Small Engine Repair: A Play

by John Pollono

As Frank breaks out the good scotch, he kicks into motion an evening that abruptly accelerates from macho posturing and grievance airing to reveal a shocking, darker Enter Chad, a preppy college jock whose arrival―to sell the townies some ecstasy, he thinks―sets this taut, twisty comic thriller on its breathless course. Upon its world premiere at Los Angeles’s Rogue Machine Theatre, Small Engine Repair  swept every major Los Angeles theatre award including Los Angeles Drama Critic Circle Awards for Best New Production and Best Writing, and won rave reviews upon its 2013 Off-Broadway premiere at MCC/Lucille Lortel.

Genres: Plays

96 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 2014

Reviews

[Doug · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5, rounded up.

I'd never heard of this off-Broadway play before the recent movie version arrived, which impelled me to read it to see what it's all about. It's a fairly short one-act, which has obvs. been expanded for the film version. Playwright Pollono starred in both professional stage productions, and also stars in and directs the film, so apparently did so as an entry into the big leagues.

Mamet and McDonagh have been cited as the major influences, and that's apparent. The odd thing about the play is that it SEEMS to be set contemporaneously (or at least in 2013 when it was first produced), but people are using Blackberries still, and the plot revolves around internet slut-shaming, which seems a bit old hat now.

Regardless, the play is an effective look at toxic masculinity, and the film has gotten fairly decent reviews (78 fresh on Rotten Tomatoes) - I'll be interested in seeing it, if only to see how they can possibly film the denouement without getting an X rating: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfMpJ....

[The Shayne-Train · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mamet meets Hitchcock meets the Hangover.

[Sidney, uh, Jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good new film, highly recommended and one of my favorites of 2021 no doubt. Bought and read the play right after seeing it, and while I enjoyed the script, Pollono and company have done an excellent job reworking, expanding, and improving the original for today’s screen.

Great plot overall in both, however! I’m sure it’s great fun to perform.

[Zachary · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty funny and twisted piece - I really liked this play and it makes me think what my friends now will look like in 10 years. It’s short and sweet and has a pretty sick underlying twist that shows itself later into the play. It is pretty good, but I wouldn’t rank it above a 3 because it wasn’t extremely mind blowing or gave me any intense reactions like other pieces have in the past.

[CJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most of this play I was wondering if I was wasting my time...and then I got to the end. Wow. The third act here really packs a wollop. Getting there was a bit tough (largely because the constant foul language was wearing me out.)

[Jenna Shepherd · Rating 5 out of 5]

in keeping with my love of the handmaid's tale, and promising young woman, this is my favorite play (and i've read a few).