Toil and Trouble eScriptAvailable

Toil and Trouble by Lauren Gunderson

(6)
Productions (22)
Black Comedy
|
80 - 90 minutes
1 W, 2 M, 
Content Notes: Some adult language.
Set: One room, a scooter, blood.

Underemployed friends Adam, Matt and Beth are desperate to beat the recession any way they can--like combining forces to take over a small island in South America. But when a fortune cookie tells Matt that he will rule and Beth gets a little too handy with a dagger, plans go awry. This hilarious adaptation of Shakespeare's Macbeth pits friend against friend, ambition against fate, pet-sitting against miniature vicuna mogul-dom.

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Pricing Information

Min. Performance Fee* $85
Standard Edition $13.99
eScript Digital Edition $17.5
Stage Manager Edition $24.99
Archival Video License $150

*The per performance fee begins at $85. Your per performance fee will be provided during the ordering process.

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Playscripts is pleased to offer an Archival Video License for an additional $150 for full-length plays and $75 for one-act plays.

Play Details

Underemployed friends Adam, Matt and Beth are desperate to beat the recession any way they can--like combining forces to take over a small island in South America. But when a fortune cookie tells Matt that he will rule and Beth gets a little too handy with a dagger, plans go awry. This hilarious adaptation of Shakespeare's Macbeth pits friend against friend, ambition against fate, pet-sitting against miniature vicuna mogul-dom.

NOTE: This is the 2nd play in the Shakespeare Cycle, a series of contemporary comedies based on Shakespeare's plays. See Exit, Pursued by a Bear and The Taming for the other plays in this series.

  • Black Comedy
  • |
  • 80 - 90 minutes
  • 1 W, 2 M, 
  • Content Notes: Some adult language.
  • Set: One room, a scooter, blood.
  • Standard Edition ISBN: 978-1-62384-218-5

Published Reviews

"An uproarious, modern-day comedy."

Natalie Reyes, The Daily Californian

"Toil and Trouble is laugh-out-loud weird."

The Daily Californian

"Gunderson makes a strong case that hubris, greed, lust for power, and just plain lust never go out of style."

Jackie Demaline, Cincinnati Enquirer

"Local playwright Lauren Gunderson has a knack for making the problems of flibbertigibbets look both loathsomely silly and cosmically weighty."

Lily Janiak, San Francisco Weekly

Production History

AUG 29, 2025 - SEP 07, 2025
Abilene Community Theatre
Abilene, TX United States
 Abilene Community Theatre Abilene, TX United States
MAR 06, 2025 - MAR 06, 2025
The City of Havre de Grace
Havre De Grace, MD United States
 The City of Havre de Grace Havre De Grace, MD United States
FEB 20, 2025 - FEB 22, 2025
University of Central Arkansas Theatre
Conway, AR United States
 University of Central Arkansas Theatre Conway, AR United States
NOV 07, 2024 - NOV 16, 2024
Galveston College FA-207
Galveston, TX United States
 Galveston College FA-207 Galveston, TX United States
MAY 17, 2024 - MAY 27, 2024
RESTLESS ARTISTS' THEATRE
RENO, NV United States
 RESTLESS ARTISTS' THEATRE RENO, NV United States
FEB 02, 2024 - MAR 03, 2024
Yellow Tree Theatre
Osseo, MN United States
 Yellow Tree Theatre Osseo, MN United States
SEP 15, 2023 - OCT 01, 2023
Theatre of Dare
Kitty Hawk, NC United States
 Theatre of Dare Kitty Hawk, NC United States
APR 07, 2023 - APR 09, 2023
Blue Ridge Community College
Weyers Cave, VA United States
 Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave, VA United States
NOV 17, 2022 - NOV 19, 2022
Columbia Basin College
Pasco, WA United States
 Columbia Basin College Pasco, WA United States
OCT 21, 2022 - OCT 22, 2022
NA
Helena, MT United States
 NA Helena, MT United States
SEP 23, 2021 - OCT 02, 2021
Mad Rogues
Milwaukee, WI United States
 Mad Rogues Milwaukee, WI United States
FEB 27, 2021 - FEB 27, 2021
Valley Center Stage
North Bend, WA United States
 Valley Center Stage North Bend, WA United States
NOV 07, 2019 - NOV 08, 2019
Blinn College - Bryan Campus
Bryan, TX United States
 Blinn College - Bryan Campus Bryan, TX United States
OCT 16, 2019 - OCT 17, 2019
Blinn College - Bryan Campus
Bryan, TX United States
 Blinn College - Bryan Campus Bryan, TX United States
OCT 07, 2019 - OCT 07, 2019
Southwest Shakespeare Company
Mesa, AZ United States
 Southwest Shakespeare Company Mesa, AZ United States
APR 26, 2019 - APR 28, 2019
Town & Gown Players
Athens, GA United States
 Town & Gown Players Athens, GA United States
OCT 09, 2017 - OCT 15, 2017
UW-Whitewater Theatre/Dance Dept.
Whitewater, WI United States
 UW-Whitewater Theatre/Dance Dept. Whitewater, WI United States
AUG 22, 2015 - AUG 29, 2015
Substitute Theatre
Seattle, WA United States
 Substitute Theatre Seattle, WA United States
MAY 14, 2015 - MAY 30, 2015
M&D Productions
North Conway, NH United States
 M&D Productions North Conway, NH United States
MAR 28, 2014 - MAR 30, 2014
Bentley School
Lafayette, CA United States
 Bentley School Lafayette, CA United States
JUL 26, 2013 - AUG 24, 2013
Know Theatre of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH United States
 Know Theatre of Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH United States
NOV 01, 2012 - DEC 08, 2012
Impact Theatre
Berkeley, CA United States
 Impact Theatre Berkeley, CA United States
AUG 29, 2025 - SEP 07, 2025
Abilene Community Theatre
Abilene, TX United States
 Abilene Community Theatre Abilene, TX United States
FEB 02, 2024 - MAR 03, 2024
Yellow Tree Theatre
Osseo, MN United States
 Yellow Tree Theatre Osseo, MN United States
JUL 26, 2013 - AUG 24, 2013
Know Theatre of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH United States
 Know Theatre of Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH United States
NOV 01, 2012 - DEC 08, 2012
Impact Theatre
Berkeley, CA United States
 Impact Theatre Berkeley, CA United States

Archival Video License

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eScript Details

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