Small Engine Repair
# Small Engine Repair

Small Engine Repair is a play written by playwright-actor John Pollono. The play centers on three friends who gather one night under a mysterious premise at a repair shop in Manchester, New Hampshire, exploring the themes of regret, fraternity, and masculinity.

Originally produced in Los Angeles by Rogue Machine Theatre in 2011, Small Engine Repair premiered off-Broadway at the Lucille Lortel Theatre in November 2013. A film adaptation starring the original cast in various roles was produced in 2019 and was released in 2021.

## Synopsis

Frank, Swaino, and Packie, ex-high school friends who are now past their prime, get together one night during off-hours in Frank's remote repair shop for mysterious reasons that only Frank appears to know. Chad, a preppy, connected college jock, arrives and sparks a long-simmering animosity.

## 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 Swaino, 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's The 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 (both actors co-starred in the TNT miniseries Mob City which was in production beginning Spring 2013), 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 director Jo Bonney, set designer Richard Hoover, costume designer Theresa Squire, lighting designer Lap 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

| Character | Los Angeles Cast (2011) | Off-Broadway Cast (2013) |
| - | - | - |
| Frank | John Pollono | John Pollono |
| Packie | Michael Redfield | James Ransone |
| Swaino | Jon Bernthal | James Badge Dale |
| Chad | Josh Helman | Keegan Allen |

## Awards and nominations

### Los Angeles production

| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 2011 | Ovation Awards | Best Play – Intimate Theatre | Small Engine Repair | Won |
| 2011 | Ovation Awards | Acting Ensemble For A Play | Jon Bernthal, Josh Helman, John Pollono, and Michael Redfield | Won |
| 2011 | Ovation Awards | Playwrighting For An Original Play | John Pollono | Nominated |
| 2011 | Ovation Awards | Director of A Play | Andrew Block | Won |
| 2011 | Ovation Awards | Lead Actor in A Play | Jon Bernthal | Nominated |
| 2011 | Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Production | Small Engine Repair | Won |
| 2011 | Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Direction | Andrew Block | Won |
| 2011 | Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Writing | John Pollono | Won |
| 2012 | Back Stage Garland Awards | Outstanding Production | Small Engine Repair | Won |
| 2012 | Back Stage Garland Awards | Outstanding Playwrighting | John Pollono | Won |
| 2012 | Back Stage Garland Awards | Outstanding Ensemble | Jon Bernthal, Josh Helman, John Pollono, and Michael Redfield | Won |

### Off-Broadway production

| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 2014 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Set Design | Richard Hoover | Nominated |
| 2014 | Joe A. Callaway Awards | Excellence in Directing | Jo Bonney | Nominated |

## Film adaptation

Small Engine Repair is a film written and directed by John Pollono based on his play, and was released on September 10, 2021.

## Publication

* Pollono, John. Small Engine Repair. New York: Dramatists Play Service, 2014. ISBN 978-0-8222-3142-4.
