Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto

ANOTHER THESPIAN MYSTERY

Sevigne: Your occupation?

Josefa: Parlor maid. Incidentally, your office is filthy. You should speak to the charwoman. I know how easy it to sweep under the rug or - -

Sevigne: Josefa Lantenay, As the Examining Magistrate, I am charged by law to conduct an inquiry into the death by shooting of one Miguel Ostos.

Josefa: Poor Miguel! He was so alive and - -

Sevigne: FURTHERMORE, I am empowered to examine witnesses and accused persons . . . Do you understand?

Josefa: (Cheerfully) I am innocent.

Sevigne: I didn't ask you that!

Josefa: I thought I'd tell you - to save you the trouble of questioning me.

Sevigne: Did he rape you?

Josefa: Well - rape - I wouldn't want to make any trouble for Miguel now - -

Sevigne: Answer the question! Yes or no?

Josefa: Is it important?

Sevigne: You're the best judge of that. . . You didn't fight him off?

Josefa: In that heat?

• When: Monday May 8 and Tuesday May 23 at 7:00
• Where: Room 10 (Monday) and Room 9 (Tuesday)
• What: "A Shot in the Dark" by Marcel Achard, adapted by Harry Kurnitz
• Who: UUCPA Thespians
• Why: To find out if Josefa is guilty.

As you can see by the above dialog, Josefa is a darling. You can't help but hope she isn't guilty. But she's just a parlor maid and, as Sevigne's superiors tell him, her rich employer wants her to be convicted quickly and with no scandal. This is Sevigne's first case as Magistrate, and he naively thinks it is important to find out the truth.

The play has only 7 characters, but we are going to read it twice in May. Our usual 2nd Monday, May 8, and again on the 4th Tuesday, May 23. Reserving a spot is recommended, particularly if you want to come on Monday. Any of the seven roles should be fun to read.

Call me or send me an email at (thespians-info@uucpa.org),

Philip Hodge, Chair, UUCPA Thespians