A mystery-thriller based on the novel by Dashiell Hammett
A special note on availability of this play:
AMERICANS!
Due to the arcane black art that is the U.S. copyright law,
this play is not available in the U.S. until January 1, 2025!
However, it IS legal and available in most of the rest of the world, including
CANADA, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, the UNITED KINGDOM and elsewhere.
Other countries:
Please look into your country's copyright laws to determine legality of productions where you are.
Sam Spade is a world-weary private dick, running a not-very successful operation with his partner Miles Archer. Enter Miss Wonderly (if that is her real name), who offers cash for them to tail a man who has abducted her young sister.
Then Archer ends up dead.
Fast-moving scenes introduce the characters of Casper Gutman (The Fat Man), Joel Cairo, Wilmer the gunman, Iva (Archer's amorous widow) and, of course, Effie, Spade's efficient and sexy secretary. Not to mention, Brigid O'Shaughnessy (if that is her real name) who twists men around her finger to deadly effect.
And, all in pursuit of the black bird.
This adaptation puts the sizzle back in The Maltese Falcon
Above: What's better than a little sax between scenes?
Above: "Are you a close-mouthed man, sir?" Gutman is, well, Gutman.
What would you do for the Black Bird?
Dashiell Hammett's 1929 novel is considered by many to be the ultimate hard-boiled detective story and is listed as number 54 on The Guardian's list of the Top 100 books of all time. Adapted for the screen three times, most famously, in 1941 with Humphrey Bogart, which makes the AFI's Top 100 Films list at number 23.
Unrestricted by the 1930s "Hollywood code", our new adaptation
puts the book's sexy sizzle back into the show -- it's hot!
puts the book's sexy sizzle back into the show -- it's hot!
Above: Effie and Sam -- just what is their thing, anyway?
Our new adaptation moves as fast as a desk or a chair can be slid on- or off-stage. We augmented that with some live, hot sax -- even the scene changes were part of the entertainment.
A fast, fast script, a lot of action, a bit of sex and a gripping story made it a real audience-pleaser.
Above: Sam takes just a little too much pleasure in cold-cocking a disarmed Cairo.
Right: What was a fade-out and cut in the 1941 movie is a whole new morning in our adaptation
"Well choreographed ... delightful ... community theatre at its finest..." Z.F. New Brunswick
"A masterful adaptation." J.D. Perth
"Brilliant! ... as usual." R.J. Ottawa
"What a great play!" M.F. Perth
"Even the scene changes are part of the entertainment." D.B. Perth
"More bodies and dames than you can shake a black bird at.
A fabulous way to spend a few hours before the lights go out." S. C. M. Perth
"Every thing works in this well-directed play. The seamless, in-character set changes, the narrator and sax player balancing the wings, the physicality and the rapid fire dialogue. Thoroughly enjoyed ..." J.S. Perth
"A masterful adaptation." J.D. Perth
"Brilliant! ... as usual." R.J. Ottawa
"What a great play!" M.F. Perth
"Even the scene changes are part of the entertainment." D.B. Perth
"More bodies and dames than you can shake a black bird at.
A fabulous way to spend a few hours before the lights go out." S. C. M. Perth
"Every thing works in this well-directed play. The seamless, in-character set changes, the narrator and sax player balancing the wings, the physicality and the rapid fire dialogue. Thoroughly enjoyed ..." J.S. Perth
2 acts; approx. 100 minutes plus intermission
6 men / 3 women
(5 men / 3 women possible)
1 open setting with movable pieces.