The Life of Stuff by Simon Donald

"'Sex, drugs and Frank Sinatra: The Life of Stuff is a brilliantly funny fly-on-the-wall snapshot of eight lives careering out of control as small-time crook and aspirant pharmaceutical entrepreneur Willie Dobie's best laid plans unravel when human nature takes its predictably unpredictable course ... In common with a number of first-rate modern Scottish plays The Life of Stuff has, as yet, only received two professional productions. I fervently hope this new publication will lead to the wider recognition it deserves."
Hugh Hodgart, Head of Acting at RSAMD, Glasgow

Customer review

"This play falls somewhere between a theatre and a film place. Not to be confused with a rock and a hard place, for it is a rattling good read. It has been a film - with Euan Bremner - which few people saw. The influence of cinema on theatre is an interesting discussion topic, turning as it has full circle from the turn of the century. A look at acting styles contained within Black-eyed Susan and TW Robertson's Victorian romps, their influence on classic silent movies such as Battleship Potemkin and Greed, the electric auteur of a Cagney and dumb vulnerability of Brando. How much of The Life of Stuff has its antecedents in cinema and calls out for that approach from the actors?

Simon Donald's play has small time crook and hardman Willie Dobie trying to move up with the big boys. To do this he dabbles in the illegal pharmaceutical market. As a career move and business idea this is certainly less stressful than teaching. It can, though, be occasionally more dangerous. The world that these characters inhabit moves at a furious and frightening pace and certainly kept this reader on his toes. The banter fair bounces around like a ping pong ball and the crack is both wise and funny. The snappy dialogue is reminiscent of Brenton and Hare in the early seventies glory days. No bad thing, I say.

Neds, gangsters, psychopaths, drugs, pimps, floozies, and dirty money. Just the thing to serve up to your 5th years? Possibly not, but a rattling good tale told well nevertheless. One maybe to look at for college or university. I can see a yooni group making a killing with this at the Embra Fringe."
Roy McGregor, Teacher of Drama, St Paul's High School, Glasgow

ISBN: 0-9545206-6-1, 9780954520663
Price: £3.99