Former high school buddies Frank, Swaino and Packie – now past their prime – meet off-hours one night in Frank's out-of-the-way repair shop under cloudy circumstances that only Frank seems to have a handle on. Enter Chad, a plugged-in, preppy college jock, whose arrival ignites a long simmering resentment.
Productions
The play premiered in 2011, produced by Rogue Machine Theatre in Los Angeles. The production was directed by Andrew Block. Playwright John Pollono and Block had previously collaborated on the FringeNYC 2010 play Lost and Found. David Mauer provided the set and lighting design, Jennifer Pollono was the costume designer and Tony Lepore was the sounds designer. The original cast consisted of Pollono portraying the character Frank, Michael Redfield as Packie, Jon Bernthal as Swiano, and Josh Helman as Chad. The play first premiered at Theatre/Theater in Los Angeles on March 25, 2011. After critical acclaim, its limited run was extended until June 5. Following this run, the play transferred to the Beverly Hills Playhouse; this production was also extended after a successful run, running into September 2011. Actor Donnie Smith replaced Bernthal as Swaino when the play transferred. The production was generally well-reviewed as well as popular, in part due to Bernthal's starring role on AMC'sThe Walking Dead at the time. The LA Times and LA Weekly both named it a Critic's Choice and it won many Los Angeles theater awards.
Off-Broadway premiere
In June 2012, it was announced that MCC Theater intended to include Small Engine Repair in their 2012-2013 season. It was to be staged beginning in May 2013 with both Pollono and Bernthal attached to reprise their roles. However, due to one or possibly both of the actor's filming schedules, the play was pushed to the 2013-2014 season, with previews beginning in October 2013. Ultimately, this schedule change conflicted with Bernthal's own filming schedule and in July 2013 it was announced that he had ceded his role. The play premiered off-Broadway at the Lucille Lortel Theatre in New York in November 2013. The play's creative team included directer Jo Bonney, set designer Richard Hoover, costume designer Theresa Squire, lighting designerLap Chi Chu, and sound designer Jill BC Du Boff. A limited-run production, the play began previews on October 30, 2013, opened on November 20, 2013, and closed on December 21, 2013. Pollono reprised his role as Frank while James Ransone took over the role of Packie, James Badge Dale portrayed Swaino, and Keegan Allen portrayed Chad.
Characters and original casts
Awards and nominations
Los Angeles production
Off-Broadway production
Film adaptation
A film adaptation of the play written and directed by Pollono began production in 2019.
