A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

Murder in a Nunnery

Full-Length Play, Drama  /  12w, 5m

Emmet Lavery, Eric Sheperd

From Eric Sheperd's novel

The police are baffled when Baroness Sliema is murdered in the convent school chapel, but the nuns and students take it in their stride and they lead Scotland Yard a merry chase. It's an exciting, diverting mystery with a tingling air of the supernatural.

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    12w, 5m
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Mystery/Thriller
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult, Senior, Teen (Age 14 - 18)

Details

Summary
The police are baffled when Baroness Sliema is murdered in the convent school chapel, but the nuns and students take it in their stride and they lead Scotland Yard a merry chase. It's an exciting, diverting mystery with a tingling air of the supernatural. The play is suitable for all types of school, college and community groups irrespective of religious faith. The author has caught life itself in the crucible of a murder story and as we see how the nuns and students stand up to murder we see in turn how the rest of us may stand up to life. The script is complete with production notes. "I consider it excellent theatre and a splendid vehicle for youth of senior high school age." Sister Charitas, Director, Academy of the Holy Angels, Minneapolis, Minn.
History
Murder in a Nunnery was first presented at the Wilshire-Ebell Theatre on May 19, 1942. It was directed by Emmet Lavery.
Keywords

STUDENTS:
MISS VERITY GOODCHILD
MISS INEZ ESCAPADO
MISS PRUDENCE ROCKINGHAM
MISS TORQUILLA (TURKEY) ROHAYS

NUNS:
MOTHER PECK
MOTHER PEAGLE
MOTHER TREVOR
MOTHER BASSONWAITE
REVEREND MOTHER

THE BARONESS SLIEMA
MISS VENETIA GEZA
MRS. MOSS
INSPECTOR PEARSON
SERGEANT MULLIGAN
REPORTER
BARON SLIEMA
MR. TURTLE
OTHER NUNS
OTHER STUDENTS

  • Time Period 1940s / WWII
  • Setting Harrington Convent School, England. May. 1940's.
  • 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: $110 per performance

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Authors

Emmet Lavery

Emmet Lavery (1902-1986) served as president of the Screenwriters Guild of Los Angeles from 1945 to 1947 and as vice president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1946. Lavery's screenplay, The Court Martial of Billy Mitchell, earned him and co-author Milton ...
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Author

Eric Sheperd

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