A DRAMATISTS PLAY SERVICE TITLE

The Suffragette's Murder

Full-Length Play, Comedy  /  3w, 5m

By Sandy Rustin
Inspired by the chapter “The Vegetarian Boarding-House (As It Was)” of The Physiology of New York Boarding-Houses by Thomas Butler Gunn

The eclectic tenants of the Mayhew Boarding House – including a husband and wife team committed to advancing women’s suffrage – must band together to conceal their involvement in the movement and improvise an elaborate ruse to throw the constable off their scent when one of the tenants gets murdered.

The Suffragette's Murder

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    3w, 5m
  • Duration
    Duration
    90 minutes
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Mystery/Thriller, Period
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult

Details

Summary

It’s the morning of July 5, 1857, and the tenants of the Mayhew Boarding House on New York’s Lower East Side are getting ready for a busy day. They’re an odd bunch, given their surroundings. Among them are a mute man, an Irishman, a gay Black man, two Southern belles and the Mayhews themselves – a husband and wife team committed to advancing the women’s suffrage movement. As they prepare to host an important gathering, they receive an unexpected visit from a constable. One of the tenants has been murdered. Hilarious hijinks ensue amidst the backdrop of a murder mystery as the tenants band together to conceal their involvement in the suffrage movement and improvise an elaborate ruse to throw the constable off their scent. The investigation, however, reveals much more than murder motives and rabble-rousing. It becomes an examination of human rights, the struggle to define “a woman’s place“ and political systems that have historically sought to snuff out feminist voices.

History

The Suffragette’s Murder premiered in Denver, Colorado at the Denver Center of Performing Arts on 7 February 2025. Directed by Margot Bordelon, the production featured Annie Abramczyk, Matthew Boston, Megan Hill, Kevin Isola, Linda Mugleston, Gareth Saxe, Rowan Vickers and Curtis Wiley.

MR. ARCHIBALD ORTON – A burly, broad-shouldered, bearded tenant; mute.
MRS. ALMA MAYHEW – Mr. Mayhew’s wife, a pragmatic woman of middle age who takes people at face value and is committed to helping women help themselves. The Mayhews are childless.
MR. ALBERT MAYHEW – A man of middle age, devoted to his wife and her pursuits, in that order.
MR. LEOPOLD ALBRIGHT – A  young, Irish tenant. Mr. Albright is an academic romantic and a devout remonstrant.
MR. TENNYSON JENNINGS – An eccentric, brilliant, Black, gay tenant in middle age. Mr. Jennings is devoted to the advancement of civilization.
MRS. MIRIAM ADAMS – A boisterous, well-organized, charming tenant of middle age from Alabama.
MISS MABEL ADAMS – Her daughter, an outspoken and awfully pregnant teenager who shows no true talent for clairvoyance.
THE CONSTABLE – An honorable-seeming New Yorker in search of the truth about Miss Lauralee Hart, a suffragette and Mayhew Boarding House tenant who has turned up dead on the streets of New York – this morning.

There are two roles (WOMAN and LAURALEE HART) who appear as voice-over only. Both are intentionally left off the character list and should not be included in the production credits of the play. Productions can be creative about casting these voices. Two possibilities are to have them prerecorded (perhaps a special cameo by the director or a member of the production team), or have them performed live by a female ASM or member of the backstage crew.

There are two roles (WOMAN and LAURALEE HART) who appear as voice-over only. Both are intentionally left off the character list and should not be included in the production credits of the play. Productions can be creative about casting these voices. Two possibilities are to have them prerecorded (perhaps a special cameo by the director or a member of the production team), or have them performed live by a female ASM or member of the backstage crew.

  • Time Period 19th Century
  • Setting

    The Mayhew Boarding House on New York’s Lower East Side. The morning of 5 July 1857.

  • Features Period Costumes
  • Additional Features No Intermission, Physical Comedy
  • Duration 90 minutes

Media

“A new American classic!” – Broadway World

”Lies, laughs and gender politics take center stage... A parlor comedy cloaked as a murder mystery, The Suffragette’s Murder is sure to resonate with film fans.” – Denver Post

“A new American classic... The Suffragette’s Murder serves as a reminder of where we have come: the rights for which those on the right side of history have fought so bravely to not only win, but preserve and protect.” – Broadway World

“Fast-paced and fun! Rustin’s script packs a lot of history and politics into this zany play.” – OnStage Colorado

Videos

  • The Suffragette’s Murder – World Premiere Trailer youtube thumbnail

    The Suffragette’s Murder – World Premiere Trailer

  • The Suffragette’s Murder – Interview with Playwright Sandy Rustin youtube thumbnail

    The Suffragette’s Murder – Interview with Playwright Sandy Rustin

  • The Suffragette’s Murder – Plot Preview youtube thumbnail

    The Suffragette’s Murder – Plot Preview

  • The Suffragette’s Murder – Artistic Director's Perspective youtube thumbnail

    The Suffragette’s Murder – Artistic Director's Perspective

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £85 per performance plus VAT when applicable.

Scripts

Available Formats:

Authors

Sandy Rustin

Sandy Rustin is an actress and award-winning playwright named by American Theatre Magazine as one of the “Most-Produced Playwrights of the ’22-’23 season.” Her stage adaptation of the film Clue is one of the most-produced plays in the U.S., with over 3,000 productions worldwi ...
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