A SAMUEL FRENCH, LTD. TITLE
Murder, Margaret and Me
Full-Length Play, Dark Comedy / 3w
In the early 1960s, acting legend and “funniest woman alive” Margaret Rutherford refuses to play Agatha Christie’s beloved crime-solver, Miss Marple. Over time, Margaret and Agatha form an unlikely friendship filled with high tea, brandy snaps and gossip.
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Cast Size
3w -
Duration
120 minutes (2 hours) -
Subgenre
Mystery/Thriller, Biography -
Suggested Use
- Monologues
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Target Audience
Adult
Details
Summary
“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 – 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.
History
Cast Attributes
- Time Period 1960s
- Setting An empty sound stage. 1960s.
- Features Period Costumes
- Duration 120 minutes (2 hours)
Media
“Whiplash wit.” – The Guardian
“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
“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
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 ...