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.