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Overview
Synopsis
Mary Yellan’s journey across the bleak Bodmin Moor to fulfill her dying mother’s wish that she stays with her Aunt Patience at Jamaica Inn is the start of a nightmare. Mary finds her Aunt a broken woman, married to the brutish Joss Merlyn. Under the roof of the dark inn, Mary begins to discover mysterious goings on in the dead of night and dark happenings along the wild Cornish coast. In an attempt to protect Patience, Mary is unwillingly drawn into the dark deeds of her Uncle Joss and his murderous accomplices. With her conscience following her like a shadow, Mary questions her own moral compass as she starts to fall dangerously in love with a man she dares not trust. As officers of the law draw in around them and the number of dead bodies begins to rise, can Mary survive the nightmares of the Cornish coast?
Adapted from Daphne DuMaurier’s 1930 novel of the same name, Jamaica Inn has become one of the most iconic tales of ghost stories and smuggling on the Cornish coast. This play with music relies on a simple set with the actors portraying the animals, carts, carriages, and wild noises to evoke the eerie, gothic atmosphere of the Cornish moors.
Show Information
- Book
- Lisa Evans
- Based on the Play/Book/Film
- Daphne Du Maurier's 1936 novel Jamaica Inn
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 2004
- Genres
- Drama
- Settings
- Period, Simple/No Set
- Time & Place
- Bodmin Moor, Cornwall, 1820s
- Cast Size
- medium
- Licensor
- See CONTEXT AND/OR LINKS TAB
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, Star Vehicle Female, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
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.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
Describing a mood, atmosphere, or environment of fear, mystery, or horror.
The central character engaged in the conflict.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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Guide Written By:
Alexandra Appleton
Writer, editor and theatre researcher