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A One-Man Play By
Patrick F. McManus

Performed by Tim Behrens

In 1992, Pat, already recognized as one of America’s funniest humor writers, wondered if his stories about growing up in rural Idaho might work on the stage. Using his own fear of the dark as a central theme, he wove some of his favorite pieces together to create a hilarious tapestry of mirth. The result has been described by one reviewer as “a cross between Mark Twain and Bill Cosby.”

The two-act play begins as Pat rummages through an old trunk. Each discovery—a piece of tent, the slingshot “Whomper,” his collection of dried road kill, a cracked brace from his sled “Rosebud”—triggers recollections of a story.

The key to the success of Pat’s writing—and Behrens’ acting—lies in activating the imagination of the audience. Just enough detail is provided to connect the viewer to each misadventure. The audience fills in the blanks, and makes each story its own. As a matter of fact, one six-minute segment takes place entirely in the dark, during which the only sounds heard are Tim’s voice and the rolling laughter of the audience. In this way, specific incidents become universal experiences.

Behrens portrays more than 12 different characters, each suggested by nothing more than a change of voice, posture or movement, ranging from the dirt-encrusted old woodsman, Rancid Crabtree, to the daft, but well meaning, Mrs. Swisher