Murder at the Pelican Club a 1940 murder mystery play

Fancy being transported back to 1940 and solving a dastardly crime in the vein of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple or Poirot? My 1940 set murder mystery play, MURDER AT THE PELICAN CLUB has been performed by the Winterbourne Players, Bristol, and Act One Drama, Kent. They both did a great job of it too!

Murder At The Pelican Club is a 1940s murder mystery in the vein of the classic crime thrillers of the 20th century, an Agatha Christie style detective drama that has audiences guessing ‘who done it.’  It's written in a serious vein but with a touch of humour.  The play takes place in the Pelican Nightclub and Restaurant in November 1940.

Denmark and Norway have been invaded and the blitz has been raging in London since 7 September 1940. Men up to the age of 27 have been called up, which means that the old and gruff Inspector Doyle is still on the job.

Maisie Duncan and Tillie Trotman have volunteered to do their bit for the war effort. Maisie because she was stuck in a boring office job and wanted excitement, and Tillie because she thought she’d look fetching in a uniform and be sent where lots of men would idolize her. Instead they both get sent to the munitions works.

Before the play opens a lunch time talent concert has been organised in the munitions factory where Maisie and Tillie work. Tillie wins it and she’s immediately signed up by agent and impresario, Maxine Hunter.

Catapulted to fame by radio appearances and concerts, Tillie is now a forces sweetheart. This is her last performance at the popular Pelican Club and Restaurant before travelling overseas to entertain the troops. Someone, though is intent on stopping her.

The audience were asked to guess who done it!  No one did.

My other play is called Murder at Hillingbrooke Halt, and takes place in a deserted railway station waiting room, save for the players, a murderer and a clutch of suspects.  It's a bit like THE GHOST TRAIN but without the ghost!

The cast of characters in MURDER AT THE PELICAN CLUB

INSPECTOR DOYLE: Suffers from indigestion especially when on a case and when people are lying to him. Belches, scratches, and has odd bits of things in his pockets. Irritating but amusing.
 
TILLIE TROTMAN:  beautiful, sexy, blonde, with a good figure, only a passable singer, but a good mover and very popular with the men. 

MICHEAL EELS: a drunk musician accompanying Tillie. Lean, languid, a heavy smoker, with a sharp turn in sarcasm. 

MAXINE HUNTER, a cigarette smoking woman in her mid-thirties, slim, fashionable, smartly dressed, tough and driven.
 
BRIAN BLEMMINGS: a blustery man. A worrier who is also a diabetic. Owns a chain of restaurants and was very successful before the war, but is finding the war increasingly biting into his takings. Has a nagging, money-grabbing wife.

MAISIE DUNCAN: a rather plain, frumpy girl.  Gets bored very quickly, craves excitement.

RYAN CONNOR, a good-looking Irish waiter. Seeks adventure, sex and money. Is clumsy.

The play takes place in the Pelican Restaurant and Night Club in November 1940.

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