One Crack Out

Charlie Evans, a pool shark down on his luck in the bedroom as well as the pool hall, has two days to pay off a $3,000 debt, or have his legs broken by Bulldog, a psychotic debt collector who also happens to be having an affair with Charlieís wife, Helen. In his desperation to recover both the money and his self-esteem, Charlie gets involved in a series of hustles, pushing the tension to a breathtaking climax.AK The complicated narrative of the play allows French to build a convincing case for Charlieís humanity ñ how his actions, devious, frantic, and perplexed as they are, spring directly from his need to survive his pathetic circumstance and to maintain his dignity as a survivor. Tired, suspicious, despairing, knowing that the game is no good for him and yet knowing no other game, he plunges into a situation which may mean disaster or salvation, because in Charlieís world of clichÈ and stereotype, everything comes down to betting on the right thing at the right time.AKAKìOne Crack Out is a large-boned, daring work, reflecting an astute craftsmanshipÖ the results are almost explosively stirring.î ñToronto StarAKAKìFrenchís glimpse of life in one Canadian underworld is funny, vigorous, and highly theatrical.î ñ Globe and MailFrench, David is the author of 'One Crack Out' with ISBN 9780889224889 and ISBN 0889224889.