A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

Reserve Two for Murder

Full-Length Play, Dramatic Comedy  /  6w, 7m, 1girl(s)

John Randall

"Combines the best features of Hellzapoppin and Charley Chan in Greenwich Village." - The New York Post

Reserve Two for Murder

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    6w, 7m, 1girl(s)
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Mystery/Thriller
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult, Senior, Teen (Age 14 - 18)

Details

Summary
It opens with a play within the play set five hundred years in the future. As this "play' unfolds, the theater is suddenly plunged into darkness, and an actor is shot and killed by somebody in the audience. From this point, there are weird, chilling developments—including a second murder, a vanishing corpse that reappears in the auditorium's rear, and disclosure that operatives of a spy ring are present. The mystery is finally unraveled by two detectives who've come to see the performance: Sergeant Kennedy and his proverb spouting assistant, Sam Lee. A lot of the action takes place in the auditorium with the audience sometimes taking part.
History
A success at New York's Cherry Lane Theatre. Directed by Gregory Deane.
Cast Attributes

HELEN SMITH - about 19, pretty but rather intense young woman, suggesting a mysterious background.
JOHN RANDALL - any age. A dark, handsome individual, foreign in appearance.
MRS. EDWARDS - about 25, a tall blonde girl, mature in appearance.
SERGEANT KENNEDY - any age. A hard-boiled New York detective, solid-looking and tenacious, but not very intelligent.
LEE - a young Chinese man of about 25. Deliberate and scholarly in manner.
MRS. INGLEFRITZ - about 35. A fat, dumpy woman, slangy and coarse in speech. Wears very cheap and flashy clothes.
ELOISE - about 9. Mrs. Inglefritz's little girl and a brat!
WILLIAM RUSSELL - about 24. Tall, good-looking, athletic in appearance.
DR. MARTIN EDWARDS - about 35. A dignified, well dressed man, who constantly gives the impression of knowing much more than he imparts.
MRS. THURSTON-ALLEN - about 50. A large handsome woman of the society dowarger type.
SCHULTZ - any age. A New York policeman.
MARTHA GREGORY - about 19. Pretty in a weak, colorless way.
SALLY LYNCH - about 24. A tough, hard-boiled young woman who has had to fight her way in the world. Wears an usher's uniform.
IVAN STRANGE - about 25. A tall, dark, suave young man. He should be oily in appearance, but smooth in speech.

  • Time Period Contemporary
  • Features Contemporary Costumes / Street Clothes
  • Cautions
    • Gun Shots
    • Mild Adult Themes

Media

"Combines the best features of Hellzapoppin and Charley Chan in Greenwich Village." - The New York Post

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

Author

John Randall

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