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Prescription: Murder

  • Providing the inspiration for the TV series Columbo, the theatrical predecessor Prescription: Murder tells the story of a brilliant psychiatrist and his mistress who hatch a plot to murder his neurotic, possessive wife.

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    Description

    • Full Length Play
    • Drama, Mystery/Thriller

    • Time Period: Contemporary, 1960s
    • Target Audience: Teen (Age 14 - 18), Adult
    • Set Requirements: Unit Set/Multiple Settings

    • Performance Group:
    • Dinner Theatre, Community Theatre, High School/Secondary, Professional Theatre, College Theatre / Student
    Providing the inspiration for the TV series Columbo, the theatrical predecessor Prescription: Murder tells the story of a brilliant psychiatrist and his mistress who hatch a plot to murder his neurotic, possessive wife. The execution of their plan and the creation of their perfect alibi depends on a bizarre impersonation. Lt. Columbo must engage the psychiatrist in a duel of wits until the doctor succeeds in having Columbo removed from the case. However, it is the mistress who proves to be the weak link that leads to a trap and a surprising climax!

    Premiere Production: Prescription: Murder was first presented at the Curran Theatre in San Francisco on January 20, 1962.

    Characters

    • Casting: 4M, 3F
    • Casting Attributes: Strong Role for Leading Man (Star Vehicle)
    • Casting Notes: The two actresses playing CLAIRE FLEMMING and SUSAN HUDSON, though they needn't be strictly similar in face or figure, should have approximately the same hair coloring.

  • MISS PETRIE - a pleasant, efficient woman in her fifties with a genuine liking for people.
    DR. ROY FLEMMING - a polished, urbane New York psychiatrist in his forties. Highly civilized, pragmatic, with a cold, functioning intelligence. He wears conservative, artfully-tailored suits.
    CLAIRE FLEMMING - a brittle, sardonic product of New York's East side. She is in her early forties and shows the strain of a loveless marriage.
    SUSAN HUDSON - Young and extremely attractive, with a hint of latent sensuality. She is not particularly complicated, but as the play progresses she shows the burden of the increasing tension.
    LIEUTENANT COLUMBO - a rumpled police official of indeterminate age. He seems to be bumbling and vague, with an overly apologetic, almost deferential manner. This masks an innate shrewdness, and foxy knowledge of human nature.
    DAVE GORDON - a smooth, boyish lawyer with his eye on a political future.
    DELIVERY BOY - early twenties.

    • Available Material

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    Prescription: Murder Script Order Now

    Providing the inspiration for the TV series Columbo, the theatrical predecessor Prescription: Murder tells the story of a brilliant psychiatrist and his mistress who hatch a plot to murder his neurotic, possessive wife. The execution of their plan and the creation of their perfect alibi depends on a bizarre impersonation. Lt. Columbo must engage the psychiatrist in a duel of wits until the doctor succeeds in having Columbo removed from the case. However, it is the mistress who proves to be the weak link that leads to a trap and a surprising climax!

    		$24.95

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