Murder Mystery. 5 men, 3 women.
This classic "Dark and Stormy Night" murder mystery is no spoof - the celebration party was fun and amusing, but now people are absolutely dead, and it isn't funny anymore.
Somebody is killing people in Maine, absolutely dead. The guests of a retirement party are stranded by a Nor’easter in a rustic home on a deserted peninsula. It’s a lovely party frivolous and fun – until Jack is discovered dead.
Absolutely Dead is a classic, whodunit murder mystery. While the atmosphere of the action is classic, the structure and complexity of the script are modern. The second act is a rolling series of surprises building to a remarkable conclusion in the last ten minutes – no one guesses the end, and everyone is surprised. While there is ample humor supplied by actress Susan, who drinks just a little too much; and Sheriff Nate, who’s a little slow even by down-east Maine standards – there comes a time when murder just isn’t funny anymore.
ABSOLUTELY DEAD is an eight-character (5m, 3w), single set, two-act mystery. Characters: Jack Morgan (50’s-60’s), retiring business owner; Ruth Morgan (50’s-60’s), Jack’s wife; Jon Morgan (28), their son; Colin Ashcroft (50’s), incoming company president; Susan Ashcroft (40’s), Colin’s wife, an actress; Ben Callis (50’s-60’s), best friend of the family and former partner of Jack; Alice Callis (24), Ben’s daughter and girlfriend of Jon; Nate (40’s-50’s), the local sheriff. The time is the present in early Fall. The setting is the great-room of a moderately rich, winterized summer home on the coast of Maine.