Books published by Samuel French Ltd

Muriel's husband Ralph has just died, leaving her well off, until her son Giles invests the money unwisely. Eventually, neglected by Giles and her disturbed daughter Margaret, Muriel ends the play alone and poor, determined to cheerfully "soldier on". From the stage version of "Talking Heads".

This poignant monologue sees Pauline sitting at the bedside of her dying mother. As she mulls over her own churning emotions she realizes a love that, it eventually transpires, is now too late to communicate.|2 women

The legend of Iphigenia, sacrificed by her father King Agamemnon to the goddess Artemis in order to free the becalmed Greek fleet in the port of Aulis is here made more accessible for contemporary audiences by dramatizing an ''eyewitness'' account of the events given by Andreas, the soldier, who guarded the royal tent that fateful day.|3 women, 3 men

This award winning, cerebral play is set in the future but is very much for our time. Driven underground by the "greenhouse" effect on the atmosphere, two people eke out an existence in a wary partnership. She is a "baby factory;" he is genetically engineered to be a survivor. Through three scenes we observe their skirmishes, his denial of her reason for living and their coming to terms with her sickness. This bleak picture of what man is doing to the earth has a moving and hopeful ending a baby cries in the darkness.|1 woman, 1 man

Kevin, an upwardly mobile family man, is manipulated into an affair by the glamorous Kitty who then manoeuvres the pliable Kevin into confessing the affair to his wife. After an acrimonious scene, she takes the children and leaves. Each of the characters shows their true persona in revealing monologues, with the dark undertones of Kitty''s real nature only surfacing at the play''s climax.|2 women, 1 man

A Respectable Funeral is one of the first one act plays from the sensitive and humorous pen of Jimmie Chinn. It was presented and performed as a double bill - with one of Mr Chinn''s other plays, From Here To The Library - under the title of Back To Back in Oldham. Both plays can be performed separately or as an entertaining double bill.|3 women, 1 man

When Peter and Robyn wake up the morning after a dinner party at the home of their friends and employers David and Jane Valentine, they are still shocked at having been sacked by David the night before. More shocks are to come for David appears to be dead, and Jane calmly announces she killed him. At first Peter and Robyn refuse to believe her, but as she explains the "how, when and why" of the murder, they are forced to accept she has committed the "perfect" crime and to avoid implicating themselves, they will have to help her to dispose of the body. Stunned and bitter, they leave, but then it transpires that the "murder" is really an elaborate practical joke. Or is it?|2 women, 2 men

Two amateur drama groups become joint winners of a play festival. A tie-break involves the groups performing an extract from their own entry and then an excerpt from the opposing team''s play, but the pieces are very different. They compete again with hilarious results but the outcome is still a tie. This time a rugby scrum will decide the winner!|4 women, 4 men, 2 women or men

When Robert misdials, Annie is ready to hang up on what she thinks is a nuisance caller. However, this telephone call is the start of a distant yet significant relationship. Both plagued by love troubles, they enjoy the opportunity to let off steam and take a few tips and so perhaps begin again.

Intending to kill himself, Wallace books into an hotel run by Arthur and Stella. Wallace''s plans, however, are repeatedly thwarted and his determination wavers. After he and Arthur discuss their hatred for their respective wives, Wallace is fired with new determination to end it all, leaving poor Arthur contemplating a similar approach to escape from the unpleasant Stella.|1 woman, 2 men

A very funny completion to Nick Warburton''s trilogy of the Drama Club''s production of Hamlet (seen on stage in Don''t Blame it on the Boots and backstage in Easy Stages) which progresses to the after-show party! Meticulous stage-manager Gerry, in charge of the refreshments and music, marshals poor Patsy into artistically arranging bridge rolls, to the accompaniment of Peer Gynt!|4 women, 2 men

This light and lively play, set on an English campsite, contrasts the life of well-to-do Monty, his wife Ruth and son Tarquin (who camp here every year), with that of Debbie and Shirleen, young girls from a depressed background, trying camping for the first time.|3 women, 2 men

To Albert, retired miner, his allotment is his piece of England, his escape from the world. The Council places a repossession order on the land; Albert is determined to keep his tenancy. Several people urge him to give up and familiar facets of human behaviour are revealed. Eventually nature takes its course in this gently amusing ''slice of life''.|4 women, 4 men

Following his wife's recent death, Gerald hopes to spend the rest of his days alone with his memories. Without his late wife's "forward planning", a series of unexpected events occur that Gerald had not anticipated. This is a comedy from the author of "Look Who's Talking", "Beyond a Joke", and "Bedside Manners".

Combines the traditional tale of Mother Goose with spirited songs and dances (to be chosen by the director). Plenty of opportunity for audience participation, led by irascible Billy, Mother Goose''s son. Fun packed action centers on the wicked squire''s bailiffs and Priscilla, the Magical Goose, instantly endears herself to all. And Fairy Harmony succeeds in helping good overcome evil and happiness prevails once more.|5 women, 6 men

Many people dislike Larry Campbell but none feel more embittered than David Ryder. Ryder pursues his vendetta by nefariously obtaining a key to Campbell''s flat to kill him. Deceit, suspicion, blackmail and incrimination are woven into the web of crime which is completed by a second killing and a tantalizing twist at the climax.|3 women, 6 men

Mr Whatnot is Mint, a piano tuner, summoned to the stately home of Lord and Lady Slingsby-Craddock. Once there he falls in love with their daughter, Amanda, elopes with her, fails to save her from marriage to Cecil but wins through in the end. With plenty of mime and sound effects Mr Whatnot offers great opportunities to an imaginative director for a highly entertaining and unusual production.|4 women, 7 men

Fay, host of the TV chat show "Frankly Fay", is worried that her career is on the wane - and her private life isn't up to much either. She is mortified to be reunited, on the set of "This Is Your Life", with Caroline, an old school friend she's been avoiding for years, but Caroline's bereavement gives her an idea that could rescue her ratings.

Trendy magazine Femina offers two contrasting wives - country-bumpkin Anne and sophisticate Cat - £1000 to swap places for a week to compare lifestyles. Anne goes to London to run the chic apartment of Cat''s advertising executive husband, while Cat journeys to deepest Devon to cook, clean and care for gentle, sexually-repressed, shopkeeper Derek. Violent snowstorms mean that Cat and Derek are cut off, and when the snow ploughs eventually arrive the life-swap has become a wife-swap.|3 women, 2 men

This ''lost'' play by Patrick Hamilton is a Victorian psychological thriller last seen on the stage in 1945. The play is the second of Hamilton''s to feature Inspector Rough, who first made his name in one of the author''s best-known works, Gaslight. Miss Ethel Fry, the titular governess, has taken a position in the Drew household where she quickly begins to manipulate all those around her. Things become murkier when the family discover that their baby son has been abducted, presumed taken by gypsies, throwing the entire house into chaos and suspicion. As the family try to adjust to their devastating loss, the eagle-eyed Inspector Rough arrives on the scene out to prove that this case is far from resolved.|5 women, 6 men, 1 girl

California, 1973. Rick, a musician and dancer, is shot dead. Was it Gideon, his drug-happy co-performer? Maggie, his older lover, an actress? Roberta, Rick''s transsexual bodyguard? Or one of the other oddball guests? As Rick''s friends investigate one murder follows another ... no one is safe!|4 women, 5 men

The perils of ambition lie at the heart of this double-bill of supernatural tales. In The Monkey''s Paw a family is granted three wishes, all of which come true but in a macabre and unexpected way. In The Dark a successful and ambitious novelist meets his Mephistopheles and is dispatched to a sinister fate.|1 woman, 4 men

A one-act pantomime, a ''potted panto-parody in rhyme'', on a well-known theme - with a difference.|1 woman, 1 man, 7 women or men

Norman Robbins'' fun-packed pantomimes tell the traditional stories in a clear fast-moving style and can be staged simply or elaborately, as required. The choice of music is left to the director.|Large flexible cast

Tony''s father has died and his mother, Debs, has taken up with a "plonker" called Gordon. Gordon gives Tony Death-Dealer, a game that takes the player to strange and exciting places; then Gordon also takes Tony and Debs to France, where they meet Josie, a no-nonsense girl who is is dying of cancer, and the final Death-Dealer game may be the hardest of all...This play, part fantasy, part rite-of-passage tale, is funny, heart-rending and very, very theatrical.|2 women, 2 men

The story of God''s request to Tangaroa to find six species that deserve to survive the destruction of all other life is presented in the form of a Balinese folk-tale. The action takes place in a jungle clearing, which can be as elaborate or as simple as conditions dictate. There is also plenty of scope for the cast to make their own accompanying oriental music with the aid of finger xylophones, gongs and bells.|Large flexible cast

This fun-filled play revolves around the antics of three waiters sacked by Mr Macaroni, the money-minded owner of the Pizza Pie Palace. They devise various schemes to get their jobs back, and are streered through their adventures with the help of the audience. After bangs, flashes, songs, dances, talking snakes and even exploding pizza pies, all ends happily with a double wedding.|Large flexible cast

A sensitive treatment of the devastating effects of unemployment, both on individuals and their families. David, Derek and Ian attempt to preserve their everyday lives, warding off depression and the feelings of rejection, anger and aggression, their efforts ranging from the touching to moments of manic humour.|3 men

Joyce has the thankless task of organizing the teas for the Floral Art Club. Thankless, because Mrs Cowper-Jones can only criticize others' efforts. And, true to form, Mrs Cowper-Jones arrives in full fault-finding flow, complete with large floral arrangement and the hapless Beryl in tow.

Life does not hold out much pleasure for either Elizabeth or Elinor: Elizabeth in love with a man of whom her overbearing mother does not approve, Elinor in love with the man Mrs Hartley is determined Elizabeth shall marry. Coincidentally with a social visit by the awesome Lady Charlotte, however, the prospects of both girls are made much brighter - through the machinations of the quiet Miss Jane, who is dismissed as "a person of no consequence" by Lady Charlotte when she is told her surname - Miss Austen.|8 women