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Overview
Synopsis
Patrick Hamilton’s Rope was inspired by the real-life 1924 Leopold and Loeb murder case in Chicago, translating the story to London high society. Two wealthy students, Wyndham Brandon and Charles Granillo, murder a former classmate, Ronald Raglane, to prove their intellectual superiority. They conceal the body in a chest and then host a dinner party in their apartment, using the chest as a supper table. The guests include Ronald's father and their former teacher, Rupert Cadell, whose presence heightens the tension as he begins to suspect their involvement. As the evening progresses, the two murderers become increasingly erratic, and Cadell's suspicions grow, leading to a tense climax where their crime is ultimately revealed. Rope blends a drawing-room comedy of manners with the suspense of a murder mystery. The play is notable for taking place in continuous time, creating sustained tension as the audience watches the killers’ plan unfold minute by minute.
Show Information
- Book
- Patrick Hamilton
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 3
- First Produced
- 1929
- Genres
- Drama
- Settings
- Period, Unit/Single Set
- Time & Place
- Brandon and Granillo’s Mayfair flat, London. 1920s. The action unfolds in real time over a single evening.
- Cast Size
- medium
- Licensor
- None/royalty-free
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Rope premiered in London in 1929, marking Patrick Hamilton’s first major foray into the stage. The play immediately attracted attention for its daring subject matter and innovative dramatic structure, depicting a murder and its psychological aftermath in real time. Its focus on upper-class intellectual criminals, moral philosophy, and social tension made it both shocking and compelling for contemporary audiences. The play was retitled Rope’s End for its American release, where it toured
to read the context for Rope and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
The play opens in Brandon and Granillo’s stylish Mayfair flat. Brandon has just strangled their friend Ronald Kentley with a piece of rope, and Granillo helped stuff the body into a large wooden chest. Brandon treats the act like a daring intellectual experiment — a “perfect murder” designed to prove their superiority. Granillo is already uneasy and guilt-ridden, and he turns to alcohol to steady his nerves.
Brandon insists they host a dinner party that evening with a small circle
to read the plot for Rope and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
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Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
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|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Non-singer |
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|
Supporting |
Female |
Non-singer |
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|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
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|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
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