Kicking a Dead Horse (2007) is an American play written by Sam Shepard.
[1] It is an example of a dramatic monologue for one man for most of the play, until a woman shows up, in all lasting approximately 80 minutes.
In a midlife crisis, he has abandoned his wife and rich life for a trip to understand himself.
Next he debates different facets of his personality and life, looking as he mentions several times for authenticity, until every angle seems doomed to failure.
The New York production was directed by Sam Shepard, with sets by Brien Vahey costumes by Joan Bergin, lighting by John Comiskey, sound by Dan Moses Schreier; the production stage manager was Barbara Reo, general manager, Nicki Genovese, associate artistic director, Mandy Hackett, associate producer, Jenny Gersten, director of production, Ruth E. Sternberg, presented by the Public Theater, Oskar Eustis, artistic director, Kicking a Dead Horse is published by Vintage Books, 2008, ISBN 0-307-38682-1, ISBN 978-0-307-38682-3 The New York Times theatre review pointed out that the bleak landscape is reminiscent of the Theatre of the Absurd, particularly Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot and Happy Days.