The Beckwith Theatre Company Presents Murdered to Death by Peter Gordon, a hilarious spoof of the best of Agatha Christie traditions. Directed by Larry Nielsen, Assistant Director Holly Brooks.

Play synopsis: Set in a country manor house, an eclectic group of characters tries to determine who murdered the owner of the house. This is the first of Gordon’s three Agatha Christie spoofs, all have been hits. Murder shouldn’t be this funny.

All the Christie characters are here, and they’re all caught up in the side-splitting antics which follow the mysterious death of the owner of a country manor house. It soon becomes clear that the murderer is not yet finished; begging the question will the murderer be caught before everyone else has met their doom or will the audience die laughing first? “The suspects are plentiful. With twists and surprises in this play, I doubt many, if any, audience members will guess the murderer!” - Larry Nielsen

Set in a 1930s country manor house, Bagshot House, the play opens with Mildred, her niece Dorothy, and their eccentric butler, Bunting, preparing for the arrival of their guests. The stage is set with an atmosphere of intrigue and humor as the characters set the tone from the evening. The ensemble cast is joined by an unwelcomed visitor, Joan Maple, a neighboring nosy busybody and self-proclaimed bad omen. As the guests settle in, the unexpected happen - Mildred is murdered. Then there is another murder. Will there be more? Miss Maple naturally becomes involved in solving the murders. To investigate the murder, the local police force sends Pratt who has been given the Inspector position by administrative error at HQ. Balancing Pratt’s clumsy antics is the bright Constable Thomkins. The list of suspects is concise and intriguing. Could it be the plain niece Dorothy, who stands to inherit Bagshot House? Or the outrageous French Art dealer Pierre Marceau, recently caught defrauding the victim? What about the high-society socialite Elizabeth Hartley-Trumpington, who looks down on the family? Could it be Colonel Charles Craddock who has his own secrets past and present? Then there is the long-suffering wife, Margaret Craddock. And of course, we cannot forget the age-old question: did the butler do it?

This is a perfect play for Beckwith’s intimate stage. Audiences will feel like they are in the Bagshot Manor House along with the cast as the murders unfold.

Cast: All veteran actors. Two are making their first ever appearance on the Beckwith stage, all the other actors have delighted Beckwith audiences in the past.

Toy True, Pennie Hammond, Rose Brooks, Renee Wright, Bill Klein, Cassie Holmes, William Voit, Connie Glanzer, John Taylor, Steve Hamel and Joe Daniel.

“I am laughing out loud during rehearsals. This cast is so good! you don’t want to miss this one.” - Assistant Director Holly Brooks

Murdered to Death is produced by a special arrangement with Dramatist Play Service, Inc.