Westport Country Playhouse will present two Script in Hand play readings this autumn with the classic whodunit, "Dial ‘M' for Murder," by Frederick Knott, on Monday, November 14, 7 p.m., and the delightfully touching comedy "Holiday," by Philip Barry, on Monday, December 12, 7 p.m. Tickets to the one-night-only events are $15.
"I love looking for plays that will intrigue our loyal Script in Hand audience and give me the opportunity to work with our Playhouse friends and alums," said Anne Keefe, Playhouse artistic advisor and curator of the Script in Hand series. "I'm beginning to feel we are putting together a bunch of regulars who really enjoy the form and embrace the challenge of creating an entire theatrical evening with just the wonderful words of good playwrights."
"Dial ‘M' for Murder" asks the question: is there such a thing as a perfect murder? Tony married Margot for her money, and now plans to murder her for the same reason. When the murderer gets murdered, Tony takes the opportunity to have Margot convicted of the crime. Will Inspector Hubbard of Scotland Yard and Margot's would-be-lover be able to turn the tables on Tony and save Margot from the gallows? A suspenseful tale of blackmail, murder and clever police work, the whodunit is written by Frederick Knott (1916 - 2002), who also scribed "Wait Until Dark."
The cast includes Kieran Campion as Max, Sean Patrick Reilly as Lesgate, Mark Shanahan as Tony and Paxton Whitehead as Inspector Hubbard. Other casting will be announced soon.
Campion appeared in "Journey's End," "David Copperfield" and two Script in Hand readings at Westport Country Playhouse. He joined WCP's production of "Our Town" for the Broadway run. Also on Broadway, he was in "Journey's End" and "Pygmalion." His film credits include "The Good Shepherd" and "The Adjustment Bureau."
Reilly performed at Westport Country Playhouse in "Of Mice and Men" and a Script in Hand reading of "Chapter Two." Broadway credits are "Superior Donuts" and "The Beauty Queen of Leenane." Film and television work includes "Jerry Maguire," "Solitary Man" and "Boardwalk Empire."
Shanahan appeared on The Westport Country Playhouse stage in "Around the World in 80 Days," "Tryst," "Sedition," "Journey's End" and "David Copperfield." He is a recurring actor and director for many Script in Hand readings. On the New York stage, he was in "The 39 Steps."
Whitehead appeared at Westport Country Playhouse in "The Circle" and "How the Other Half Lives," among others. His many Broadway credits include "The Importance of Being Earnest" and "Camelot," for which he received a Tony Award nomination.
"Dial ‘M' for Murder" will be directed by Keefe. She served as artistic director of Westport Country Playhouse, with JoAnne Woodward, in 2008 and as associate artistic director from 2000-2006, also with Ms. Woodward. She co-directed with Ms. Woodward The Westport Country Playhouse production of "David Copperfield," and directed many readings.
In "Holiday," the December Script in Hand, Johnny Case is a promising, brash young man of business engaged to Julia Seton, a girl of great wealth and social standing. Johnny refuses to waste his youth in pursuit of the almighty dollar. He wants to live life while he is young and work when he is older. When he achieves a huge financial success, he announces his intention to do just that. This doesn't sit well with Julia's family. When they attempt to force him into society's accepted mold, only younger sister Linda becomes his potential ally. The play is written by Philip Barry, author of "The Philadelphia Story." Actors will be announced soon.
The Script in Hand Series is sponsored by Michele and Marc Flaster; with additional support from Ann Sheffer and Bill Scheffler. The Series is also funded in part, by the White Barn Program of the Lucille Lortel Foundation and Newman's Own Foundation.
