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Edith in the Dark

  • Philip Meeks
  • Full Length Play, Mystery/Thriller, 1900-1910
  • 1M, 2F
  • ISBN: 9780573111143

Celebrated children's author Edith Nesbit (The Railway Children, Five Children & It) retreats to her attic writing room during one of her husband's tiresome parties with her housekeeper and an unexpected, handsome party guest.

More information

Description

  • Full Length Play
  • Mystery/Thriller

  • Time Period: 1900-1910
  • Set Requirements: Interior Set, Bare Stage/Simple Set
As midnight swiftly approaches, Edith gives a reading of her work. Not one of her cherished children's tales, but her terrifying early horror stories. As the stories unfold it becomes clear all is not what it seems... Someone in the attic is hiding a deadly secret.

Edith in the Dark is a haunting glimpse into the nightmarish inner world of an author whose reputation for cosy childhood innocence is only half the story.
REVIEWS:

"Highly original."

The Guardian

"A superbly written new play... a devilishly good idea."

The Stage

"A delicate balance of tongue-in-cheek and heart-in-mouth."

The Public Reviews

Characters

  • Casting: 1M, 2F
  • Casting Notes: All three actors also play the roles featured in the stories within the play regardless of gender or age.

  • EDITH NESBIT - In her forties, Edith is astute and brilliant but unhappy. She's quick witted and has an eye for a younger man. She's a very modern woman for the era in which she lives. But almost everything she does is a diversion from her own personal heartbreak and secrets.

  • MR. GUASTO - Tall, strident and handsome in his late twenties. He arrives uninvited but when he helps Edith with an ailing guest gets more than he bargained for. He's a huge fan of Edith's work, but since he has a terrible fear of the grave, is not expecting the night that lies ahead of him.

  • BIDDY THRICEFOLD - Mid fifties or above. Biddy is a terrible housekeeper and rather too fond of her own home-made spiced punch. She loves Edith and despite the banter the feeling is mutual. She's more of a companion than a servant, and although the part has been written for an older actor, could be played by someone the same age as Edith. The character supplies a lot of the humour in the early part of the play but has a terrible secret of her own that she finally finds a way to share.

    • Available Material

    Name Price
    Edith in the Dark Script Order Now

    As midnight swiftly approaches, Edith gives a reading of her work. Not one of her cherished children's tales, but her terrifying early horror stories. As the stories unfold it becomes clear all is not what it seems... Someone in the attic is hiding a deadly secret.

    Edith in the Dark is a haunting glimpse into the nightmarish inner world of an author whose reputation for cosy childhood innocence is only half the story.

    		$24.95

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