Bad Seed
by William March, Maxwell Anderson

Name: Bad Seed
Brand: William March
SKU: 9780822200888
Rating: 3.92 (687 reviews)

Broadway

Highlights

Medium Cast

Female

Male

120 mins1950sRoles for ChildrenStrong Role for Leading Woman (Star Vehicle)Interior SetPeriod CostumesAmerican Mystery

Awards & Recognition

Pulitzer Prize

Shortlist: 1955 Pulitzer Prize for Drama

What readers are saying

Readers appreciate the gripping and haunting nature of the play 'Bad Seed', which delves into the unsettling character of Rhoda Penmark, a child psychopath. Many commend the portrayal of her manipulative behavior and the exploration of her mother's struggles with the truth about her daughter. The adaptation is noted as a compelling stage production that captures the dark themes of the original work. However, some find it lacks a certain depth in certain dramatic moments compared to the source material.

Gripping and suspenseful storyCompelling character developmentHaunting themes of evilDark yet engaging melodramaPacing issues in some scenesLacks depth in dramatic momentsStage directions are overwhelming

Synopsis

Colonel and Christine Penmark live in a small Southern town with their daughter, Rhoda.

On the surface, little Rhoda Penmark is sweet, charming, full of old-fashioned graces, loved by her parents and admired by all her elders.

But Rhoda’s mother has an uneasy feeling about her.

When one of Rhoda’s schoolmates is mysteriously drowned at a picnic, Mrs. Penmark is alarmed, since the boy who was drowned was the one who had won the penmanship medal that Rhoda felt she deserved.

Bad Seed grew from the novel by William March to the Broadway stage, and later the Academy Award-nominated film The Bad Seed.

Press Reviews

"Chilling... It is solely and honestly meant to entertain… As purely purposeful diversion, it ranks with Dracula and sometimes sets your spine to as much tingling."
— New York Telegram

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
Col. Kenneth Penmark	—	—	—
Christine Penmark	—	—	—
Monica Breedlove	—	—	—
Emery Wages	—	—	—
Leroy	—	—	—
Miss Fern	—	—	—
Reginald Tasker	—	—	—
Mrs. Daigle	—	—	—
Mr. Daigle	—	—	—
Messenger	—	—	—
Richard Bravo	—	—	—
Rhoda Penmark	—	—	—