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Overview
Synopsis
The Ladykillers is a classic black comedy. Mrs Wilberforce, a sweet little old lady, rents out a room in her lopsided house to Marcus, a professor of music. She is blissfully unaware that he is actually a maniacal criminal who is putting together against a gang of misfits who will stop at nothing to commit the heist of their careers. Unable to think of a suitable final stage to their plan, Marcus decides to involve Mrs. Wilberforce, unwittingly, as the perfect getaway ruse. However, at the final stage, Mrs Wilberforce becomes wise to their deception and the gang realize that there is only one way to keep the old lady quiet. As the gang is killed off one-by-one in their attempts to murder the old lady, Marcus faces Mrs. Wilberforce alone and seals his own grizzly fate.
Show Information
- Book
- Graham Linehan
- Based on the Play/Book/Film
- The Ladykillers (1955 film)
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 2011
- Genres
- Comedy, Farce
- Settings
- Contemporary, Unit/Single Set
- Time & Place
- 1956, London, England
- Cast Size
- medium
- Licensor
- Samuel French
- Ideal For
- Mostly Male Cast, Professional Theatre, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Elderly, Young Adult Characters, Medium Cast
Context
The 2011 stage adaptation of The Ladykillers was based on the 1955 Ealing comedy of the same name. The play premiered at the Liverpool Playhouse, before transferring to the Gielgud Theatre in London in December of the same year. The production ran until April 2012, and then embarked on a national tour of the UK. The original production starred Peter Capaldi, Marcia Warren, Ben Miller, and James Fleet. A new production of the play opened at the Shaftesbury Arts Centre in London in September
to read the context for The Ladykillers and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
Set in the lopsided, topsy-turvy house of Mrs. Wilberforce, the play opens with the little old lady chatting to local policeman, Constable Macdonald. He has come to her house as Mrs. Wilberforce has accused the local newsagent of being high-ranking Nazi officer. It soon becomes clear that Mrs. Wilberforce has made a terrible mistake, and has made similar outlandish accusations in the past. After the constable leaves, Mrs. Wilberforce has another visitor. Professor Marcus has
to read the plot for The Ladykillers and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
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|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Spoken |
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
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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