HERB CLEARY MEANT NO HARM

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HERB CLEARY MEANT NO HARM
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ROYALTY/LICENSING REMINDER

10 Female, 5 Male (Doubling, Tripling) • Two-Act/Full Length • ~110 Mins

Synopsis

For nearly fifty years, Cleary’s Delicatessen has been the most popular dining destination in Clarksville, Tennessee. Nowadays the business practically runs itself. It’s best-selling item? Grandma Cleary’s potato salad. Three generations of Cleary men have reaped the rewards of its success. And now young Herb Cleary will be the next to take the reins. One minor problem, however: Herb ain’t right in the head.

Inspiration Set

Production History

None to date.

Development History

HERB CLEARY MEANT NO HARM received a public development staged reading as part of Lakewood Playhouse’s inaugural Festival of New Voices on Wed, Oct 15th, 2025. The reading was directed by Luke Amundson, assistant directed by Sophia Reeve, stage managed by Maisha Rice, and featured the following cast: Kerry L. Bringman as Harlan Cleary, Jenifer Gillis-Rifenbery as Emma Campbell/Bernadette Sweets/Joelyn Pitzer, Joseph Grant as Clayton Barksdale, Nyah Hart as Ree Ree Tate/Tina Esposito, Asante Hayes as Herb Cleary, Cara Hazzard as Judy Boyd, Mason Hoch as Dereck Hicks/Reed Callaway, Mari Layson Roy as Erin Barnes/Sarabeth Millard, and Brie Vaughn as Arlene Daniels/Angie Cabrera.

Awards/Recognition

None to date.

Reviews/Recommendations

“Craig Houk’s delicious knack for redneck repartee is one of my absolute favorite things, and that gift is on full display here: A Robert Altman movie’s worth of diner denizens cheerfully muddle through one very peculiar day, with disturbing and hilarious results. Underneath the barbs and shenanigans, you’ll also find an allegory about institutional rot - showing how dumb ain’t harmless, and good intentions and benign neglect can allow poison to fester and grow.”

Lakewood Playhouse (Lakewood, WA - 2025)

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Herb Cleary Meant No Harm The Reluctant Hen Big Bastard The Keeper's Quarters Radiator Lost In Place Anthology Lost Sole Dinner Dance Old Money Smoking Fags On A Rooftop Chum And Get It!

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NOTE: To License Brute Farce, Syd, Cooler, or Cold Rain, please visit Next Stage Press.

REMINDER: No presentation or production of HERB CLEARY MEANT NO HARM, in whole or in part, is allowed unless permission is granted by the playwright or his designated agents.