A SAMUEL FRENCH, LTD. TITLE

Dead Man's Hand

Full-Length Play, Drama  /  3w, 3m

This captivating thriller employs a play within a play theme in a singularly exciting manner. At first, it seems to be the usual "Agatha Christie" type play two couples lured to a remote Italian villa to be murdered one by one. It is only when this play is well advanced that we learn we are watching actors rehearsing their own murder mystery.

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    3w, 3m
  • Duration
    Duration
    120 minutes (2 hours)
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Mystery/Thriller
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult, Senior, Pre-Teen (Age 11 - 13), Teen (Age 14 - 18)

Details

Summary

This captivating thriller employs a play within a play theme in a singularly exciting manner. At first, it seems to be the usual "Agatha Christie" type play two couples lured to a remote Italian villa to be murdered one by one. It is only when this play is well advanced that we learn we are watching actors rehearsing their own murder mystery. It is shortly after this, when two of these actors have been murdered in the same manner as the characters in their own play, that the twists and turns begin to tease the audience. Who is the murderer and what do those about to be murdered have in common? Yet even this ploy is not what it at first seems! An intriguing final twist unravels the real reason for the whole charade. All in all, an enticingly clever piece of work!

"A teasing, very theatrical play which dares to laugh at itself and its genre until the Dead Man shows his hand." - East Essex Gazette

History

First performed in 1984 at Frinton Summer Theatre, Frinton, Essex by Jack Watling Productions Ltd.

Cast Attributes
Keywords

All essential character traits are contained within the script.

There are no special casting notes.

  • Time Period Contemporary
  • Features Contemporary Costumes / Street Clothes
  • Additional Features Special Effects
  • Duration 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Cautions
    • No Special Cautions

Media

"A teasing, very theatrical play which dares to laugh at itself and its genre until the Dead Man shows his hand." - East Essex Gazette

"The play is well written and exceptionally well constructed...from first to last the attention is firmly held." - Essex County Standard

Licensing & Materials

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

Scripts

Available Formats:

Authors

Seymour Matthews

Seymour Matthews is an actor and playwright. His career began with three seasons at the Royal Shakespeare Co., where he performed in over a dozen productions and was a founding member of the Young Vic Co. when it opened in 1970, where he stayed for three years. Classical TV w ...

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