A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

An Inspector Answers

Short Play  /  2w, 3m

Norman Phillip Hart

The play opens with the seemingly innocent disappearance of Lady Fitzbuttress whose husband, Sir Reginald, is tricked into confessing to her murder by the implacable Inspector from Scotland Yard. From then on, the plot twists and turns as Reginald plans to take his wife's fortune and run off with hi…

An Inspector Answers

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    2w, 3m
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Parody / Spoof

Details

Summary
The play opens with the seemingly innocent disappearance of Lady Fitzbuttress whose husband, Sir Reginald, is tricked into confessing to her murder by the implacable Inspector from Scotland Yard. From then on, the plot twists and turns as Reginald plans to take his wife's fortune and run off with his mistress. The Inspector, who of course "knows too much," is duly shot. But bodies fall and come to life again as intrigue upon intrigue is revealed. Lady Fitzbuttress reappears. Reginald's mistress turns out to be his wife's cousin after the family inheritance, and the play ends with a "police bust" by one other than the fellow who master minded the whole "fiendishly clever" plot in the first place.

SIR REGINALD FITZBUTTRESS - A plump man in his mid-forties. Definitely an English gentleman. He is a bit unnerved when he is found out, but gains confidence when he feels things are going his way.

LADY GWENDOLYN FITZBUTTRESS - A good looking woman in her early 30's who is every inch a lady. She is properly indignant at her husband's supposed infidelity, and even perhaps a little hurt.

THE INSPECTOR - in his late 30's. An efficient Sherlock Holmes type, but has a hard time remembering names. Nothing phases him and he can appreciate a "fiendishly clever" scheme even when he is the brunt of it.

CATHERINE CORNELIUS - a beautiful young woman in her twenties. Out of all of them, she is the one with all the answers and her coolness stems from the knowledge of this fact.

FREDDY - A young fortune hunter in his early twenties. He is cocky and a bit Cockney too.

  • Setting An English drawing room. The present.
  • Cautions
    • Mild Adult Themes

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: $65 per performance

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Norman Phillip Hart

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