Lazybed is a play written by author and playwright Iain Crichton Smith. It was first performed in the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh, Scotland, on 10 October 1997 with a cast of seven.
Contents
Plot
It follows the story of Murdoch, a middle-aged man who takes to his bed for "metaphysical reasons". A series of visitors come and see him in his 'horizontal' state: his mother, his brother, his nosey neighbour 'Snoopy', a life insurance salesman, his local minister, a "medical specialist", and Death - a cheerful, sunny man. The death of his mother shakes him out of his bed and into life, and while his friendship with Death, who is having issues of his own, develops, Murdoch sets about falling in love.
Characters
Murdo - 39-year-old man
Death - Optimistic grim reaper
Mother - Older lady, Murdo's mother
Neighbour - Older lady, gossip
Judith - Adult lady, love interest
Specialist - Medical specialist
Salesman - Sells insurance
Brother - thirty-something, Murdo's brother
Minister - Stereotypical Church of Scotland Minister
Immanuel Kant - Cloaked metaphysicist
'Voice' - Voice, sounding rather like Murdo's
Publication
It is published in the anthology Scotland Plays, published by Nick Hern Books.