Murderer - A Play

by Anthony Shaffer

An unusual and macabre beginning to this play sets the audience's nerves twitching well before any dialogue confuses their minds! Norman apparently murders his girlfriend, Millie, and is in the process of disposing of her body when he is interrupted by a Sergeant Stenning. The ensuing hunt for the victim and the ghoulish discovery of a head burning in the stove is fiendishly climaxed by the revelation that it is only a dummy. Yet is Millie really dead or not?|2 women, 2 men

Genres: Plays, Theatre

56 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 1976

About the author

This profile is for the British playwright. For the American military officer, see Anthony Shaffer.

Anthony Shaffer is best-known as the author of the mystery-thriller play Sleuth, in addition to other plays and screenplays involving crime and mystery themes. His identical twin brother, Peter Shaffer, was also a playwright.

Reviews

[Tijana]

Simpatična crnohumorna drama koja sigurno mnogo dobija na sceni jer se u suštini svodi na niz obrta ubistvo-nije ubistvo-jeste ubistvo-ipak nije ubistvo-e jeste-e nije i tako do kraja. Šefer je inače brat mnogo poznatijeg Pitera (Amadeus, Equus) ali bar ovde sasvim adekvatan za sat-dva dobre zabave.

[Jazz · Rating 3 out of 5]

At once clever, shocking, gruesome, and witty, this play is not for the faint of heart. As someone else noted, it's easier on the sensibilities to read this play than to have seen it on stage.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a bizarre play!! The opening scene alone is beyond creepy, but it definitely grabs the audiences attention and doesn't let go until the very end. This piece is not for the faint of heart, but it is endlessly fascinating, despite the gore!

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thrilling play, that has a wonderful twist in the beginning and ending. Neither one is obviously foreseeable. The play is worth four stars for the deception and the old fashioned murder mystery that is hard not to savor, especially as it is done so poorly in the genre today. However, the film attempts comedy and it mostly falls flat and the language used seems more apt for the 1940s than the 70s. The interplay could have been snappier and the whole concept of attempting to copy and be a historian of famous murderers seemed unnecessary, just have him want to take out his wife. In addition, the opening scene was very well done, but the sheer absurdity of the conclusion of the scene made it ridiculous and set a strange tone. Overall, there were a few funny moments and like the best suspense and thriller literature, it keeps you reading and guessing. Lastly, the mistake of drowning the mistress rather than the wife was done expertly and truly was a memorable moment.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

As student of famous murderers, this was right up my alley! A delightfully twisted play, with the most delicious double twist at the end!

[Alif · Rating 4 out of 5]

insane!!!!!!

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What an incredibly disturbing play and I loved every second of it!

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not for the weak! I'm glad I read it rather than seeing the stage play. It's definitely a psychological thriller.