A fun dramedy by Milo Shapiro, available in one-act or
two-act versions, featuring five to seven actors
What’s the play about? Ask the main character: Hi, I’m Lucy. Okay, sure, things haven’t been all-that-great with my husband, Jack, lately. Happily, I have some good news to come home with: We’re pregnant! Not so happily, in exactly the same moment that I blurt out the news, Jack announces, “I want a divorce.” Ummm…now what?
Jack, very much wanting to be a fully-invested Dad, suggests we save money by living together and “co-parenting” as friendly roommates. Is he nuts?
I’m 39, still care for Jack, have the grandest, most self-absorbed mother in New York, my best-friend/cousin means well, but overshadows me with her successes, my attempts to write fall flat, I have a crush on someone I’ve never met, and suddenly my whole social life seems to be the other breast feeders from La Leche League!
Can the two of us survive this co-parenting thing as we try to get on with our lives and even…dating? Tune in for the hope, heartaches, and hilarity as yours truly, Jack, and my crazy family try to balance it all.
The history: In 2006, Jennifer Coburn released her third hit novel, Tales from the Crib. In 2022, actor and theater-reviewer Milo Shapiro asked Jennifer if he could turn her first book, The Wife of Reilly, into a play. She’d already sold the rights to that one, but suggested that she always thought that Tales from the Crib would make a good play. Milo gave it a re-read, fully agreed, and dove right in.
So much of what Milo loved in the book was Lucy’s thoughts, which don’t make sense for her to say aloud in scenes. Rather than lose that richness, Milo had an idea: What if we see Lucy in the scenes (at age 39) and also see her outside the scene, in her 60s, reflecting on this time in her life and commenting on it, much like Ebenezer Scrooge visiting his past with the ghost. This way, we know what younger “Lucy-in” is thinking and, in some cases, the older “Lucy-Out” advances the plot.
Does this show require seven actors?: Not necessarily. “Tales” was originally written for five actors with “Man” and “Woman” playing multiple parts, crossing gender, and it certainly could be produced with five. Co-director Shaun Lim recommended after the staged reading, though, that the show might be stronger if Jack were one specific actor and Milo agreed. In casting for the Fringe, Milo was so taken with Kelly’s audition as Natalie that, even though she couldn’t be in every show, he asked if she would take on just that role, previously one of the roles played by “Woman”, for three of the five nights. This allowed Woman (Caroline) and Natalie (Kelly) to both understudy for each other, recombining the roles if necessary. Likewise, Jack and Man could understudy for each other. And all of that said, there’s no reason a company couldn’t include more actors, breaking down the roles played by Man and Woman further, giving more understudies a place in the cast.
About each of the seven main roles, along with my dream casting in Hollywood or locally:
♥ Lucy-Out: 60-65 (older version of Lucy-In; Lucy-Out acts as a narrator of sorts). Ideally, cast believably looking like she could be Lucy-In later in life. We get much of Lucy’s thoughts and dreams through her. Hollywood dream casting: Hollywood: Tina Fey, playing a little older than she is. Locally: Melinda Gilb
♥ Lucy-In: 39, sharp-witted and likely to use humor as a defense against what she’s really feeling. The steady, logical one in a family of wacky people. Aspiring writer. Hollywood: Emma Stone. Locally: Sam Ginn
♥ Anjoli: early to mid 60s, but takes her looks seriously to pass for younger. A grandiose, new-agey Auntie Mame who hasn’t a clue that she’s self-centered. In the closing scene, many years later, she’d briefly be in her mid 80s. Hollywood: Kim Catrell; locally Leigh Scarritt
♥ Jack: 39, Lucy’s husband. Tender, but still a guy. Both sensitive to and clueless to Lucy’s needs. Hollywood: John Krasinski; locally, not sure.
♥ Natalie: 28, Jack’s girlfriend, later in the show. Sweet, naive, well-meaning, and likeable, but not a strong person. Hollywood: Elle Fanning; locally, not sure.
♥ Man: Plays several parts, mostly men, though also Aunt Rita. Biggest role is a soliloquy with the feeling of a gay preacher. Note: Could be the same actor as Jack as originally written, but better if Jack is his own actor; each could understudy for the other if re-combined into one actor. Hollywood: Young Jim Carey. Locally: David McBean
♥ Woman: Playing several parts, especially Lucy’s cousin/best-friend, Zoe, and a 29 year old teacher named Natalie.
Needs to believably pass for late twenties, though also plays up to late 70s. She will also play Eddie is a sexy, early 20s, dumb stud, inspired by two of John Travolta’s best-known roles: the 70’s TV character Vinny Barbarino (see him at https://tinyurl.com/vinniebarbarino and Danny Zuko from Grease). Woman, as Zoe, sings briefly in a later scene; doesn’t have to be amazing, but able to carry a tune. Hollywood: Young Kate McKinnon; Locally: Lyric Booth (who was great in the staged reading)
All of that said…
Click here for a PDF version of the script
Copyright 2026, Milo Shapiro. All rights reserved.