Puzzle Box, The (Adapted from Agatha Christie's story)

One-Acts 20

By: Heather Lynn
Cast: 4 M, 1 F (With doubling: 3 M, 1 F)
Performance Time: Approximately 20-30 minutes, 25 pgs

MYSTERY. Adapted from ths short story by Agatha Christie. With no interesting cases of late, famed detective Hercule Poirot declares that the criminals of England have come to fear him: “When the cat is there, the little mice…they come no more to the cheese.” However, Poirot’s boredom is interrupted when he is approached by a veiled lady who requests his help to retrieve an indiscreet love letter. The love letter has fallen into the hands of a blackmailer who has threatened to show it to the lady’s prospective husband unless she pays him a vast sum. The blackmailer keeps the letter enclosed in a puzzle box, which he claims is hidden where no one can find it. Since the veiled lady is unable to pay the ransom, Poirot and Hastings must assume the role of thieves and break into the blackmailer’s house to locate the puzzle box and return the letter to its rightful owner. Easy to stage. Adapted from Agatha Christie's story, which is in the public domain in the US and not licensed by Agatha Christie Limited.

Freeviews: To read play excerpts click here.

About the Story: To read more about the story click here.