The Shoplifters

By Morris Panych

"Alma is a seasoned, career shoplifter who prefers the five-finger discount over some lousy seniors’ day deal. But it’s not just an empty wallet that leads Alma to a life of petty crime – it’s also her strong convictions about social justice and economic inequality. Along for the ride is Phyllis, Alma’s frazzled accomplice who lacks her mentor’s cool demeanour and snappy comebacks. It’s Alma who does the talking when the pair is apprehended at the grocery store by Dom, an overzealous rookie security guard. Guided by the strictness of his born-again Christian belief, Dom is ready to handcuff the culprits and call the police, but his affable senior partner, Otto, intervenes with a more sympathetic view of the crime: “It’s just a couple a steaks.” As Alma, Phyllis, Dom, and Otto share their wildly different takes on the situation, complex views on morality and ethics begin to emerge." - from the publisher

About Playwright(s)

Country of publication

Cast Information

Cultural background of characters

Total number of characters

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Minimum number of actors

Female roles

Male roles

Transgender roles

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Non-Binary Gender Non-Conforming roles

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Gender unespecified roles

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Age of characters

Actor-Friendly Parts

Monologue level

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Monologue details

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Scene level

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Scene details

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Production and Publication

First produced

2014, Arena Stage, Washington D.C.

Publication year

2015

Published by

Talonbooks

ISBN

9780889229266

Winner of the Edgerton Foundation New Play Award in 2015

Winner of the Edgerton Foundation New Play Award in 2015

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