Murder by the book

Today, 12 May, the St. Jude Catholic School Drama Club (Rockville, Maryland) is presenting Murder by the book. This is a good chance to introduce our readers to this play that includes Charlotte Brontë as one of the characters involved in a mystery play, whodunit version.

What happens when some of the world's greatest writers get together? Murder, that's what! The Raven Society is holding its annual meeting to select the best mystery book of the year to win the coveted Smoking Gun Award. Because of the prestige of the prize, the membership in this sacred club is secret, even amongst themselves. Each member attends the three day meeting, cut off from the rest of the world at the Dickens House, disguised as a famous author. This year, Edgar Allan Poe introduces a dashing upstart, William Shakespeare, as a new member to replace the recently departed Jules Verne. Spouting poetry, Will instantly captures the hearts of Mary Shelley, Charlotte Brontë and Louisa Mae Alcott. But romance is interrupted when Poe reads a nasty bit of correspondence announcing that each member of the society will die. Only mystery maven Agatha Christie takes the message seriously, but, alas, it's too late. Emily Dickinson is the first to die, quickly followed by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Terror stalks the meeting as even the indomitable Mark Twain disappears. Only one thing is for sure-one of the famous authors is trying to kill the competition! Your actors will love portraying their favorite authors while your audiences will delight in this highly entertaining and fun peek at the very human side of great writers.

‘‘Murder by the Book,” written by Craig Sodaro, is directed by Michelle Ardillo.
The cast is seven eighth graders, Charina Deausen as Edgar Allan Poe, Maddie Ardillo as Agatha Christie, Will McNamara as Mark Twain, Caroline Iciek as Viola Danglon, Catherine Gallerizzo as Charlotte Brontë, Sean Timmons as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Madi Tanzi as Emily Dickinson; and three seventh graders, Colleen Moran as Mary Shelley, Andrew McAleer as William Shakespeare and Mary Furda as Louisa Mae Alcott.

Performances:
7:30 p.m. May 12 and 2:30 p.m. May 13

Please, if you have seen the play and finally Charlotte is the criminal mastermind (we hope not) don't tell James Tully about it !

Categories: Theatre, Charlotte_Brontë