Murder Under the Big Top
The show must go on. One performer just can't.
- Single set
- Full length, two acts
- Dinner-theatre ready
Big, broad circus comedy with some salty language and a handsy clown. Language and some references can be adjusted. Read the full content guide.
The sample includes the full cast list, staging notes, and the entire first act.
The story
After a malfunction with their tent, a traveling circus is moved into a local venue. With last-minute preparations underway and tensions running high, nobody knows what antics will ensue, or who will survive to curtain call.
A ringmaster with an ironclad contract, a psychic who makes her own sound effects, an injured star acrobat, her less-than-acrobatic boyfriend, a flirtatious clown, and a classically trained actor playing a feral man in the sideshow. Big personalities, written for performers who like playing larger than life.
I save his bath water in mason jars so I can still get a whiff in case he's not around.
The characters
- Jillian Ross F, 30 to 50The circus director, formerly the manager. Stern, easily agitated, and barely holding it together.
- Steve Jones M, 20 to 40The ringmaster, who feels he's the star of the show and has an ironclad contract. Or so he thinks.
- Daisy Sanders F, 20 to 40Jillian's timid assistant. Doesn't do well under pressure, and has a secret identity with a southern accent.
- Madame Talula F, 20 to 50A psychic who accompanies her visions with an eerie theremin-like sound she makes herself.
- Bridget Mills F, 20 to 40The star acrobat, on crutches after an injury, and Sven's girlfriend.
- Sven Heimlich M, 20 to 40Bridget's boyfriend, with a heavy accent of unknown origin and very little acrobatic skill.
- Marv Quillson M, 30 to 50A circus clown whose flirtatious attitude is matched only by his intelligence.
- Reginald Walaburton M, 20 to 50A classically trained, though not very good, actor playing a feral man in the sideshow.
Production at a glance
| Cast | 8 actors4 male4 female |
|---|---|
| Set | Single flexible interior suggesting a backstage or big-top space. |
| Costumes | Circus and sideshow costuming, from closet-built to full spectacle. |
| Best for | Community theatres, colleges, and venues that want a big, colorful ensemble piece. |
What's in the script
- Set notes include a knife-act contraption and a color-changing crystal ball
- Optional pre-show circus acts (jugglers, stilt walkers) who don't need to be in the cast
- Originally staged as dinner theatre, and adaptable to a traditional stage
- Optional in-character mingling before the show and at intermission
- Intermission guessing game: audiences submit their suspect for a prize drawing
Content guide
Big, broad circus comedy with some salty language and a handsy clown. Written for adult audiences and not suitable for children's, youth, or school productions. This guide is spoiler-free.
Adjustable. Language and some references can be adjusted for your audience. Ask before you license and Josh will tell you what's possible.
| Category | Level | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Language | Level: Light | Several uses of "sh*t" and "sh*tshow," plus "damn" and "hell." No F-words. |
| Suggestive humor | Level: Light | A flirtatious clown tries to grab a castmate's backside, a groin-injury gag, and innuendo. |
| Comedic violence | Level: Light | A theatrical stabbing death, a knife-throwing act, and acrobatic slapstick. |
| Drinking & substances | Level: None | None to speak of. |
| Bathroom humor | Level: Light | Light. |
| Audience interaction | Heads-up | The clown asks an audience member for a kiss on the cheek, and a volunteer is brought onstage. |