Script In Hand Playreading Of Comedian Lewis Black’s 'One Slight Hitch' Set At Westport Country Playhouse

WESTPORT, CT — The Westport Country Playhouse will present a Script in Hand reading of "One Slight Hitch," a comedy by Lewis Black, on Monday, May 4, at 7 p.m., the theater announced.

"I’ve been onstage screaming at audiences for years about everything that’s wrong, and I thought, 'OK, here - let’s just have a good time,'" said Black. "I wanted to write something where people could sit back and laugh and recognize themselves in it."

The staged reading will be directed by Kevin O’Rourke and is part of the Playhouse’s Script in Hand series, which features script-in-hand performances of plays with minimal staging.

"One Slight Hitch" centers on a wedding day disrupted when an unexpected guest from the bride’s past arrives, prompting efforts by her family to maintain order as tensions escalate. Set in 1980s Ohio, the play explores family dynamics, relationships and the unpredictability of major life events.

Black said he was inspired to write the play after receiving an invitation to the wedding of a former romantic partner, prompting him to imagine how such a situation might unfold. Known for his stand-up comedy and television appearances, Black has also written several plays and books, and has received Emmy and Grammy awards.

"Everyone loves Lewis Black for his razor-sharp stand-up, his incredibly funny books, and his unforgettable appearances on ‘The Daily Show’," said Mark Shanahan, Script in Hand series curator and Playhouse artistic director. "But he’s also a remarkably funny playwright, and 'One Slight Hitch' proves it, crafting a farce that feels both wildly entertaining and all too familiar to anyone who’s ever navigated family, love, or the chaos of a wedding day. Get ready for an evening of rollicking laughter and just the right touch of heartfelt truth."

Casting for the eight-member production has not yet been announced.

Tickets are $35. The reading will run approximately two hours with one intermission and is recommended for audiences age 13 and older.

For full details, visit: https://www.westportplayhouse.org/show/script-in-hand-title-may/

The 2026 Script in Hand Playreading Series is supported by Joyce Hergenhan and the White Barn Program of the Lucille Lortel Foundation. 2026 Programming and Season Sponsor is Barbara Streicker. Media sponsors are Moffly Media and WSHU Public Radio. Westport Country Playhouse is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.