This site has limited support for your browser. We recommend switching to Edge, Chrome, Safari, or Firefox.

Not sure where to start? Discover all our scripts

Talk to one of our experts here

Thank you for purchasing with Stagescripts

Shopping basket 0

Sorry, looks like we don't have enough of this product.

Products

Need help? Contact our team here

Pair with
Subtotal Free
Shipping, taxes, and discount codes are calculated at checkout
  • American Express
  • Apple Pay
  • Diners Club
  • Discover
  • Google Pay
  • Maestro
  • Mastercard
  • Shop Pay
  • Union Pay
  • Visa

Whose Crime Is It Anyway?

Jenny-Alice Thompson

Genre: Comedic Drama

Cast size: 13

Duration: 45 mins approx

Jenny-Alice Thompson | Comedic Drama | One Act | 7m,6f

Short synopsis

A collection of public domain characters (inc Miss Haversham and Elizabeth Bennett) gather together but they have no idea why they have all been invited. Professor Moriarty's butler, Moran, tells them that his employer has information on each of them which would swiftly result in them all being arrested by the Fictional Investigation Bureau. Moran says that they can help each other by relieving Moriarty of any proof of their guilty secrets before the police arrive to arrest him in thirty minutes. When the lights go off Moriarty is left for dead on the floor, a stake through his back. Everyone blames each other, no one knows who the murderer is and they have less than thirty minutes before Inspector Lestrade arrives in which to identify the murderer, and find the front door key. Who is the murderer? Why has the corpse moved? Why does Moran know so much? And just why does the maid seem to know all the suspects?

Dracula arrives at his former home, Whitby Abbey, as a guest at a dinner party. Also in attendance are Frankenstein's Monster, Fagin, Nancy, Elizabeth Bennett and Miss Havisham. None of the guests know who  has invited them or why they are gathered. Intriguingly almost all of them seem to know the maid, the saucy Ivana.  Moran, the butler, reveals that  they have been gathered together in an attempt to stop the schemes of Professor Moriarty, who has been blackmailing them all. It is also revealed that the cook, Wanda, was formerly in Dracula's fiancee's employ and despises the count for firing her. Moriarty, halts Wanda's attempts to poison Dracula and invites them all into the study to discuss why their business.

In the study, Moriarty reveals that it was in fact Moran who sent out the invitations. Moriarty expresses his displeasure that they have discovered his identity. However, now that they are all gathered he will allow them one chance to end his vile schemes. He provides them with weapons and challenges them to kill him when the lights are turned out. Moriarty goads them, insisting that they are all too cowardly to attempt murder. The lights are turned off and a slap, a scream and a gunshot is heard. When the lights come back up again, it is revealed that Dracula has been slapped by Frankenstein, whom he mistook for Nancy in the dark, there is a bullet hole in a piece of conveniently placed scenery and Moriarty has apparently been staked. The guests automatically blame each other before Moran draws attention to the impending arrival of the police and the corpse on the floor. They hand the weapons to the only person who wasn't present at the time of the murder, Ivana, and split up to find the front door key. Once they have left, Moriarty gets back to his feet and exists. Shortly afterwards, Wanda rushes in screaming and collapses on the floor with a knife in her back.

Moran and the guests re-enter to discover Wanda dead on the floor, Miss Havisham blames Ivana much to Frankenstein’s distress. Moran explains that Ivana is also most likely dead and he Dracula and Elizabeth discover Ivana’s apparently lifeless body in the hall next to a very definitely dead Moriarty. Moran proclaims that he can solve the murders revealing that it was Fagin who fired the gunshot, Nancy who staked Moriarty, Miss Havisham who killed Moriarty and Dracula who killed Wanda (her cooking was just that bad). It is also revealed that Frankenstein’s monster had accidentally strangled Ivana when he was kissing her. Fortunately, it is revealed that she had just fainted and they are reunited. Moran is revealed to be Sherlock Holmes, doing freelance work for the Fictional Investigation Bureau, under the order of Elizabeth Bennett, head of F.I.B. Miss Havisham and Count Dracula are arrested by Inspector Lestrade, Nancy is taken into protective custody and Fagin is allowed to walk free... at least for the time being.

(7m, 6f)

  •   Moran - a secretive and authoritative Butler (m)
  •   Dracula - now fallen on hard times, forced to sell his ancestral home, flamboyant, charismatic and intelligent (m)
  •   Frankenstein - not be the sharpest tool but not heartless, adorable, misguided, needs acceptance (m)
  •   Fagin - the sly and extremely materialistic leader of a gang of underage criminals (m)
  •   Nancy - cockney accent, passionate, kind-hearted, spirited, the original tart with a heart (f)
  •   Elizabeth - Elizabeth Bennett is Jane Austen’s classic heroine, witty and vivacious (f)
  •   Miss Havisham - psychotic, obsessive, jilted at the altar, cruel, judgmental and bitter (f)
  •   Ivana - Professor Moriarty’s maid, a saucy character, wears impractical outfits for cleaning (f)
  •   Moriarty - smooth talking, intelligent, arrogant and manipulative, a criminal genius (m)
  •   Lestrade - dedicated, professional, but always slightly one step behind the crime geniuses (f)
  •   Wanda - a disgruntled cook, her cooking is foul and her murder, even more so (f)
  •   Watson - a loyal and dependable friend to Sherlock Holmes (m)
  •   Lucy - Dracula’s betrayed fiancée, her appearance is brief but painful (f)

  NOTE:Moriarty, Lestrade and Watson can be played by the same actor   Wanda and Lucy can be played by the same actress

Free

Applying for and paying royalties

To apply for royalties, please complete the form on our apply for royalties page.

To pay for fixed fee royalties having received your Quotation from us, please go to this payment form.

[{"variant_id":"55503663858050" , "metafield_value":""},{"variant_id":"55503663923586" , "metafield_value":""},{"variant_id":"55503663956354" , "metafield_value":""},{"variant_id":"55503664021890" , "metafield_value":""}]

Whose Crime Is It Anyway?

Free
More information

If you require any additional information regarding this script, please don’t hesitate to contact us here.

Frequently asked questions

Can we try before we buy?

Of course! All our plays and pantomimes have a free Preview Script available for download as an A4 pdf file that contains 60-75% of the full script. If you like what you read then you can buy an inexpensive e-script of the entire play (typically less than half the cost of a traditional printed script) which is licensed to you for your personal use. Purchasing a script copying licence allows you to make just enough copies to support rehearsals and performances.

All our musicals are included in our perusal service. Through this, representatives of producing organisations can request a USB Stick of perusal material  which comprise the script/libretto and piano/vocal score as PDF files; a Cast (or Studio) Recording as MP3 files and (where available) an MP4 file video of either the premiere production or of a subsequent production.

Some titles have the facility to read the entire script online on our website.

Do we need a Licence To Perform?

The simple answer is, yes.

Under the international laws of copyright, you must be in possession of a valid, unexpired licence before performing any piece of theatre unless the owner or managers of the copyright has waived their rights.

Why do you insist on providing a formal royalties quotation?

When you request a quotation, it is logged in our system, it forms part of an orderly queue and protects your place in that queue should multiple licensing requests occur for the same show.

Need help?

Contact us

If you need help with our scripts, please contact our customer service team, we would be more than happy to help.

Customer Reviews

Be the first to write a review
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)

Established for over 25 years

Unearthing future talent


Stagescripts is a trusted licensing company run by theatre professionals with decades of experience on and off stage. Our curated catalogue includes over 1,000 carefully selected plays, musicals, and pantomimes — from fresh, undiscovered writing to well-loved classics.

We’re passionate about helping theatre-makers at every level discover scripts that inspire, challenge, and connect with audiences. Whether you're staging a village hall production or leading a professional company, our team offers expert advice, flexible support, and a responsive, personal service to help your next performance shine.