The Suffragette's Murder
by Sandy Rustin

The Suffragette's Murder Book Cover — The Suffragette's Murder Cover

Highlights

Female

Male

90 mins 19th Century Role(s) for Black Actor(s) Ensemble Cast Multicultural Casting Unit Set/Multiple Settings Period Costumes Comedy

Synopsis

It’s the morning of July 5, 1857, and the tenants of the Mayhew Boarding House on New York’s Lower East Side are getting ready for a busy day.

They’re an odd bunch, given their surroundings.

Among them are a mute man, an Irishman, a gay Black man, two Southern belles and the Mayhews themselves – a husband and wife team committed to advancing the women’s suffrage movement.

As they prepare to host an important gathering, they receive an unexpected visit from a constable.

One of the tenants has been murdered.

Hilarious hijinks ensue amidst the backdrop of a murder mystery as the tenants band together to conceal their involvement in the suffrage movement and improvise an elaborate ruse to throw the constable off their scent.

The investigation, however, reveals much more than murder motives and rabble-rousing.

It becomes an examination of human rights, the struggle to define “a woman’s place” and political systems that have historically sought to snuff out feminist voices.

Press Reviews

"Lies, laughs and gender politics take center stage... A parlor comedy cloaked as a murder mystery, The Suffragette’s Murder is sure to resonate with film fans."
— Denver Post

"A new American classic... The Suffragette’s Murder serves as a reminder of where we have come: the rights for which those on the right side of history have fought so bravely to not only win, but preserve and protect."
— Broadway World

"Fast-paced and fun! Rustin’s script packs a lot of history and politics into this zany play."
— OnStage Colorado

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
MR. ARCHIBALD ORTON A burly, broad-shouldered, bearded tenant; mute.	male	—	A burly, broad-shouldered, bearded tenant; mute.
MRS. ALMA MAYHEW Mr. Mayhew’s wife, a pragmatic woman of middle age who takes people at face value and is committed to helping women help themselves. The Mayhews are childless.	female	—	Mr. Mayhew’s wife, a pragmatic woman of middle age who takes people at face value and is committed to helping women help themselves. The Mayhews are childless.
MR. ALBERT MAYHEW A man of middle age, devoted to his wife and her pursuits, in that order.	male	—	A man of middle age, devoted to his wife and her pursuits, in that order.
MR. LEOPOLD ALBRIGHT A young, Irish tenant. Mr. Albright is an academic romantic and a devout remonstrant.	male	—	A young, Irish tenant. Mr. Albright is an academic romantic and a devout remonstrant.
MR. TENNYSON JENNINGS An eccentric, brilliant, Black, gay tenant in middle age. Mr. Jennings is devoted to the advancement of civilization.	male	—	An eccentric, brilliant, Black, gay tenant in middle age. Mr. Jennings is devoted to the advancement of civilization.
MRS. MIRIAM ADAMS A boisterous, well-organized, charming tenant of middle age from Alabama.	female	—	A boisterous, well-organized, charming tenant of middle age from Alabama.
MISS MABEL ADAMS Her daughter, an outspoken and awfully pregnant teenager who shows no true talent for clairvoyance.	female	—	Her daughter, an outspoken and awfully pregnant teenager who shows no true talent for clairvoyance.
THE CONSTABLE An honorable-seeming New Yorker in search of the truth about Miss Lauralee Hart, a suffragette and Mayhew Boarding House tenant who has turned up dead on the streets of New York – this morning.	—	—	An honorable-seeming New Yorker in search of the truth about Miss Lauralee Hart, a suffragette and Mayhew Boarding House tenant who has turned up dead on the streets of New York – this morning.
WOMAN and	—	—	and
LAURALEE HART ) who appear as voice-over only. Both are intentionally left off the character list and should not be included in the production credits of the play. Productions can be creative about casting these voices. Two possibilities are to have them prerecorded (perhaps a special cameo by the director or a member of the production team), or have them performed live by a female ASM or member of the backstage crew.	female	—	) who appear as voice-over only. Both are intentionally left off the character list and should not be included in the production credits of the play. Productions can be creative about casting these voices. Two possibilities are to have them prerecorded (perhaps a special cameo by the director or a member of the production team), or have them performed live by a female ASM or member of the backstage crew.