playS and MuSicalS - Contemporary Drama Service

28
Comedy Mysteries / Whodunits
Dinner at Eight, Dead by Nine
by MICHAEL DRUCE
A fundraiser “whodunit” comedy mystery
Cast: 6F, 5M, adjustable
Playing time: About 45 minutes
Complete playkit with 12 scripts: $22.95
Order #R-P1649
The audience sees it happen — a murder before their
eyes — but “whodunit?” The Theatre Guild (and the
audience) gathers to honor Eleanor Van Heusen for
twenty years of meritorious service to the theatre
community by hosting a mystery dinner presentation
in her name. But before the show even begins the
guest of honor falls face first into her spaghetti — dead!
To add to the hilarity, her face falls into the spaghetti
two more times. Eleanor wasn’t loved by all; in fact the
guests at the main table — and even the Chef — all
have reasons of their own to kill her. They all reveal
their motives and murder plans, but all claim
innocence. Facts support their stories, so it’s left to the
audience to deduce “whodunit.” When revealed, the
answer seems obvious, but no one is likely to guess it
correctly. Easy to stage.
We’ll Be Back Right
After This Murder …
by PAT COOK
A comedy mystery with crazy characters
Cast: 13F, 7M
Playing time: About 70 minutes, 2 acts
Order #R-R363 Script: $6.25
Order #R-RP107 Royalty: $50/performance
New!
Want to produce a hit comedy? This murder mystery is it!
“I like things simple,” says police captain Bogie. But
Hampton Bellamy was shot, stabbed, poisoned, clubbed,
and run over by a truck. And everyone’s a suspect.
Whodunit? Was it his sisters Dorthella or Darnella? His
gambling nephew Percy, who takes odds on who’ll be
next? Or Cherise, the Astrologer? When Bogie says the
murderer was stupid, vain Carlton says, “I am not.” But the
others aren’t off the hook. When a land mine kills one who
tries to leave, the inept “bomb expert” swings her metal
detector wildly, hitting Bogie. The narcoleptic life insurance
agent details Bellamy’s million-dollar policy between naps,
but there’s no beneficiary. Clues pile up as fast as victims
in this topsy-turvy comedy where everyone is in fear for
their lives. You won’t know who is after whom or who will
end up with the loot, if there is any. This fast-paced farce
is loaded with comedic characters, amusing scenes, and
lots of stage action. One set. Adaptable to dinner theatre.
Murder in the Manor
by BILL HAND Royalty play
A mystery dinner theatre play
Cast: 3F, 5M, adjustable
Playing time: About 90 minutes, 1 act
Order #R-R226 Script: $6.00
Order #R-RP26 Royalty: $50/performance
Everyone has fun during this dinner fundraiser
mystery. Murder, mystery and lots of laughs! The
audience gets involved and the cast mixes with the
diners during the courses. Before dessert, all audience
members fill out a “whodunit” sheet and later the best
guess wins a prize. When the lights go out, Artemus,
head of the family publishing business, is found dead
with a knife in his back. Everyone is a suspect. Who
did it? Reginald, heir to the business? Major, who wrote
the company’s bestseller? Alexis, four-time widow of
husbands who died at the dinner table? The destitute
nephew, Bernie, from the mailroom? Or Eileen Morrow,
executor/attorney? Many tricky twists in the deductive
process. Very tough to guess the murderer. One set
with five scene breaks.
Her Lips Are Sealed
by MARY KRELL-OISHI
A murder mystery dinner theatre play
Cast: 7M, 10F
Playing time: 60 minutes
Complete playkit with 10 scripts and
rights to reproduce copies: $22.95
Order #R-P1756
Detective Samantha Spaed is summoned to solve the
murder of Hedda Parsewood. During five scenes, the
audience is asked to participate in solving the crime. As
the plot develops, many motives for the killing are
revealed. While this is a suspense play, it’s really a
comedy with many fascinating characters: Misty
Shores, a Broadway starlet, seeks stardom with the help
of her gangster boyfriend, Pretty Boy Barnes, and his
sidekick, Jimmy the Weasel; Jean Astaire, a
choreographer with one last chance; Sterling
Snootmeister, who insists on being called “the maitre
de;” and a tabloid reporter, Nimrod Hunter, who tries to
be an investigative reporter, with no success. Many
clues are dropped along the way, and just when you
think you know the killer, you’re surprised to discover it
is the one you least suspected. Easy to stage.
www.contemporarydrama.com • toll-free 800-937-5297 • toll-free 24-hour fax 888-594-4436