A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

Murder at Rutherford House

Full-Length Play, Comedy  /  6w, 5m

Tom Chiodo, Peter DePietro

In this interactive mystery/comedy set at a dinner party at the home of Lady Rutherford, the audience is invited to sift through an abundance of clues to help unmask a murderer.

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    6w, 5m
  • Duration
    Duration
    75 Minutes
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Mystery/Thriller
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult

Details

Summary
It is the fifth anniversary of the death of Lord Rutherford. Lady Rutherford is throwing her annual dinner in commemoration of the event – to which you are cordially invited. On arrival you are given a character name and a dossier explaining your background and connection to the Rutherford family. Over cocktails, you mingle with the other guests, spotting the Baroness von Keepsemfrumfloppen and figuring she's an actress, but what about all these other people? Suddenly, there's a gunshot resulting in the evening’s first corpse. The body is removed and you sit down to dinner. A detective reveals himself and begins the investigation. What have you observed so far? Have you a clue to the killer? Clues seem to be everywhere, but which ones count and which are red herrings? Ultimately, there is a parade of suspects. You may question them. Perhaps you ask just the right question at the right time and unmask the murderer. Perhaps you ask the wrong question and become the prime suspect! You begin to wonder: will you survive till the coffee and cordials are served? In the end, all is revealed and justice prevails. The Silver Sleuth Award is given to the guest who best explained the who, why and how-dunit of the murder at Rutherford House.
History
Murder at Rutherford House was first performed at the original Rutherford House Mansion in New York City on 10 September 1986. Directed by co-creator Tom Chiodo, the production featured Quentin Crisp and Sharon McKnight.
  • Time Period Present Day
  • Setting Rutherford House, an elegant townhouse in New York City. The present.
  • Features Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes
  • Additional Features Audience Participation/Interactive
  • Duration 75 Minutes
  • Cautions
    • Gun Shots
    • Mild Adult Themes

Media

“Wonderfully enjoyable... like a life-sized game of Clue.” – Boston Globe

“A party game for people in search of more spice in their entrees.” – New York Post

“As campy as a Boy Scout Jamboree, but a lot more fun.” – New York Daily News

Licensing & Materials

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

Scripts

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Authors

Author

Tom Chiodo

Author

Peter DePietro

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