A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

Murder Takes the Stage

Short Play, Comedy  /  7w, 6m

James Reach

A murder mystery is set in motion when art imitates life and a glamrourous theater actress is actually murdered during the reahearsal for a death scene.

Murder Takes the Stage

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    7w, 6m
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Mystery/Thriller
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for all audiences

Details

Summary
This exciting mystery can be done on a bare stage representing a Summer Theater, run by one Jane Bond, where a new play's being rehearsed to open the season. Mitzi, Jane's eager and lovely niece, has just joined the company. She's a crime stories addict and she's the heroine of the ensuing proceedings. Drew Pelman, the play's author, has somehow managed to sign Hazel Laverne, glamorous theater personality, to star. It's soon apparent Hazel's cordially detested by most of the troupe who know her professionally from the past. During a rehearsal, a gun supposedly loaded with blanks is fired at Hazel, and she plays a very convincing death scene---for she's truly dead! Mitzi and the local Sheriff set a most ingenious trap for the murderer. The action's always plausible and will keep your audience thrilled.
Keywords

JANE BOND - 35; runs the summer theatre.
MITZI BOND - 20; Jane's eager young niece.
MISS LIZ TRUESDALE - 70; an old gentlewoman.
OLLIE DUNNING - 30; a director.
DREW PELMAN - 30; a playwright.
LARRY STRICKLAND -28;  an advance man.
ELLEN DRAKE - 25; an actress.
BOB RAYFIELD - 28; a leading man.
SARA FARNHAM - 50s; a faded star.
HAL RUSH - 28; an actor.
HAZEL LAVERNE - 30; a great personality.
ANN MARTIN - 25; her secretary.
SHERIFF WILEY - 40; of the local police.

  • Time Period Contemporary, Present Day
  • Setting The bare stage of the Ivytown Summer Theater, located in a New England village.
  • Features Contemporary Costumes / Street Clothes
  • Cautions
    • Mild Adult Themes

Music

  • Musical Style N/A (Not a musical)
  • Vocal DemandsN/A (Not a musical)
  • Chorus Size N/A (Not a musical)

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: $65 per performance

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Authors

Author

James Reach

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