Books published by Samuel French Ltd

An amusingly chaotic day in the life of Alec Partridge, Manager of the Thurlow Playhouse. The director of an amateur production of Oklahoma demands real horses in the show; an Arts Council agent arrives to assess the theatre''s eligibility for a grant…|5 women, 3 men

Angry and bitter after throwing out her unfaithful husband, Julia is only too ready to succumb to the good-looking Welshman who comes ostensibly to update her husband''s computer. Julia enjoys playing games with the computer, particularly when it invites her to play the Murder Game and she can fantasise about how easy it would be to commit the perfect murder by computer with her errant husband as victim.|3 women, 1 man

Jack has just been acquitted of manslaughter, and regales his girlfriend Maggie and their neighbours with a disparaging account of the trial. According to the evidence (most of it Jack''s), the victim, Philip Mercer, had broken in late at night, and, on being confronted by Jack, produced a gun which Jack got hold of during the ensuing struggle and then used to kill Mercer. A clear case of self-defence. Or was it?|2 women, 2 men

When Chief Constable Henry Potterton and his sister arrive at the peaceful country house of their late, lamented brother Bernard, they are astonished to find several scantily clad ladies wandering about. During Bernard''s visit to a religious commune, his housekeeper turned the place into a "house of sin" and now she hastily tries to hide the truth. This leads to hilarious comings and goings, and when Bernard turns up alive, the household is thrown into further chaos.|6 women, 3 men

Jan is recovering from a nervous disorder. She and her husband rent a remote cabin from an odd farmer who delights in telling gruesome ghost stories. Then the husband''s sister arrives, and all manner of frightening events occur. What happens to fragile Jan as bodies appear and disappear give this classic thriller its tremendously frightening impact.|2 women, 2 men

A young, married American couple in Paris contend with a relationship in crisis.

This is a full length pantomime, entirely traditional with lots of humour and with its own original and delightful score by Eric Gilder which is available separately. The large number of both amateur and professional groups who present Crocker and Gilder pantomimes regularly every year is unmistakable proof of their success. Vocal score on sale.|Large flexible cast

Future Perfect imagines a future where a town which is 'Under the Edge' has a connection with a world above it asÍ 'Over the Edge' - but is destroying itself with pollution - until the children decide to save the day. The play was devised with a group of twenty-five children aged between seven and fourteen; it is intended as a blueprint for further improvisation and adaptation.|Large flexible cast

Bernard is fulfilling his dead father''s wishes to scatter his ashes over his favourite fell. After a trail of misunderstandings and clashes in the family''s relationships Bernard realizes the part his father has played and some sort of understanding is reached; Father, of course, has the last word.|3 women, 2 men

A bizarre tale which challenges the everyday concept of grief, making this a unique, yet poignant play. Marge and Butter are awaiting the arrival of their son, Weston, and his new wife. Butter is dying and Marge plans to have him stuffed and mounted in a drinks cabinet from MFI to counteract her foreseen loneliness.|2 women, 2 men

For Dennis, cricket averages are everything. When the Statisticians'' Circle accepts Pat, its first female member, however, Dennis''s life takes a sharp turn. Contrary to Dennis''s assumptions, Pat excels in the craft. They plan a trip to the Caribbean but Dennis''s wife doesn''t know that Pat is female, so when they meet this highly original satire on male-female relations is set for an explosive ending.|2 women, 2 men

Philip and Rowena are terminally ill. Philip seeks a divorce from his bitter wife, Lilian. Rowena longs for the unity of her family. Together they find friendship, romance, consolation and an amazing capacity for fun. In their hospice, they share an imaginary holiday in Florence. An acceptance of death is coupled with an extraordinary devotion to life.|4 women, 3 men

Intriguing glimpses into a cupboard full of family skeletons, together with some serious, and not so serious, detective work, combine in this unusual suspense play, to keep everyone guessing until the very last page! Returning home from prison, after serving fifteen years for allegedly murdering his mother, Matthew finds his three sisters, his wife and his father waiting for him. Still protesting his innocence, Matthew''s arrival prompts the question of who did kill Mother - scornful Celia, dotty Emma, cold Lavinia, flighty Gilda or even gentle Father? Accusations and hypotheses abound, but it takes an apparent suicide, and a good deal of amateur sleuthing, before the truth is revealed and the lady can be taken away...|4 women, 3 men

Stage Struck, an inventive thriller that employs a handful of actors to play chameleon like parts within parts, opens in the living room of one Robert Simon. Formerly a first rate stage manager in a provincial repertory company, he now he keeps house for his West End actress wife while amusing himself with various sexual adventures. He is a thoroughly happy man until the clumsy intervention of a psychiatrist destroys his happiness and his marriage. He plans a hideous revenge on his wife and the psychiatrist a reveng, which allows him to rediscover all his old talents.|1 woman, 3 men

This collection of Peter Barnes' plays comprises three duologues and one three-hander. "Humour Helps", "Waiting for a Bus", "Acting Exercise", and "Last Things" are all centred on actors and actresses - acting out "the absurdly tragic and the tragically absurd".

Fred Cochran, the hero, is a down-at-heel gangster, trying to make a comeback. Lil Smith is his loyal moll, a tart with a heart of gold, who longs for respectability and keeps a marriage licence ready for her lucky day. Fred''s shpieler (gambling den) provides a refuge for the failures of the underworld: Paddy the gambler, Tosher the ponce with his girls Betty and Rosey, and Redhot, a sad little burglar who never manages to get warm. They all look to Fred for a living and when he wins on the horses it seems the gang may be back in business.|4 women, 9 men

Alan Brown''s pantomimes recreate those of Victorian times, blending traditional elements - including Harlequin interludes and suggestions for period songs - with subtle updatings to suit modern young audiences.|Large flexible cast

This is a full length pantomime, entirely traditional with lots of humour and with its own original and delightful score by Eric Gilder which is available separately. The large number of both amateur and professional groups who present Crocker and Gilder pantomimes regularly every year is unmistakable proof of their success.|Large flexible cast

In Late Victorian London, Mrs Carrington, a blind clairvoyant, deceives her gullible customers with secret machinery. Tonight, however, when one of the party is possessed by the spirit of a murdered girl it is for real. Any of those present could be suspect. Who is the killer? The doors are locked, time stands still, and there are footsteps approaching.4 women, 4 men

Four dogs lie in cages in an animal shelter. A Dog's Life depicts the moment when a woman comes to the shelter and has to choose between the dogs - a choice that literally means life or death to the oldest, Ben. This compassionate drama, easy to stage - dog costumes are not required - is an ideal festival play.2 women, 3 men, 2 women or men

Music hall routines with clever and ribald lyrics highlight this British hit about an army entertainment unit in post World War II Malaya.1 woman, 10 men

An earlier version of Party Piece, this play ingeniously uses the same set to represent three different homes. We see Charles, preoccupied with finding a fancy dress costume, and Norma, obsessed with her garden and kitchen; Hilary, returned from a health farm to find her mother-in-law in residence; and Susan and Keith, unable to enjoy a weekend without their children. Add a suicidal Katy and an incorrect party date and we are set for a confusing evening!5 women, 4 men

Estate agent Kevin and his wife Valerie are to be subjected to an extended visit from her brother Victor, a successful con artist who has just been released from prison. Victor is delighted to hear that wealthy widow Lucy is also staying with them and it isn't long before he sets about charming her with a valuable diamond bracelet.

After her disappearance several years ago, Emma finds that her memory is damaged; there is much she does not recognize or understand. Why does she appear familiar with certain Russian phrases; why has she such a horror of a harmless silver bell, of a portrait on the wall, of knives? Is she, in fact, Emma Cranwell? Behind these questions looms a menacing mystery which finally erupts into violence and horror.3 women, 3 men

A play about Paddington Bear for children.

A truly outstanding, genuinely funny play, with a wry twist at the end. Frank has erected signs for a commercial letterer for twenty-five years. With trainee Alan, he attempts to spell ''Forshaw''s'' - the letters collectively forming the play''s third ''character''. He is nonplussed when the right letters do not appear and then realization dawns.|2 men

Livia, a romantic short story writer, and her husband Stan, arrive at a country hotel for a "Murder Mystery" weekend. They are joined by Patsy and her husband Ashley, and Vi and Dorothy. Each receives an anonymous "Murder Mystery" game envelope. Someone has left extra notes for Patsy and Stan exposing Livia's and Ashley's illicit affair. Next, Shelley, the chambermaid, mysteriously disappears, and intrigue and suspicion deepens when one last uninvited guest arrives...6 women, 3 men

Helen sits dejectedly on a pavement in Wimbledon having just broken up with her boyfriend Pete. The next two people she meets prove to be significant to her life in very different ways: one is a tramp, the other, Jools, a friend of Pete's.

On her wedding morning Pam is so appalled at the gravity of the promises she must make that she refuses to be married to Joe. Her doubts increase on meeting her father, Paul, long divorced from her mother. Pam was taught to think him an abandoned bounder, but fin''s so charming she is convinced that if his marriage disintegrated then he''s is bound to fail. Paul intervenes and incites Joe to elope with Pam whilst he himself enjoys a reconciliation with his wife.|5 women, 3 men

This long-running hit starred Sam Waterston on Broadway as an urban architect whose attempts to improve humanity by the environments he creates, only leads to chaos when the high-rise boom goes bust and two close friends are caught in the cross-hairs.2 women, 2 men