A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

Deadly Murder

Full-Length Play, Drama  /  1w, 2m

“A challenging puzzle that draws us closer and happily keeps us on
the edge of our seats. A madcap journey of intrigue and duplicity and …
occasional wry hilarity.” - The Oregonian
"A nerve
shredding, intricately plotted thriller, full of twists, turns and
double crosses...[a] refreshingly modern thriller. – Worthing Herald

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    1w, 2m
  • Duration
    Duration
    105 Minutes
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Mystery/Thriller
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult
Accolades
Accolades
  • Nominee! 2008 Edgar Award for Best Play

Details

Summary

Camille Dargus has fought her way up from humble beginnings to a glittering Manhattan lifestyle. She has beauty, brains, wealth, and a successful career as a jewelry designer for the leading lights of New York society. She also has a penchant for attractive young men. One night at a society gala she meets Billy, a handsome young waiter, and brings him back to her Soho apartment. But there's more to Billy than meets the eye, and Camille finds herself held hostage at gunpoint by a man who seems frighteningly familiar with the past Camille has struggled to forget. Over the course of one explosive night, Camille must use all her wits and cunning to save her life--and to prevent the dark secrets of her past from destroying everything she's worked for. Full of twists and turns, bluffs and double bluffs, this brilliantly intricate thriller will be one step ahead of you all the way!

History

DEADLY MURDER was first performed, under the title IF/THEN, at the International Mystery Writers' Festival in Owensboro, Kentucky, on June 14, 2007.  It was produced at the Theatre Workshop of Owensboro by Zev Buffman and the RiverPark Center. Directed by Kelley Elder.

Keywords

CAMILLE - 45-60; attractive; sophisticated; smart; strong-willed.
BILLY - 20s; handsome; charming. 
TED - 30s-40s; on the rough side. 

  • Time Period Contemporary, Present Day
  • Features Contemporary Costumes / Street Clothes
  • Additional Features Stage Combat
  • Duration 105 Minutes
  • Cautions
    • Gun Shots

Media

"DEADLY MURDER is a delicious 3 hander with more intrigue twists and turns than an Agatha Christie novel... thoroughly entertaining, darkly comic..." UK Theatre Network

"Akin to a game of chess, tantalising the audience with every twist and turn." The Stage (UK)

"Between curtain-up and climax there are enough twists, bluffs, and blind alleys to satisfy the most demanding aficioanado fo the genre." The Publc Reviews (UK)

“A challenging puzzle that draws us closer and happily keeps us on the edge of our seats. A madcap journey of intrigue and duplicity and … occasional wry hilarity.” - The Oregonian

"A nerve shredding, intricately plotted thriller, full of twists, turns and double crosses...[a] refreshingly modern thriller. – Worthing Herald

"Witty and macabre." – This Is Gloucestershire

"Masterly...thrilling!" –Eastbourne Herald

"Crackling tension." –Kronenzeitung

Music

  • Musical Style N/A (Not a musical)

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: $110 per performance

Scripts

Available Formats:

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Authors

David Foley

David Foley's thriller Deadly Murder has been translated into French, Italian, German, Czech, Greek, and Russian and has been produced across the United States, Europe, and the UK. It was nominated for a 2008 Edgar Award after it premiered at the first International Mystery W ...
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