Poisoned in the Garden Script

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It seems everyone has a reason for wanting the old lady dead, but who actually killed her? Was it her daughter? Her hairstylist? The dog walker? Flashback scenes and crafty interrogation will help the detectives crack the case of who poisoned Edna in her garden. This colorful mystery features 17 equal roles with room to add or eliminate some. A perfect choice for middle and high school students.

About the playwrights:

Jennifer Reif has been teaching, directing, and performing around the Pacific Northwest for decades. Her shelves are lined with children's books and her happy place is in the woods. She loves devising creative theatre projects with kids and sharing ideas with teachers. Jennifer holds her BA in Theatre from Morningside College and also studied at Oxford University in England.

Jessica Rodwick is thrilled to be a part of this play! As an actress, teacher, writer/editor, and coach, she currently teaches theatre to K-5 students in NYC. She is extremely interested in 'transformational storytelling,' using empathy as a way to connect students to performing their characters. She holds a BA in Theater from Fordham College @ Lincoln Center and received her MA from the Lincoln Center Scholars program. She also loves baking, tap dancing, and napping.

Excerpt from the play:

Detective J
Detective P
Daughter
Son-in-law
Grandchild
Driver
Cook
Gardener
Hairdresser
Dog Walker
Neighbor
Doctor
Nurse
Best Friend
Director of the Community Theatre
Mayor
Edna-Does not speak but is on stage the entire time

At Rise:
EDNA is sitting in her chair at her garden table with her back to the audience. She is dead. The detectives do not see her. If possible, her garden area should be dark.

DETECTIVE J enters and waves the suspects in. DETECTIVE P brings up the rear.

DETECTIVE J
Right this way, everyone. Come on in. Come on in.

Detectives usher suspects into an interrogation room. They are all nervous. Perhaps ad-libbing a bit.

DETECTIVE P
You heard him. Keep movin'. Keep movin'.

(Suspects enter)

DETECTIVE J
Alright, everyone. Let me introduce myself. I'm Detective J and this here is Detective P. You know why we brought you down here today.

DAUGHTER
No! No, I don't!

SON IN LAW
This is outrageous. You're treating us like suspects.

DETECTIVE P
We just need to ask you all a few questions.

GRANDCHILD
Questions about Grandma?

DAUGHTER
Maybe we should call a lawyer?

(General hubbub, nervous chatter)

DETECTIVE J
Calm down, everyone. Calm down. There's no need for lawyers.

DRIVER
Famous last words.

GARDENER
I don't need a lawyer because I had nothing to do with it.

COOK
It's just so sad.

HAIRDRESSER
I'm still in shock.

DOG WALKER
I know. I can't believe it.

DETECTIVE P
Okay, okay. Let's settle down.

DOCTOR
(Under breath to Nurse) Did you give her the meds?

NURSE
(Under breath to Doctor) Did you?

BEST FRIEND
(to Theatre Director) We were planning a trip together.

COMMUNITY THEATRE DIRECTOR
(to Best Friend) She loved our little community theatre.

MAYOR
(to Detectives) As mayor of this town, I demand to know what happened!

DETECTIVE J
We are trying to tell you… if everyone can just calm down and listen.

DETECTIVE P
Okay. Here's what we know. This morning at 11:30 AM, Edna Ellis was found dead in her garden!

DAUGHTER
We know that! It's your job to figure out who did it.

SON IN LAW
I think you mean who dunnit.

DAUGHTER
Whatever.

DETECTIVE P
That's our job, ma'am, and we will crack this case. But right now, we need to look at the facts.

(Characters react when something triggers them.)

DETECTIVE J
Number 1. We know Edna was nearly 100 years old and relied on friends and family to help her.

GRANDCHILD
That's what family's for.

DETECTIVE P
Number 2. We know that when her driver came to pick her up today, she was found dead in her garden.

DRIVER
We were supposed to go to the beach for our weekly picnic.

DETECTIVE J
Number 3. We know that she was sitting in her chair, wearing a cozy sweater (or shawl), and her hair and makeup looked perfect.

HAIRDRESSER
Thank you. (Feeling proud of her work)

DETECTIVE P
Number 4. On the table were her breakfast…

COOK
Eggs, toast, and coffee, just like always.

DETECTIVE J
Fresh-cut flowers…

GARDENER
A little fertilizer really makes them fragrant.

DETECTIVE P
A bottle of medication…

DOCTOR
She needed it to survive.

DETECTIVE J
An envelope…

SON IN LAW
She asked me to bring her some "papers."

DETECTIVE P
A gardening book…

NEIGHBOR
We shared a love of flowers.

DETECTIVE J
A travel brochure…

BEST FRIEND
She won't be traveling anywhere now.

DETECTIVE J
And number 5. We know she was poisoned.

(all respond)

Don't worry folks. We'll get to the bottom of this. But right now we need all of you to go into the other room. That way, we can ask you some questions privately. Detective J…(nodding that Detective J should usher them into another room)

DETECTIVE J
Right this way folks. (Detective J ushers everyone out)
Who should we call first?

DETECTIVE P
Let's start with the family.

DETECTIVE J
Good idea. I'll bring in the daughter.