A NIGHT OF MYSTERY
Adapted from Agatha Christie’s “The Case of the Careless Client” And Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s “The Musgrave Ritual”
Email your 1-2 minute monologue (any genre) to Andrea Robertson andrea.robertson@paradisevalley.edu by October 14
SYNOPSIS-POIROT:
Herculene Poirot grew up learning about crime and investigation from her great-uncle, the famous Belgian detective Hercule Poirot. But, when Ms. Poirot stumbles upon a murder in her hotel, she must solve her first case with a new mentor. As the truth begins to unravel, Poirot must find the killer before he follows through on his threats, or finds a new victim.
HOLMES:
In the present day, Dr. Watson recounts a most extraordinary tale to our host, Manning. Sherlock is vacationing in Phoenix when he receives a call from an old friend, Reggie Musgrave, urgently requesting his help. Musgrave’s butler, Brunton has gone missing. A mysterious riddle leads to a startling discovery. The game is most certainly afoot.
NOTE: Some of these characters can be gender switched and age will be based on casting.
CHARACTERS (POIROT)
Herculene Poirot: Young french exchange student. Trained by her great uncle, Poirot. An eye for detail, confident demeanor. Speaks with a slight accent.
Abigail Fletcher: Hotel guest. Mystery enthusiast.
Detective Stevens: Seasoned detective and mentor to Herculene. Experienced, committed, slightly mysterious.
Hilary Kent/Johnathan Parrish: Hilary Kent - psychopath, murderer, and con-artist. Pretending to be Parrish, a currency expert who guards his privacy.
Johnny: Student, hotel elevator operator. Polite, helpful, but cautious.
Laura Parrish: Adult daughter of Johnathan Parrish, visiting her father in town.
Clerk: Apartment agency clerk in a dead-end job.
CHARACTERS (HOLMES)
Mr. / Ms. Manning: The show’s Host. Curious and eager to learn more about the pair’s adventures.
Dr. Watson: Holmes’ sidekick, meticulous (Think Felix in “The Odd Couple”), and a natural storyteller.
Sherlock Holmes: Attentive and highly observant. A friend to Reginald. Quick-witted and confident. Slightly arrogant, but never wrong.
Reginald Musgrave: Scion of a wealthy family, original settlers of the Arizona Territory. Semi-snooty without realizing it; not curious by nature; a bit dull. Constantly amazed by Sherlock’s power of deductive reasoning.
Alfred: The Butler, not the REAL butler, he’s just standing in for Brunton. Formerly the groundskeeper.
Rachel Howells: The housekeeper, in her 20s, old-fashioned, devastated but determined. Hopelessly infatuated with Brunton. Naive.
Brunton: Musgrave’s assistant, early-late 30s - early 40s, ladies’ man, cad, ambitious. Brunton believes himself to be smarter than everyone else and is confident in his ability to improve his station in life.