The Butler Did It
by Partners N Krime

Feb. 08 (2015)

When it comes to solving murder mysteries, it’s always the one you least suspect!  The very proper butler Jenkins and the fiery Cockney maid Sarah Jane are preparing the Covington household for a visit from Edwina Corry, the world’s greatest mystery author and friend to Lady Miranda and Colonel Covington.  Other guests arriving include Lady Covington’s feisty old mother, their high-flying daughter Kat, their chatty priest who doesn’t know when to quit and the caddish, eavesdropping neighbor boy Trevor.  Things are soon thrown into confusion, however, when Trevor is found stabbed to death in the kitchen.  On her arrival, Edwina eagerly launches an investigation into the murder.  Unfortunately, the evidence is stacked against poor Jenkins from the start, and when the bloody knife is found in his pocket, the other members of the household tie him to a chair and call the police.  The only problem?  Jenkins didn’t do it.  And now he’s got just half an hour to figure out who the real murderer is — while still tied to the chair. 

 

We ask for our actors to have a 1-3 minute prepared comedic monologue, but we do have a male and female monologue that we will have printed out that actors can read and use in place of a prepared monologue. We also have cold readings from the show as part of our audition process. Contact Kristi Treitler for venue and times: parntersnkrime [AT] yahoo.com  or via Partners N Krime website form.

 
Cast of Characters: 
1. Jenkins (Lead Role)- the butler, unusually clever although he/she would be last to admit it. Written as a male part, but can be a female. ***Possibly pre-cast****
2. Sarah Jane (Supporting Role)Female- cockney maid, uneducated, always seems to unravel.
3. Trevor Barstow (Supporting Role)Male- Heir to the adjacent estate,arrogant chap and all-around cad.
4. Gram (Supporting Role)Female- fiesty and quite possibly deranged, mother of Lady Miranda and rarely seen without her rifle. ****Precast****
5. Colonel Nigel Covington (Lead Role)Male- retired British Army colonel, master of Bournsley Manor, vain, but harmless.
6. Lady Miranda Covington (Supporting Role)Female- wife of the colonel, rather sickly,class conscious to the extreme. ****Possibly Precast****
7. Kat Covington ( Lead Role)Female- aspiring aviatrix, only child of the Covingtons, quite prickly. *** Possibly Precast***
8. Father Timothy (Lead Role)Male- vicar of local parish and Edwina's biggest fan,never knows when to shut up.
9. Edwina Cory (Lead Role)Female- world's greatest mystery writer and old school chum of Lady Miranda, brusque, assertive and intimidating. ***Possibly Precast***
 

February 8, 2015, probably at First Baptist Church, 901 Trinity Street, Austin

Contact company for details:

Contact Kristi Treitler for venue and times: parntersnkrime [AT] yahoo.com  or via Partners N Krime website form.