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Murder, Margaret and Me

Full-Length Play, Dark Comedy  /  3w

“The only real truth in what you are about to see is that Miss Margaret Rutherford didn’t want anyone to know the truth.”

In the early sixties two national treasures were the creative force behind one of British cinema’s most successful franchises. But the Miss Marple movies were almost never made….

Murder, Margaret and Me

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    3w
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Mystery/Thriller, Biography
  • Suggested Use
    • Monologues
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for all audiences

Details

Summary

Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie didn’t want Margaret Rutherford to bring her fabled spinster to life. And Margaret Rutherford was mortified at the prospects of sullying her reputation with something as sordid as murder...

This is the story of the real reason why the acting legend and “the funniest woman alive” didn’t want to take on the role that made her celebrated across the world. Margaret and Agatha form an unlikely friendship filled with high tea, brandy snaps and gossip. Meanwhile Agatha turns detective herself and she’s on a mission. She’s determined to unearth Rutherford’s tragic and shocking secret.

Cast Attributes
  • Time Period 1960s
  • Features Period Costumes

Media

“A gem of a production” – The Scotsman

 “Whiplash wit” – The Guardian

“Knit one, bash two. Genteel ladies involved with violent murder makes a fine theme for drama….Playwright Philip Meeks has humorously imagined a triple-threat encounter in which brash, comedic British actress Margaret Rutherford meets prolific mystery writer Agatha Christie on the set of the first Miss Marple film, with both women initially reluctant to have Rutherford portray Christie’s elderly female detective of literary fame. Meanwhile, that innocent-looking citizen-detective is present onstage too, calmly knitting in a cosy corner while narrating some of the events that might have transpired.” – Associate Press New York

“Their laugh-out-loud funny “She said/She said” dialogues remind us that every story has multiple perspectives, and the eloquence of the dialogue throughout speaks of a playwright who adores the fluidity of language….Moving, mirthful, and entertaining from start to finish, this gem of a production deserves a wide audience” – The Scotsman

 

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £70 per performance plus VAT when applicable.

Authors

Philip Meeks

Philip Meeks’ latest play, Harpy, will be touring the UK throughout 2020.

Murder Margaret and Me recently toured the UK following successful productions at York Theatre Royal and Salisbury Playhouse.

Edith in the Dark was the first play to be commissioned by Harrogate Theatre i ...

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