Murder in Residence

by MT Cozzola

In a secluded mountain retreat, six ambitious women come together to write their masterpieces but switch to alibis when the brilliant young Kenna meets a mysterious demise. As they struggle to shield their secrets, a relentless inspector digs for the truth. Everyone is lying—Kenna’s lover Mandy, rival Fern, would-be bestie Lynette…even the kindly cabbie who saw Kenna last. In a race against time to unmask the...

In a secluded mountain retreat, six ambitious women come together to write their masterpieces but switch to alibis when the brilliant young Kenna meets a mysterious demise. As they struggle to shield their secrets, a relentless inspector digs for the truth. Everyone is lying—Kenna’s lover Mandy, rival Fern, would-be bestie Lynette…even the kindly cabbie who saw Kenna last. In a race against time to unmask the killer, each must confront their deepest desires and wrestle with the bonds of love, art, and community.

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Murder in Residence

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  • Amy Johnson: Murder in Residence

    What strikes me most about this script is the uniqueness of each character and the strength of their personalities; each one has fun aspects to play. I also love the competition vs. sisterhood. They all came to this residence to better themselves and support each other, but there is that nasty underlying competition and doubt in their own abilities, which pop up in the unwinding of the mystery. Fun script!

    What strikes me most about this script is the uniqueness of each character and the strength of their personalities; each one has fun aspects to play. I also love the competition vs. sisterhood. They all came to this residence to better themselves and support each other, but there is that nasty underlying competition and doubt in their own abilities, which pop up in the unwinding of the mystery. Fun script!

  • Joshua Fardon: Murder in Residence

    A murder mystery involving a group of artists on a retreat, Murder in Residence is more than the sum of its well-constructed parts - there's plenty here about relationships, literature, feminism, history, humility, jealousy, and the baffling gulf between talent and virtue. Funny, relatable, intriguing, and theatrical, this play is treasure trove for actors - every role has something deep to mine.

    A murder mystery involving a group of artists on a retreat, Murder in Residence is more than the sum of its well-constructed parts - there's plenty here about relationships, literature, feminism, history, humility, jealousy, and the baffling gulf between talent and virtue. Funny, relatable, intriguing, and theatrical, this play is treasure trove for actors - every role has something deep to mine.

  • John Bavoso: Murder in Residence

    I love a cozy mystery, and Cozzola has created a darkly comedic one full of ruminations about art, professional jealousy, and more. But what really shines is the depth of characters. A delightfully theatrical piece, this would be a fun challenge for the right cast and director. Well done!

    I love a cozy mystery, and Cozzola has created a darkly comedic one full of ruminations about art, professional jealousy, and more. But what really shines is the depth of characters. A delightfully theatrical piece, this would be a fun challenge for the right cast and director. Well done!

View all 5 recommendations

Character Information

7 characters (6 women, 1 man). Casting should reflect all aspects of the individual diversity present in our world today.
Jamie : mid-30s, she/her, American poet; desperately wants to live in Britain.
Fern : 50s-60s, she/her. British poet; ardent, lifelong feminist.
Mandy : mid-20s, she/her or she/they. Oxfordshire novelist; earnestly ambitious.
Lynette : 40s, she/her. American essayist; thrives on being helpful.
Kenna : early 20s, she or she/they. British-sounding French video poet; brilliant and incredibly confident, except for moments of intense despair.
Ilyana : 20s-30s, she/her. Russian playwright; intense and observant. Plays the domra or a similar folk instrument.
Ethan : 50s, he/him. Scottish cabbie; friendly and jovial, sweating just a little.
  • Mandy
    Novelist from London, England. Well-bred, unfussy, and up for fun in appropriate amounts.
    Character Age
    30s
  • Lynette
    Impressionistic historical essayist, American from Iowa. Thrives on being helpful.
    Character Age
    40s
    Character Gender Identity
    Female-identifying
  • Kenna
    Video poet who is also a polyglot. Can switch effortlessly between the Queen's English and Piaf's French, or toss in some Russian when necessary. Hyper-confident and smug except for when she’s hyper-vulnerable and shattered.
    Character Age
    early 20s
    Character Gender Identity
    Female-identifying
  • Ilyana
    Playwright from Moscow, Russia. Intense, observant, probably the smartest person in the room.
    Character Age
    30s
    Character Gender Identity
    Female-identifying
  • Ethan
    Cabbie from Inverness. Friendly and jovial, and sweating just a little.
    Character Age
    50s
    Character Gender Identity
    Male Identifying
  • Jamie
    Acrostic poet from Brooklyn. Desperately wants to live in Britain.
    Character Age
    early 40s
    Character Gender Identity
    Female-identifying
  • Fern
    Environmentalist poet from Edinburgh, Scotland. Ardent, lifelong feminist.
    Character Age
    60s
    Character Gender Identity
    Female-identifying