Slick Bracer is the result of hours of research (i.e. I needed a column topic one night, so I spent most of the time reading Garrison Keillor's Book of Guys, and stole -- um, borrowed -- his idea of Guy Noir, Private Eye) and three different Laughing Stalk columns. Slick is a private eye, who spends most of his time sitting in his office, waiting for that one rich client with a really expensive problem. So far, no luck.

Slick plies his trade in Metropolisville, the small town with the big-city attitude. . . or is that the big city with the small-town feeling? Anyway, Metropolisville is like any other city: it has streets, traffic, buildings, homes, businesses, and crime. Lots and lots of crime, There's just so much crime here. Otherwise, Slick would be more bored than he already is.

He did, but Clarence Watson died after two whole lines in Slick Bracer and The Mystery of Some Murdered Guy. And no, I didn't give away the ending -- that's the whole plot of the play!

The Slick Bracer case file:

A Four Star Murder - Restaurateur Leonard Spritely has been murdered, and his nephew is in jail for the murder. Ms. Spritely hires Slick to clear her brother's name.

Slick Bracer and The Case of the Kidnapped Canine - The Murray Cray Commandos are on the loose and kidnapping little fluffy dogs and turning their fur into powder puffs. Can our hero save his client's Bichon Frise in time? Are Bichon Frises even real dogs? This play can be heard at WETS radio.

Slick Bracer and The Mystery of Some Murdered Guy - Slick gets a new partner, Clarence Watson, who is tragically killed after just two lines. Slick and his pal Detective McGillicuddy race to track down the real killer (hint: he's not on the golf course).

Slick Bracer and The Mystery of the Ruby Tooth - Japanese businessman Koji Hiroyama owns -- or rather owned -- The Venezuelan Ruby Tooth of Sri Lanka, but it's been stolen, and the jewel thieves have been tracked to Metropolisville. Can Slick find the thieves and get the $50,000 reward money? This play can be heard at WETS radio.

Special note: Several years ago, I ran a contest on my website, offering a special prize to the 10,000th visitor to the Laughing Stalk website. Mr. Hiroyama, a REAL Japanese businessman, was the 10,000th visitor, so he became a character in the play. Unfortunately, I was never able to send him a script or tape, so if he happens to read this, he can email me, and I'll send them to him.

Slick Bracer and The Giant Nap (AWAITING PRODUCTION) - Slick is hired by Robert Socrates, a wealthy Metropolisville bigwig hires Slick to find his murderer before he (Socrates) dies from poisoning. Slick ignores Detective McGillicuddy's warnings to stay away from the case, and works to find the killer before the police screw it up.

Slick Bracer and The Perils of Public Radio (AWAITING PRODUCTION) - A special salute to public radio: someone is trying to kill Gerald Keller, host of "Mountain Cabin Compendium." Slick tries to find the killer before the killer finds Keller. Special guest appearance by Marcus Fielding, host of "Hey, How's It Going?".

Well. . . I suppose. I will make Slick Bracer scripts available to anyone who wants to produce a Slick Bracer radio play, or someone who is looking for pointers on writing their own radio theatre scripts. I haven't decided if I want to make PDF versions of the script available for download or not. If I get enough requests for it, I will. Just drop me a line and ask me.

Slick Bracer can be heard on audio theatre / radio theatre programs around the US. Check out one of the groups below to find out if he's available in a city near you.

Don't Touch That Dial Radio Theatre is based out of Johnson City, TN

You can listen to streaming versions of "A Four Star Murder" and "The Mystery of The Ruby Tooth" at the DTTD website. Or you can click THIS LINK, and stream it directly (still through DTTD's page)! Requires RealPlayer.

Shoestring Radio Theatre has a 111 station network around the US