The curtain rises moments after the Cadillac driven by a lonely young society matron has collided with a junk heap driven by a carefree, uncouth boy of the streets. A crowd of gawkers (actors, or cartoon-like cardboard marionettes) surrounds the accident, but no one is willing to get involved—even though the boy is bleeding and the woman cries frantically for help. And then something happens to draw these completely opposite people together.

The Variety reviewer points out that the involvement of Lenore, an attractive matron in her mid-thirties, with Ray, a hippie in his early twenties, "is masterfully developed by the playwright, by director Guthrie and by actress Dran Hamilton." He adds that "Miss Brooks carefully weaves a spell similar to early Albee but still with her brand of characters."

Lawrence Christon of Los Angeles Herald-Examiner calls it a "superior one-act play." He summarizes it as dealing with "a proper middle class lady, a successful somebody's wife whose Cadillac smashes into the car of a head type...While a group of gawkers stand by callously...the lady and the head manage to strike up a certain rapport...A neat point is made about how their private unhappiness becomes buried in public forms of escape."

Her plays expose the best hidden secrets of men's souls (as this one does) in a somewhat surrealistic way against a very realistic background of human life and event, thus adding a new dimension to avant-garde drama. While lending itself to all sorts of experimentation with lights and sound and set, A Minor Incident portrays two very real characterizations which are bound to bring out the best in the actress and actor who play them. A native of Detroit who has spent most of her adult life in Los Angeles and its environs, Miss Brooks is an exceptionally active writer for television, the stage, and the press. More than a dozen of her stageplays have been produced, and this is the fourth to be published. She has also been a columnist and reviewer for several newspapers.

For advanced, mature groups. Contains material which may be objectionable in some communities. Excellent contest and experimental play for university, community, and mature high school theatre. Place: A street intersection; Time: 1960's or present.

"Thanks to your company for having a winner of a play."—Gary Naylor, Hyannis, Nebr., High School (1st in district, 4th in state).

Other plays by Brooks: Captain Noah, Computer Pals, Exeunt O'Brien and Krasnov (An Evening with Eve), Making It!, Wising Up!