“Desperate Dolls” is the second in a three-play cycle about Hollywood. The first is "Sources." The third is coming soon. This is intended to carry on the theme of "beautiful women in terrible trouble" (aka "The Hollywood Trilogy.") It's horror, for certain, and all three plays are intended to take place in the same world. Whereas "Sources" took place in the 1970s and was about amnesia and snuff films, "Desperate Dolls" takes place in the 1960s and is about hypnosis and auditions.

"Sources" has a bigger scale -- larger cast, more sets, more action. "Desperate Dolls" is meant to be a bit more low budget, with a cast of 5 (2 M, 3 F) and only one set. It does, however, have a heavy emphasis on sound design and lighting, so those parts are very different and exciting.

Both plays have violence, brief nudity, and mature themes, so they may never get made for that fact. Doesn't mean it's not worth writing, though. I was inspired by the films of Dario Argento. The first one I saw, I wasn't certain if I liked it. But I was intrigued so I saw another. And another. At this time, I've worked my way through his entire catalog and I have to admire him. He has the most sustained body of work I've seen in a long time. By that, I mean that he takes some very iconic (Argento-esque) ideas, such as the killer wears black gloves in all his thrillers, and really makes some exceptional variety to the style. The plots are very similar and don't usually add up to much; the characters are mostly types; but the style, oh that style, is so very amazing. "Sources" was certainly more Argento than "Desperate Dolls," but they are definitely cut from the same cloth. There's even a few repeats of key dialog between the plays and the themes are identical. I didn't want to rip off Argento, so there's hopefully a lot of new offering in these plays, but that's where the idea started.

Side note: the title came from something I mis-heard in a lyric. But it's the perfect title for this.

For the record, I do think this one is scary as hell.