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Malediction: The Cursed Play
"'Yes, someone is going to die,' he said. 'Someone always does when we perform the cursed play'."
The Tragedy of Prince Tyrus is one of the greatest plays of all time, except for one complication. It's cursed. Each time it is performed a member of the cast dies. Sometimes it's a tragic accident. Sometimes it's not.
Eleven years have passed since the last death and the Queen has commissioned another performance. Against their better judgement the Morgenstern Troupe have accepted. Over the next two days friendships will be tested, rivalries will form, and the bloodstained history of the cursed play will resurface.
As tensions rise the actors begin to ask themselves: if the curse really is inescapable, isn't it better to kill than be killed?
Let the show begin.
***
Inspired by the real-life superstitions of Macbeth and written in the tradition of Shakespeare's theatre, Malediction: The Cursed Play blends the humour of wordplay and mistaken identity with the trials of family tension and forbidden love. It is a murder mystery, just as it is a tale of making peace with our demons, but most of all it is a tribute to the Bard of Avon, history's greatest storyteller.
The Tragedy of Prince Tyrus is one of the greatest plays of all time, except for one complication. It's cursed. Each time it is performed a member of the cast dies. Sometimes it's a tragic accident. Sometimes it's not.
Eleven years have passed since the last death and the Queen has commissioned another performance. Against their better judgement the Morgenstern Troupe have accepted. Over the next two days friendships will be tested, rivalries will form, and the bloodstained history of the cursed play will resurface.
As tensions rise the actors begin to ask themselves: if the curse really is inescapable, isn't it better to kill than be killed?
Let the show begin.
***
Inspired by the real-life superstitions of Macbeth and written in the tradition of Shakespeare's theatre, Malediction: The Cursed Play blends the humour of wordplay and mistaken identity with the trials of family tension and forbidden love. It is a murder mystery, just as it is a tale of making peace with our demons, but most of all it is a tribute to the Bard of Avon, history's greatest storyteller.
316 pages, Paperback
First published November 8, 2018
1 person is currently reading
18 people want to read
About the author
Sean Guy
4 books24 followersSean is an Australian author and playwright with a passion for storytelling in all its forms. As of 2022 he has three published urban fantasy novels (The Firebringer, Voodoo Games, and Seraph) and one historical murder mystery (Malediction: The Cursed Play).
He has written a number of plays, including Under the Table (winner of the 2022 NT Literary Awards, theatre category), King Paddy (in development), and Last Call (Inner West Theatre 2021, Darwin Theatre Company 2021).
As a co-founder of Big Dog Salad, he has been part of many podcasts, comedic sketches, and live Fringe Festival shows. His short film Enough (2022) was funded by the Darwin International Film Festival.
He has written a number of plays, including Under the Table (winner of the 2022 NT Literary Awards, theatre category), King Paddy (in development), and Last Call (Inner West Theatre 2021, Darwin Theatre Company 2021).
As a co-founder of Big Dog Salad, he has been part of many podcasts, comedic sketches, and live Fringe Festival shows. His short film Enough (2022) was funded by the Darwin International Film Festival.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 5, 2020
Growing up in school we focused so much of our English lessons learning about Shakespeare.
I've loved Shakespeare and his way of story telling. One of my favourites has always been Macbeth, a play known for its cursed name that shall not be mentioned when the play is due.
Malediction, was a beautiful modern read that takes details and the concept of Macbeth to bring to life a new story following many characters as they trapeze around their cursed play waiting to see who will die or even if they will.
The foreboding partnered with the exchanging of character perspectives, in-spite of it being in the third person made for an interesting read.
I enjoyed reading it very much so and it was a nice taste of a different read from my usual genres.
It was also an intuitive read that I see many parallels to Shakespeare's writing. What I mean here is how the story wasn't just a clear focus on the "who will die as a cause of the cursed play" but a focus on love, a focus on secrets, a focus on family. The range of themes this book took into consideration is clear and allows for it to be a more mature story.
A brilliant read if you want a taste of something new and different but related to themes of classics we enjoy vastly.
Thank you to Lym for asking and sending me a copy of this book by your friend Sean Guy, it was a pleasure to devour.
I've loved Shakespeare and his way of story telling. One of my favourites has always been Macbeth, a play known for its cursed name that shall not be mentioned when the play is due.
Malediction, was a beautiful modern read that takes details and the concept of Macbeth to bring to life a new story following many characters as they trapeze around their cursed play waiting to see who will die or even if they will.
The foreboding partnered with the exchanging of character perspectives, in-spite of it being in the third person made for an interesting read.
I enjoyed reading it very much so and it was a nice taste of a different read from my usual genres.
It was also an intuitive read that I see many parallels to Shakespeare's writing. What I mean here is how the story wasn't just a clear focus on the "who will die as a cause of the cursed play" but a focus on love, a focus on secrets, a focus on family. The range of themes this book took into consideration is clear and allows for it to be a more mature story.
A brilliant read if you want a taste of something new and different but related to themes of classics we enjoy vastly.
Thank you to Lym for asking and sending me a copy of this book by your friend Sean Guy, it was a pleasure to devour.
March 9, 2019
From the beginning, the question was 'who will die?', followed by 'will someone die?', answered with 'yes, for sure' then 'Who?' Such a strong sense of foreboding from the outset. Multiple points of view well handled by debutante novelist Sean Guy who spun a tale full of twists and turns:action, intrigue and humour. The choice to use modern dialogue despite the setting was an interesting one which I thought worked really well. And a suitably dramatic ending. I really enjoyed Malediction. I haven't read anything like it. I highly recommend it and look forward to reading more from my fellow Darwinian.
April 29, 2021
A unique tale about the production of a Shakespearean-like play in Shakespearean-like times which had a curse. Who was going to die and how? But the curse was only a part of the tale ...each character had a story and/or secret accompanying them. Loved the ending, the romance and some of the characters. What I really lied was seeing another aspect of stage plays ... the background work and also some of the history (eg. the transition of allowing females to act).
July 5, 2025
I enjoyed this book more than I was expecting.
Inspired by Shakespeare, this story about a performance troupe performing a cursed play at the request of the queen, contained included insults, inuendo, and murder plots. It was clear from the first page that someone was expected to die, but the twists and turns made it difficult to know who (or how many) might meet their end.
Inspired by Shakespeare, this story about a performance troupe performing a cursed play at the request of the queen, contained included insults, inuendo, and murder plots. It was clear from the first page that someone was expected to die, but the twists and turns made it difficult to know who (or how many) might meet their end.
September 20, 2019
Malediction: The Cursed Play by Sean Guy, 2018
Real actors don’t mention the name of the ‘Scottish Play’ in a theatre. Superstition warns them that it will bring disaster upon them – some can’t even frivolously quote lines from the play unless they’re rehearsing or performing it. Saying “out damn spot” in the theatre’s laundry would be catastrophic. The bard who penned the lines is no doubt chuckling in his grave …
Sean Guy clearly knows more about the bard than most of us, and he boldly pins his tale to Shakespeare’s coat tails, as he luxuriates in similar mysteries and intrigues. Will would have been proud. In authoring Malediction: The Cursed Play, Sean creates tensions among his myriad of characters that all actors would well recognise. His words cascade through his chapters as if singularly intent on creating the suspense felt by depraved, excessively superstitious thespians, and we as readers get dragged along with them … Someone is going to die. Who? How? If someone has to die, how can one be sure it’s not me? … Is it better to kill or be killed?
Sean Guy spins a brilliant yarn with as many twists and turns as used to be found in stories of the old-style – before authors decided to spoon-feed us the clues. It’s a thinking person’s story that follows no formula and is hard to put down. Keeping track of everyone needs concentration, but it’s well worth it. And if the Tragedy of Prince Tyrus ever plays near you, it could be worth dropping in to see it … if you dare.
Derek Pugh
Real actors don’t mention the name of the ‘Scottish Play’ in a theatre. Superstition warns them that it will bring disaster upon them – some can’t even frivolously quote lines from the play unless they’re rehearsing or performing it. Saying “out damn spot” in the theatre’s laundry would be catastrophic. The bard who penned the lines is no doubt chuckling in his grave …
Sean Guy clearly knows more about the bard than most of us, and he boldly pins his tale to Shakespeare’s coat tails, as he luxuriates in similar mysteries and intrigues. Will would have been proud. In authoring Malediction: The Cursed Play, Sean creates tensions among his myriad of characters that all actors would well recognise. His words cascade through his chapters as if singularly intent on creating the suspense felt by depraved, excessively superstitious thespians, and we as readers get dragged along with them … Someone is going to die. Who? How? If someone has to die, how can one be sure it’s not me? … Is it better to kill or be killed?
Sean Guy spins a brilliant yarn with as many twists and turns as used to be found in stories of the old-style – before authors decided to spoon-feed us the clues. It’s a thinking person’s story that follows no formula and is hard to put down. Keeping track of everyone needs concentration, but it’s well worth it. And if the Tragedy of Prince Tyrus ever plays near you, it could be worth dropping in to see it … if you dare.
Derek Pugh
March 7, 2019
This book was a pleasant surprise. Not a genre I usually choose, (I like fiction, however Shakespeare generally goes over my head) this book surpassed all my expectations.
The characters are a delight. The story is told by their points of view, a difficult feat considering the amount; however the author makes it work.
The world building is great, as is the suspense surrounding the curse: Will anyone die? If so, who? The answers lie within the book.
I enjoyed it very much, finding it hard to put down once I began. Looking forward to more works by this author.
The characters are a delight. The story is told by their points of view, a difficult feat considering the amount; however the author makes it work.
The world building is great, as is the suspense surrounding the curse: Will anyone die? If so, who? The answers lie within the book.
I enjoyed it very much, finding it hard to put down once I began. Looking forward to more works by this author.
January 24, 2021
Sean’s book is of course based on Shakespeares play Macbeth - famously also as ill fated as the troupe of players involved in Sean’s book.
This book captures you and makes you stick with it looking for how it ends and who is killed off. It is quick paced as you become involved with the characters. I know this is Sean’s first book and he has done a cracking job I think.
This book captures you and makes you stick with it looking for how it ends and who is killed off. It is quick paced as you become involved with the characters. I know this is Sean’s first book and he has done a cracking job I think.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews