Murder Mystery Macdeath Plays Off-Bway in October

John Martin and Dudley Stone's Macdeath, a murder mystery with Shakespearean parallels, will open on October 11th at the Producers Club II (358 West 44th Street). Previews begin October 4th.

Directed by Brian Nelson, Macdeath is "set at the outbreak of war. The Mansfields, a famous acting family, are celebrating the knighthood of Mornington, the greatest Shakespearean actor of his time," according to press materials.

"Gathered together with him are his wife, Rachel, a fine Shakespearean in  her own right; Jenny, her daughter and her fiance, Heinrich "Harry" Vogel, whose mother is English, although he grew up in Germany, ever anxious to show that he is a true Englishman, Tommy Lennox, a Scottish music hall star (jealous of his in-laws' fame) and his long-suffering wife Mildred and Detective Sergeant Crump, who is by no means what he seems to be...the play has more twists and turns than an  English country lane, and a surprise or two to boot."

The cast of Macdeath will feature David Berent, Charles Karel, Ben Killberg, Ellen
Mittenthal, Cyrus Newitt, Christine Rendel and Stephanie Stone.

Martin is a veteran editor, English teacher, and political speechwriter who has also branched out as novelist, essayist, poet, and playwright.  His plays include A Chosen Vessel, a one-man play about St. Paul; Troubadour, a twice-produced musical about Francis of Assisi; the one-act Gentleman and Scholar; and The Troll Palace, the 1985 comedy thriller he co-wrote with Dudley Stone.

Stone, who is also an actor, has translated Tartuffe by Moliere and three Chekhov Plays--Uncle Vanya, The Cherry Orchard and The Seagull, the first two of which have received productions. He also wrote An Everyman For Today, an updating of the medieval morality play.

The play will feature sets by Cyrus Newitt, costumes by Carlotta Kerwin, and lighting and sound design by Shaun S. Orbin.  The show is presented by HMS Productions.

Performances of Macdeath are on Tuesday – Sat at 8PM and Sunday at 3PM.

Tickets are $18. For reservations, call SmartTix: (212) 868-444 or www.SmartTix.com.