The Surest Poison

Prohibition is in full swing, but New York City is still celebrating New Year’s Eve in style—with a batch of poisoned hooch and an immigrant woman's murder by cyanide. Cue Alexander Gettler, an obsessive chemist whose research helped create the modern field of forensic toxicology. With help from Lipstick, an intrepid flapper and indefatigable reporter who mistakes his laboratory for a speakeasy, Gettler must try...

Prohibition is in full swing, but New York City is still celebrating New Year’s Eve in style—with a batch of poisoned hooch and an immigrant woman's murder by cyanide. Cue Alexander Gettler, an obsessive chemist whose research helped create the modern field of forensic toxicology. With help from Lipstick, an intrepid flapper and indefatigable reporter who mistakes his laboratory for a speakeasy, Gettler must try to catch a murderer and convince the federal government to stop poisoning alcohol. Inspired by the real life work of Gettler and pioneering journalist Lois Long, THE SUREST POISON chronicles the dark side of the noble experiment.

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The Surest Poison

Recommended by

  • Cheryl Bear: The Surest Poison

    A fascinating thriller that uncovers the darker side of experimentation and the death that has been occurring. Well done.

    A fascinating thriller that uncovers the darker side of experimentation and the death that has been occurring. Well done.

  • Conor McShane: The Surest Poison

    From the AIDS crisis in the 80s to the Flint Water Crisis of today, our government has a history of laws and practices that cause harm to marginalized communities, whether through neglect or calculated intention. This play shines a light on another example of the powers that be imposing their own morality on the people, regardless of who is hurt in the process. That it does so while also telling a crackling mystery story with engaging characters makes it an incredible feat of playwriting. Highly recommended.

    From the AIDS crisis in the 80s to the Flint Water Crisis of today, our government has a history of laws and practices that cause harm to marginalized communities, whether through neglect or calculated intention. This play shines a light on another example of the powers that be imposing their own morality on the people, regardless of who is hurt in the process. That it does so while also telling a crackling mystery story with engaging characters makes it an incredible feat of playwriting. Highly recommended.

  • Shualee Cook: The Surest Poison

    What a strange and wonderful alchemy this script is! Equal parts fascinating historical drama, pulse-pounding thriller, shocking political exposé, and heartbreaking queer love story, yet somehow more than the sum of all of them. The Surest Poison unearths a shameful episode in our government's history, focusing not on the corridors of power but on the marginalized communities that paid the price, while crafting memorable characters from real-life unsung heroes whose names deserve to be remembered. Fast-paced succinct plotting, crackling hard boiled dialogue, and unsettling questions that...

    What a strange and wonderful alchemy this script is! Equal parts fascinating historical drama, pulse-pounding thriller, shocking political exposé, and heartbreaking queer love story, yet somehow more than the sum of all of them. The Surest Poison unearths a shameful episode in our government's history, focusing not on the corridors of power but on the marginalized communities that paid the price, while crafting memorable characters from real-life unsung heroes whose names deserve to be remembered. Fast-paced succinct plotting, crackling hard boiled dialogue, and unsettling questions that linger after the buzz wears off. A rare mixture indeed.

Gettler - New York City’s first forensic toxicologist. Hungarian immigrant. 40s.
Norris - The city’s first Chief Medical Examiner. American blueblood. 60s.
Lipstick - Flapper, journalist, and lady detective. More rebel than flirt. Privileged. 20s.
Chanteuse- Octavia Bunsen. Singer at a Harlem speakeasy and a bootlegger. 30s.
Paesana - Paola Esposito. Italian immigrant who fled to New York during the Great War. 20s.

Development History

  • Type Reading, Organization Palm Beach Dramaworks, Year 2020
  • Type Reading, Organization Pasadena Playhouse, Year 2019
  • Type Reading, Organization Ensemble Studio Theatre, Year 2018
  • Type Reading, Organization Shattered Globe Theatre, Year 2018
  • Type Commission, Organization EST/The Sloan Foundation,
  • Type Workshop, Organization The Playwrights Center,

Awards

  • LSU SciArts Playwriting Prize
    Louisiana State University
    Winner
    2019
  • Princess Grace Award
    Finalist
    2019