” a 10-minute comedy spoof of radio cliffhangers in English, set in the cockpit of Biff’s fighter bomber, 1998, 2m1f
• “Dark Snow,” a 15-minute melodrama in English set in the parlor of Aunt Lida’s home in the New York woods, 1997, 1f [see item below for 2f version]
• “Dark Snow,” a 10-minute melodrama in English set in the parlor of Aunt Lida’s home in the New York woods, 1997, 2f [see item above for 1f version]
• “Happy Endings,” a 15-minute comedy-fantasy in English set in the living-room of Cornweevil homestead in Midwest, 1996, 2m1f
• “Herman,” a 10 minute comedy in English, 1m3f
• “High Concept Harry,” a 25-minute dark comedy-melodrama in English, set in Harry Fleck’s office in Beverly Hills, daytime, 1998, 2m1f
• “I, Dadius,” a 15-minute comedy-drama in English, set in the living room of a cozy suburban home, winter, 2000, 1m
• “I Sing to You of Robin Hood,” a 15-minute comedy in English, set in a tavern in Nottingham, 12th century, 3m1f
• “Kid Valium,” a 15-minute comedy in English, set in a big city gymnasium, the day of the big title fight, 2000, 3m1f
• “The Lady Gentian Violet Part IV: Cries in the Memphis Night,” a  farce in English, 3m1
• “Love’s Cousin in the Carolinas,” a 13-minute romantic comedy in English, set at a park bench in the suburbanNortheast, U.S.A., a Saturday afternoon in late summer, 1998, 1m1f
• “Moonlight’s Little Madness,” a 20-minute farce in English set in the parlor of English country estate, during the Victorian Era, 3m1f
• “Mr. Gilkey’s Flagpole,” a 15-minute comedy in English, set on the lawn of Mr. Gilkey's home in England, afternoon, 1998, 1m2f
• “November,” a 15-minute tragedy in English in two scenes, set (1) in the downstairs of a house on a lake in the Northeastern United States and (2) on the lake, a November afternoon, 2000, 1m1f
• “Parasites of Ol’ Broadway,” a 15-minute comedy/melodrama in English, set in an alleyway on Lower Broadway, October, 1997, 2m1f
• “Rough Cut,”a 10-minute comedy/melodrama in English, set in a men's haircutting salon (barber shop) in Beverly Hills, October, 1997, 3m
• “Tea Cozy,”a 12-minute melodrama, in English, set in The living room of a suburban home, midday, 1998, 2f
• “Thebes Like Us,” a 10-minute spy parody in English set in a cafe on the Nile, 1996, 2m1f
• “Tragic & Trapped in Teaneck,” a 13-minute comic melodrama in English, set in the parlor of a home in Teaneck,New Jersey, U.S.A., afternoon, turn of the last century, 2m1f

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Page entered May 27, 1998, and updated November 15, 1998, April 2, 1999, July 8, 2000, March 12, 2002, October 22, 23, December 5, 2003, by the site Webmaster.
 
 

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