The Missing Masterpiece

It's the night of the big art museum fundraiser, and just as dessert is being served, the lights go out! When they come back on, we discover a piece of art is missing. Who dunnit? Everyone pleads their innocence as the detectives investigate. Use this script as written or as inspiration to create your own mystery play. It's easy to modify the characters and lines to suit the needs of your group. Leading narration helps move the story along, and formula and repetition make it easy for young actors to memorize.

About the playwright:

Jennifer Reif has taught, directed, and performed 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 University and also studied at Oxford University in England.

Excerpt from the Play

CHARACTERS:

NARRATOR (It's best to have the teacher or an older student be the narrator.)
GUEST 1
GUEST 2
DIRECTOR-MONA
DIRECTOR-LISA
ARTIST 1
ARTIST 2
ARTIST 3
CHEF 1
CHEF 2
DETECTIVE 1
DETECTIVE 2

*Can be performed by 6-20+ actors by consolidating or adding characters. All roles can be played by any gender.

NARRATOR:
(Speaking to the audience.) Have you ever been to an art museum? (Wait for answers.) Well, Last night I went to a very fancy fundraiser at the_____________________________________ (insert the name of your art museum) Art Museum. There must have been a hundred other guests, but the most memorable were_______________________________________ and ___________________________. (Insert the name of each guest. Add more guests if desired.)

(Enter Guests)

GUEST 1:
Hello, I'm __________________________.

GUEST 2:
And, I'm____________________________.

NARRATOR:
These were two of the wealthiest art patrons in town. You could tell because they wore very fancy clothes.

GUEST 1:
I'm very fancy. You can tell by my ______________________ and _____________________.
(Consider things like hats, gloves, or jewelry.)

GUEST 2:
I'm even fancier. You can tell by my ______________________and______________________.

NARRATOR:
These guests were known for their expensive art collections.

GUEST 1:
I own 5 Picassos. (Or any other artist the students might be familiar with.)

GUEST 2:
I own 6 Monets.

NARRATOR:
They were also known for their competitive nature.

GUEST 1:
I just love art. I want to own as many pieces as I can. (Sits at table)

GUEST 2:
I love art too. I want to own even more than her. (Sits at table)

NARRATOR:
Once everyone was seated, the directors of the museum welcomed everyone.

(Enter Directors)

Running a museum is very expensive, so it was important that the directors make a lot of money at the fundraiser. In fact, their jobs were on the line.

(Feel free to change names. Mona and Lisa were the idea of the original cast.)

DIRECTOR MONA:
Welcome to the museum. I'm Mona.

DIRECTOR LISA:
And I'm Lisa.

DIRECTOR MONA:
We are all here tonight because we love art.

DIRECTOR LISA:
But a museum needs money and publicity to stay open.

DIRECTOR MONA:
You know what they say… ANY publicity is good publicity.

DIRECTOR MONA:
Tonight, we are here to raise money for the museum.

DIRECTOR LISA:
That's right. We are going to auction off these three beautiful pieces of art.

(Guests clap and audibly praise the art.)

DIRECTOR MONA:
Let's begin by introducing you to the artists. Please tell us your name and something about your art.

ARTIST 1:
My name is __________________________, and this is my _______________ called _______________________.

DIRECTOR LISA:
And how much is it worth?

ARTIST 1:
Ten thousand dollars!

DIRECTORS:
Oooooh!

GUEST 1:
I love it! I think I'll bid on it.

GUEST 2:
Not if I bid higher.

NARRATOR:
And on to the next artist.

DIRECTOR MONA:
Please tell us your name and something about your art.

ARTIST 2:
My name is __________________________, and this is my _______________ called _______________________.

DIRECTOR LISA:
And how much is it worth?

ARTIST 2:
Ten thousand dollars!

DIRECTORS:
Oooooh!

GUEST 1:
I love it! I think I'll bid on it.

GUEST 2:
Not if I bid higher.

NARRATOR:
And the third artist.

DIRECTOR MONA:
Now, please tell us your name and something about your art.

ARTIST 3:
My name is __________________________, and this is my _______________ called _______________________.

DIRECTOR LISA:
And how much is it worth?

ARTIST 3:
Ten thousand dollars!

DIRECTORS:
Oooooh!

GUEST 1:
I love it! I think I'll bid on it.

GUEST 2:
Not if I bid higher.

NARRATOR:
Once everyone had seen the art that was to be auctioned off, it was time for dinner.

(Enter chefs carrying a large tray. Food can be pantomimed or real.)

DIRECTOR MONA:
Ladies and gentlemen, it's time for dinner.

DIRECTOR LISA:
Please welcome our chefs.

(Applause)

NARRATOR:
There were two chefs working that night. The duo dreamed of opening their own fancy restaurant, but that would cost thousands of dollars. Catering events like this don't pay very much. Where could they possibly find thousands of dollars to open their own restaurant?

CHEF 1:
For dinner tonight we have prepared something very fancy.

CHEF 2:
Caesar salad and tater tots. (Feel free to change food. This was the idea of the original cast.)

(Chefs cross to table and place the plates of food near guests.)

CHEF 1 and 2:
Enjoy!

(They exit to get the dessert)

NARRATOR:
Everyone enjoyed the fancy dinner as the directors mingled around, talking about the museum.

DIRECTOR MONA:
We've got to find a way to get more people to visit this museum.

DIRECTOR LISA:
You're right, Mona. We need some publicity.

DIRECTOR MONA:
What could we do to make more people come to the museum?