A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

The Butler Did It, Again

Full-Length Play, Comedy  /  6w, 6m

Written by the "master of the outrageous comedy mysteries," this is a much requested follow-up to the ever-popular The Butler Did It. Publisher and socialite, indomitable Miss Maple rents a plantation house...

The Butler Did It, Again

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    6w, 6m
  • Duration
    Duration
    90 minutes
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Mystery/Thriller
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult, Senior, Teen (Age 14 - 18)

Details

Summary
Written by the "master of the outrageous comedy mysteries," this is a much requested follow-up to the ever-popular The Butler Did It. Publisher and socialite, indomitable Miss Maple rents a plantation house, complete with menacing alligator, in the frightening swap land of Louisiana. She wants to introduce her latest literary discovery, Ruth Dice, who has written a first novel entitled Conversations with a Ghoul. Ruth has only contempt for the guests. Classic detective prototypes like tough Chandler Marlow, chic Manhattan couple Rick and Laura Carlyle, westerner Tony Tallchief. She dismisses Louie Fan ("Telephone like corpse. Both dead.") and gentle Father White ("Tea and biscuits, anyone?") as has-been hacks. Naturally, she's the perfect candidate for murder. However, it's the bizarre owner of the house of secrets, Jasper Van Dine, who's discovered in the parlor with a scalpel once belonging to Jack the Ripper in his back! WHODUNNIT!? It's up to the flakey detective writers to unravel the puzzle. Chills, thrills, alibis, clues, motives, and dazzling plot twists fly about the stage like pies-in-the-face. Nothing is what it seems to be and you'll need a scorecard to keep track of who's who and what's what. Smoke and mirrors, fun and games - from start to finish. Bring a seat belt!
Keywords

JANE DOE - Miss Maple's social secretary. 
CHIPS - family retainer. 
MISS MAPLE - book publisher and socialite who enjoys giving amusing parties. 
MRS. DANVERS - housekeeper. 
LINDA HAYES - unexpected guest. 
CHANDLER MARLOWE - mystery writer. 
RICK CARLYLE - another. 
LAURA CARLYLE - another. Rick's wife. 
TONY TALLCHIEF - another mystery writer. 
LOUIE FAN - another.
FATHER WHITE - another. 
RUTH DICE - another. 

  • Time Period Present Day
  • Setting "Spanish Moss," a creepy old mansion in the swamplands of Louisiana; the present. 
  • Duration 90 minutes

Media

"A crazy gumbo of off-the-wall dialogue and nutbrain action." - Theatre Laurel Promoter

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: $110 per performance

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Authors

Tim Kelly

Kelly was born in Saugus, Massachusetts on October 2, 1932. He graduated from Emerson College with a bachelor's degree and received a masters degree in play-writing from Yale University. His first stage play was Widow's Walk, published in the 1960s. At the same time, three of ...
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