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The Uninvited
The Uninvited
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Biz Bestseller!
Author: Dorothy Macardle Adapted by: Tim Kelly Publisher: Dramatists Play Service (cover may change) Format: Softcover # of Pages: 65 Pub. Date: 1979 Edition: Acting ISBN-10: 0822211963 ISBN-13: 9780822211969 Cast Size: 6 female, 4 male
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About the Play:
The Uninvited is a full-length suspense thriller adapted for the stage by Tim Kelly,
from the classic ghost story by Dorothy Macardle. A
brother and sister purchase a surprisingly affordable, lonely
cliff-top house overlooking the sea, only to discover that it
actually carries a ghostly price. What secrets does the house hold?
A tragic family past, a mysteriously locked room, cold chills, bumps
in the night – The Uninvited has it all. Especially
recommended for school and contest use.
The
Uninvited is a thrilling tale of ghosts and dark secrets. Eager
to escape the fast-pace of city life, Pam Fitzgerald and her brother,
Roddy, an aspiring playwright, discover a charming house, overlooking
the sea. The house, Cliff End, has been empty for years, and they are
able to purchase it at a suspiciously low price from stern Commander
Brooke, the village curmudgeon. The reason is soon apparent: He
mentions the death of his daughter Mary and a friend, Carmel, but
scoffs at rumours that the house is haunted. Soon, the Fitzgeralds
begin to sense that an evil spirit inhabits the house. Their maid
Lizzie, convinced she has seen a ghost, refuses to remain alone in
the home at night. Not willing to walk away from their investment,
they choose to try to solve the mystery. There are great supporting
roles like the village doctor, the local gossip, and a former
governess who visit, with conflicting stories about the former
inhabitants of the house. With the help of a young girl, whose
mysterious origins hold the key to the puzzle, and a seance arranged
by a visiting friend, the eerie Cliff End mansion is forced, at last,
to reveal its dark secrets. The action then builds steadily to a
truly spine-tingling climax, in which the ghost, the
"Uninvited", is discovered to be both very real and
horribly dangerous. The
Uninvited is a suspenseful tale of jealousy and revenge.
Originally
published in London as Uneasy Freehold, this classic ghost
story was first famous on both sides of the Atlantic as a popular
novel by Dorothy Macardle. Made into
a movie in 1944, The Uninvited is still viewed as one of the best
suspense films of all time. This tightly
constructed stage version by Tim Kelly
appeared in 1979. It remains a popular choice
for high school, college, and
community theatre productions because
the action
takes place on a single set, much of the backstory is revealed
through simple dialogue, and the relatively large cast has a chance
to stir up some supernatural mischief and garner quite a few laughs.
Cast: 6 female, 4 male
What people say:
"In this edge-of-your-seat
thriller, a charming house by the sea holds a dark secret. The new
owners come face-to-face with the dangerous resident spirit and the
house’s disturbing past. Famous first as a novel and then as a
classic motion picture, this is a tale of ghosts and dark secrets."
— The Abington Journal
"Based on the novel by Dorothy
Macardle, the play has all you want for a mystery: a remote neglected
house, a tragic death in the past, ghosts and, of course, mystified
newcomers eager to put the past to rest. The 1944 movie starring Ray
Milland is a classic for scary twists and turns, and the play
sustains all the suspense." — The Times
Herald-Record
"Tim Kelly's
adaptation offers opportunities: There are several creak-filled
scenes and comically arch characters to goof around with." —
Los Angeles Times
"The Uninvited
succeeds as a thriller, a ghost story and a showcase for student
actors." — Sacramento News & Review
About the Playwright:
Dorothy Macardle
(1889-1958) was an Irish novelist, playwright, journalist and historian. Born to a wealthy brewing family, she was educated at Alexandra
College and University College, Dublin. She was imprisoned for her activities during the
Irish Civil War, and later worked as a journalist with the Irish
Press. Her plays were produced at the Abbey and Gate theatres, and
among her works of fiction is Uneasy Freehold
/ The Uninvited.
Tim Kelly (1931-1998) is often regarded
as the most-published playwright in America, with over 300 titles to
his credit under both his real name and at least four pseudonyms
(Vera Morris, J. Moriarty, Robert Swift, Keith Jackson). Many of his
plays, like Les Miserables, M*A*S*H and The
Uninvited, are adaptations of novels, films. or television
series, although he also wrote a host of parodies a well as original
scripts and musical libretti. While his plays have been performed
off-Broadway and by such companies as the Royal Court Rep, the
Manhattan Theatre Club (MTC) and Seattle Rep, he is best known for
writing for university, community and school theatre.
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Anton Chekhov, adapted by Tim Kelly
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Victor Hugo, adapted by Tim Kelly
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Richard Hooker, adapted by Tim Kelly
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