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Table setting with lilac wine bottle, a sandwich, a vial of poison and a glass of wine. This Murder Mystery Play intrigues with this poster design

Murder Becomes Easy

Colin Barrow

Genre: Comedy Murder Mystery

Cast size: 8

Duration: Two hours

Colin Barrow | Comedy Murder Mystery | Full-length | 4m, 3f, 1m/f

Short synopsis

Katie Denver has a scheme to get her hands on as much money as possible from her remaining three relatives. Once having some light refreshments Mary, a friend of Katie, suddenly dies. This is followed by the unexpected death of Katie. After which, unexplained spooky, ghostly and frightening happenings begin. As the remaining family are killed off one by one, but who will be left to inherit?

A comedy (act two being more farce) murder-mystery play which has good humour interwoven with red herrings to lead on and intrigue the audience before finally concluding with some unexpected twists. Act one gives the audience the reasonable expectations of a play of this type. Act two delivers more comedy, farce and several unexpected sudden frights making the audience react with the cast in fright. 

The play is set in the home of Katie Denver at Sweetbriar House. Katie has a scheme to get her hands on as much money as possible from her remaining three relatives. Once having some light refreshments Mary, a friend of Katie, suddenly dies. This is followed by the unexpected death of Katie. After which, unexplained spooky, ghostly and frightening happenings begin. As the remaining family are killed off one by one, who will be left to inherit?  

4m, 3f, 1m/f

  • Mary Slocombe - a friend and domestic helper of Katie (f)
  • Katie Denver (f)
  • Adele Pincombe - a cousin to Katie, and Peter, sister to Simon (f)
  • Peter Denver - a cousin to Katie, Adele, and Simon (m)
  • Simon Pincombe - a cousin to Katie and Peter, brother to Adele (m)
  • Tarquin - partner to Simon (m)
  • Doctor Randle (m/f)
  • David Potter - funeral director (m)
Type
Free

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Murder Becomes Easy

Free
More information

CHARACTER GUIDELINES
Katie Denver –
Acted age to suit your actress from early fifties to late sixties. She’s flamboyant and eccentric in character with a quite cold abrupt attitude. She wears light free flowing Maxi dresses or kaftan hippie style clothing, with bangles and beads.

Mary Slocombe – Acted early fifties to late sixties. Has a broad local accent with a tendency to being nosy. She wears casual everyday clothing.

Adele Pincombe – Played younger than Katie. Quite an ordinary no-frills type of person and wearing simple quite plain clothing.

Peter Denver – Retired from the army. He wears smart casual clothing.

Simon Pincombe – Played younger or older than Adele. Wears a fashionable designer type of casual clothing. For act two, scene three He wears either pyjamas or a hospital gown, a bandaged hand (the one used to switch off the light) a sticking plaster on the forehead and a walking stick. 

Tarquin – Played similar age to Simon. A very
flamboyant and expressive person with a voice and mannerisms to match. His voice tends be more effeminate rather than masculine. He walks daintily and
primly. However, there are areas when he becomes extremely masculine and not at all the flamboyant, effeminate and expressive self. He wears over the top
bright, flamboyant clothing.  

Doctor Randle – Can be male or female. A professional run of the mill country Doctor.

David Potter – Can be played any age that fits believably with the other cast and situation. A funeral director, who is well spoken. He wears clothing to reflect his profession.     

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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.

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