A5, 60 pages, 3M/ 5F, one set, 85 minutes
Local theatre companies are everywhere. There is probably one or more quite close to
you. Well
it's in one such local theatre company that a terrible
incident took place. The actors were staging a new play, a comedy/drama
ending in a whodunit. The actors were into the first act
and following the script. Two actors struggle and fall
behind a settee. One actor has a gun and sound effects
produce a bang. But then the other actors dry. They
haven't forgotten their lines. The gun really went off.
It was loaded. And what's
worse, much worse. The actor who is supposed to get shot,
has been shot and is ... dead.
The play is stopped and after much confusion the
police and an ambulance are called. The problem is
explained to the audience who are eventually
"allowed to go home".
They don't really of course but are privy to the
police investigation. And boy, do some secrets come out.
Each actor in the theatre company plus the stage manager
hated the dead actor. Everyone had a reason to see the
actor killed. This is looking more like a crime of
passion every minute.
Of course this is a great challenge for the actors who
have to play two roles - themselves and the character in
the play.
The investigation draws out even more clues and your
audience, who have all "gone home", are trying
to guess whodunit. But the plot twists keep on coming.
The real murderer is on stage but not everyone is who
they seem.
Finally the actors are allowed to go home and the
police discuss the suspects. But all is not as it seems
here either and the actors have been very good at their
job.
This thriller is not resolved until the
very last line. Remain Seated has lots of comedy and plenty of
drama. It's been staged with great success by theatre companies and
schools in the UK, USA and Australia.
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