About the Play:

Any Body for Tea? is a one-act comedic mystery by C.B. Gilford. Join this group of sweet little old ladies for some homicides, detectives and tea! Based on the enormously successful Bull in a China Shop from the TV series Alfred Hitchcock Presents, this charmer of a chiller is a top contest play from coast to coast.

Any Body for Tea? recounts the woes of Detective Dennis O'Finn. Investigating the death of an elderly lady, he discovers that he is the motive for murder. Six sweet but slightly balmy ladies are all in love with their bachelor neighbour, the handsome, forty-ish, Irish homicide detective O'Finn. Since he is not a plumber and they can't just plug up the sink to have him come over. To lure him to visit, the ladies stage a murder, and comedy ensues when O'Finn and Detective Kramer come to investigate. But to keep him around, they must stage another one!

Any Body for Tea? was adapted for the stage by C.B. Gilford from his own teleplay Bull in a China Shop, which was originally broadcast in 1958 as part of the third season of Alfred Hitchcock Presents. It remains a popular choice for community theatre productions and is an ideal choice for high school drama contests and one-act festivals.

Cast: 6 female, 3 male

About the Playwright:

Charles Bernard Gilford (1920-2010) was an American teacher, scriptwriter and author. He served on the faculties of Rockhurst College and Saint Louis University, where he taught graduate courses in theatre arts. He was a frequent contributor to Alfred Hitchcock Presents, a half-hour anthology television series hosted and executive produced by Alfred Hitchcock.