by Frank Blocker and Lydia Bolen
The famous Shakespearean play as a murder mystery, purposefully a step shy of dinner theatre. Three endings are based on literary interpretations of who is at fault for the downfall of the anti-hero, with a dash of influence from Thurber’s story on the matter.
Characters
TRAY MACBRIDE, business shark
LYDIA MACBRIDE, his ambitious wife
HELEN, Lydia’s mother
BRUCE, Tray’s assistant
DUFFY, Tray’s co-worker, a do-gooder
*DUNCAN, CEO of King Software
*IONA WINCHESTER, disgruntled employee/gun-for-hire/jack-of-all-trades
*COP, handy plot device and The Messenger
*MAMA, Helen’s mother and Hecate
*SPOT, the dog, offstage
* these roles can be played by a single actor
Time & Setting
Computer era to present. Convention hall for software company’s employee banquet. Also, apartment of Duffy.
History of Readings/Productions
Center for Performing Arts Bonita Springs, Florida, July-August 2021, featuring Emilie Baartman, Betsy Klopp Bennett, Leeanne Chiaramonte, Joanne Fritz, Keith Gahagan, Jeff Green, Melissa Hennig, Mickey Lacroix and Anne Reed. Each of three endings were directed by Janina Birtolo, Judith Devine and Toni Palumbo Vasquez. Lighting design by Jeff Blodgett with costumer Marlene Strollo also acting as stage manager.
Synopsis
“The play takes its plot points and characters from the original Shakespeare tome, applying it to the murder mystery format. Instead of Banquo’s murder at the hand of Macbeth’s hired gun Seyton, the anti-hero’s executive assistant Bruce lands on the hit-list of bitter ex-employee Iona Winchester. The three witches are represented in a single character: the mother-in-law to the ambitious lead. Instead of the dog-eat-dog world of wartime, it’s the cutthroat business of computer hardware and app development.” – Florida Weekly
Articles
Florida Weekly, 7/15/2021
Naples Daily News, 7/22/2021
Rights
Please contact publicist for rights to this play.
Frank Blocker 