Murder at the Book Club
This is one club where members’ lives are not an open book! Tonight’s meeting of the Queen Anne Murder Mystery Book Club takes a dark twist when a threatening telephone call sets the group on edge. Suddenly all the lights go out and gentle Nellie is murdered. But who is the killer…and why? Do those eerie masks mounted on the wall or that unusual hanging mobile mean anything special? And then a rock with a message attached is thrown against the house jolting everyone even further. Inspector McAdoo follows the clues but soon another murder takes place. Accusations and tensions escalate leading to a thrilling climax. Colorful characters and sparkling clues ingeniously hidden in plain sight will keep your audiences enthralled until the final reveal.
Productions
Behind The Scenes
PLAYWRIGHT SAM HAVENS TALKS ABOUT HIS PLAY
MURDER AT THE BOOK CLUB
Q: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE THIS PLAY?
A: All stories have mysteries and secrets but the murder mystery is its own special genre. I was inspired by Agatha Christie, of course, also a wonderful novel and movie: The List of Adrian Messenger.
Q: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE PART OR LINE IN THE PLAY? WHY?
A: I love this dialogue exchange:
KENNETH: Yes, sir. I saw the man. He was crooked and walking all slouchy.
DOMINIKA: Crooked?
LIVIA: I think Kenneth means to say: "bent over."
KENNETH: Yep. The man was limping and slacky and decomposed.
LIVIA: Thank you, dear Kenneth. We get the picture.
KENNETH: Yes, Miss. I'm sorrowful this happened.
Q: WHERE DID THE CHARACTERS COME FROM? ARE THEY BASED ON PEOPLE YOU KNOW?
A: The characters are amalgams of people I know in real life.
Q: WHAT DID YOU TRY TO ACHIEVE WITH THIS PLAY?
A: I want the audience to match wits with Inspector McAdoo as they try to solve the mystery.
Q: DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO ADD?
A: Writing this play was great fun. I followed no pattern, I just improvised.