EDGAR ALLAN POE'S THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH by Monica Cross

[One Act Horror Comedy]
Updated Draft 3.24.2022
While secluded in an isolated abbey in the midst of a brutal and deadly plague, Prince Prospero throws a Masquerade Ball for a thousand of his closest friends. Two friends stand at one end of the great gathering watching and commenting on those that pass by. But when an unidentifiable guest shows up in a mask of particularly poor taste given the...
[One Act Horror Comedy]
Updated Draft 3.24.2022
While secluded in an isolated abbey in the midst of a brutal and deadly plague, Prince Prospero throws a Masquerade Ball for a thousand of his closest friends. Two friends stand at one end of the great gathering watching and commenting on those that pass by. But when an unidentifiable guest shows up in a mask of particularly poor taste given the occasion and the circumstances, the entire party is thrown into an uproar. The friends are shaken, Prince Prospero rages, and the Red Death descends upon them all.
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EDGAR ALLAN POE'S THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH

Recommended by

  • Christopher Soucy:
    14 Jul. 2022
    “ I love a tight adaptation. And Monica Cross delivers a fantastic take on Poe’s classic. It carries with it every bit of dread from the short story, but in today’s pandemic world, it is a biting commentary on the excesses of a society that believes themselves untouchable by the plague. ”
  • Adam Richter:
    6 Dec. 2021
    “ Monica Cross has written a brilliant adaptation of Edgar Allen Poe's famous short story. Considering the original has exactly one paragraph of spoken text, she had to do some heavy lifting to convert the all-descriptive prose story into a stage play. The result is a seamless retelling that adds some clever humor to a horrifying and (sadly) relevant tale that still resonates today.
    It's also a dream assignment for a set designer, lighting designer and makeup artist. Someone get this on a stage near me! ”
  • Scott Sickles:
    5 Dec. 2021
    “ What a swell party this is!

    A tight adaptation that's also a sharp critique of how entitlement blinds the privileged to profoundly destructive acts of nature. But how sorry can you feel for people who can't be bothered to avoid a plague like it's a plague!

    Blithely funny then bone-crawlingly creepy, this play is great for virtual theater (how I saw it), would be doubly effective on stage, and perhaps exponentially effective as an immersive experience! (Somebody, do that!)

    Cross has allowed for great freedom in casting, so go to town! Oh wait, you can't! There's a plague... ”
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The Server and Masquer can double. If not, the Server may be present when the Masquer arrives and reacts in a sensible manner. Sadly, the server must still die with all the rest.

Simple stage combat required for all roles.

Production History

  • High School
    ,
    Meyerland Performing and Visual Arts Middle School
    ,
    2022
  • Community Theater
    ,
    Acrosstown Repertory Theatre
    ,
    2021
  • Professional
    ,
    The Rude Mechanicals
    ,
    2021