Ravenscroft

by Don Nigro

Mystery / 1m, 5f / Simple unit set

This psychological drama is a thinking person's Gothic thriller, a dark comedy that is both funny and frightening. On a snowy night, Inspector Ruffing is called to a remote house to investigate the headlong plunge of Patrick Roarke down the main staircase. He becomes involved in the lives of five alluring and dangerous women: Marcy, the beautiful Viennese governess with a past; Mrs. Ravenscroft, the flirtatious lady of the manor; Gillian, her charming but possibly demented daughter; Mrs. French, the formidable and passionate cook, and Dolly, a terrified maid. They lead him through a bewildering labyrinth of contradictory versions of Patrick's demise and that of the late Mr. Ravenscroft. There are ghosts on the staircase, skeletons in the closet, and much more than the Inspector bargained for. His investigation leads into own tortured soul and the nature of truth itself. You will not guess the ending, but you will be teased, seduced, bewildered, amused, frightened and led to a dark encounter with truth or something even stranger.

Genres: Plays, Theatre

106 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1991

Reviews

[Stuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable little play, perfect for a group with a lot of great women, as the real reason to do the piece is all five distinct, enjoyable female roles. The male lead is a fun character, and the text has a flexibility to it that could be played a number of ways, from out and out farce to more serious psychological thriller, especially if you decide the ghosts are real. The ending is both a little pat and a little abrupt, but with the right actors could be more than satisfying, even poignant. Definitely would require good accents and good costumes, but I appreciate the simiplicity of the senic and property demands. Clearly intended for small theater companies to do in small theaters, and that's not a bad thing.

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm rehearsing this play right now. My director refers to it as Demented Masterpiece Theater. And I think that's probably the most apt description of it out there. It makes a hard left turn somewhere in the third (proverbial) act, and it's odd. But power through the furrowed-brow phase, the payoff is pretty good.

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wacky play. It made me laugh.

[Hesper · Rating 2 out of 5]

"The thinking person's Gothic thriller" is an enormous overstatement, and I say this after having directed it. More like, a slightly above-average comedic riff on the Gothic genre.

It's fun, just safe enough to be palatable to a broad audience, and not so clever that it will cause waves or be too popular. The comedy is competent, the farce appealing, the characters different enough from one another; there is, in fact, no danger of remembering much of it a week later.

[Elizabeth Hunter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this and it's a good pick for groups heavy on women. With only one male role, I think it's not for us, but it could be fun. I think the lighting requirements might break us, but the set is very simple.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a fun play. You'll never see the ending until it explodes is hilarious fashion. This is prefect for a high school play