"The Mystery of the Scandalous Sculptor"

Performed on June 25th, 2005 at the Stebbins Swayne House in Kennett Square.

 It is 1924. Sinclair de Vries, railroad magnate, has commissioned Thaddeus Monk to sculpt a bust of Hermione de Vries, Sinclair’s long suffering wife. Giving the commission to Thaddeus - rather than to some other Sculptor - was Hermione’s idea. Miss Belvedere, Sinclair’s pretentiously arty Personal Secretary, arranged it all. Sinclair thought it best if the Hermione sat for Thaddeus at the de Vries family home and so invited the Sculptor to stay over the weekend. He also invited Havermyer Crimp, art critic for the New York Times, to keep an eye on things. Hinch, the rather sinister housekeeper ,was not at all pleased having her  routine so rudely disturbed by her employer. Dorcas, the maid, did not seem that put out, especially when she learned that Nigel, the de Vries’ son, was also coming to stay for the weekend. She was less happy when she learned that Nigel, a ne’er do well, playboy wastrel, had casually invited his fashionable friend, Chanticleer Freebody, down for the weekend too. Hinch, was not at all surprised when Chanticleer rather rudely invited a friend to accompany her. Sally, Chanticleer’s bohemian friend, tended to keep herself to herself and was no trouble, but that didn’t stop Thaddeus being unforgivably rude to her at every opportunity. The family and guests were in the garden of the de Vries home; suddenly there was a shriek from the dining room and Chanticleer came running out into the garden to say that Sinclair was lying dead, murdered, on the dining room floor. Did she do it?