A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

While the Lights Were Out

Full-Length Play, Comedy  /  9w, 5m

A thunderstorm! The lights go out! An agonized voice! A pistol shot! The lights come up! A blonde in black lace stands over the dead man holding a bloody dagger! The detective examines the body and announces, "He's been strangled!" This delightful evening of mayhem gallops madly about the stage and will leave your audience breathless with surprise and laughter.

While the Lights Were Out

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    9w, 5m
  • Duration
    Duration
    90 minutes
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Farce, Mystery/Thriller

Details

Summary
A thunderstorm! The lights go out! An agonized voice! A pistol shot! The lights come up! A blonde in black lace stands over the dead man holding a bloody dagger! The detective examines the body and announces, "He's been strangled!" This is but the opening of one of the most astounding and hilarious murder mysteries ever staged. Every clue is a lulu and the plot twists furiously. The final solution involves the most bizarre motive ever conceived. The delightful evening of mayhem gallops madly about the stage and will leave your audience breathless with surprise and laughter. The mystery is top-notch, the characters marvelous, and the comedy explosive!

Keywords

LADY MONICA WICKENHAM - a glamorous peeress
LORD CLIVE WICKENHAM - her spouse, an eminent neurosurgeon
BIBI CAVENDISH - a celebrated fashion designer
PIERRE POURRI - an international playboy
JASMINE PERDOO - a houseguest from Alabama
MIMOSA - the Wickenhams' Jamaican maid
NANCY STAFFORD - the Wickenhams' housekeeper
TOM GROGGINS - an unexpected visitor
RODERICK REMLEY - the Wickenhams' butler
FREDONIA CUSTARDINE - Monica's sister
CHLOE CUSTARDINE - Fredonia's nubile daughter
ALGERNON WICKENHAM - the Wickenhams' dilettante son
BENJAMIN BRADDOCK - an Inspector of Police
ALMA THREEDLE - Ben's assistant, a police sergeant
UNIDENTIFIED BLONDE - an amnesiac and prime suspect

  • Time Period Contemporary, Present Day
  • Setting The Wickenhams' elegant home in Popliteal Beach, Bermuda.
  • Features Contemporary Costumes / Street Clothes
  • Additional Features Physical Comedy, Special Effects
  • Duration 90 minutes
  • Cautions
    • Alcohol

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £55 per performance plus VAT when applicable.

Scripts

Available Formats:

Authors

Jack Sharkey

Jack Sharkey (1931-1992) was born on May 6, 1931 in Chicago, Illinois. He began writing when he was 10 years old. He graduated from college with a BA in Creative Writing and taught school from 1953 to 1955. In mid-1955, Mr. Sharkey enlisted in the Army, serving at Sandia Base ...

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