Set: The dilapidated living room of a Victorian period house.
Synopsis: One Halloween, as Daphne and Simon visit a house they intend to rent, it soon becomes clear they are not alone. Who is the mysterious Mr
Godley, and what lies behind the secret door?
Running time: Around 70 minutes (Caution! This is very dependent on your production.)
Notes: 'The Ghosts of Halfway House' is essentially a four hander, but with three cameo appearances from other characters at the end. The plot was
suggested to me as part of a competition I ran with my Face Book friends to supply me with a) a location b) a household object that grows in significance as
the play proceeds c) a character who is not what they seem d) the first line of dialogue and e) the last line of dialogue. I had lots of replies, and chose the
following winner from Dallas Campbell:
a) An empty house that's on the market b) A door that won't budge c) An estate agent's assistant d) "...It smells a bit damp..." e) "...It smells a bit damp..."
'The Ghosts of Halfway House' was born!
Published: 2010
First Produced: Kannapolis Church of Christ, North Carolina, USA, 2012
Synopsis: One Halloween, as Daphne and Simon visit a house they intend to rent, it soon becomes clear they are not alone. Who is the mysterious Mr
Godley, and what lies behind the secret door?
Running time: Around 70 minutes (Caution! This is very dependent on your production.)
Notes: 'The Ghosts of Halfway House' is essentially a four hander, but with three cameo appearances from other characters at the end. The plot was
suggested to me as part of a competition I ran with my Face Book friends to supply me with a) a location b) a household object that grows in significance as
the play proceeds c) a character who is not what they seem d) the first line of dialogue and e) the last line of dialogue. I had lots of replies, and chose the
following winner from Dallas Campbell:
a) An empty house that's on the market b) A door that won't budge c) An estate agent's assistant d) "...It smells a bit damp..." e) "...It smells a bit damp..."
'The Ghosts of Halfway House' was born!
Published: 2010
First Produced: Kannapolis Church of Christ, North Carolina, USA, 2012
THE GHOSTS OF HALFWAY HOUSE
Cast: 4m, 3f
Mr GODLEY, 60s. Charming, self-effacing, but ultimately something of an enigma.
SIMON, 30s. Carrying a burden of guilt from a previous relationship.
PAUL, 20s. A man with a story to tell, essentially a cameo at the end of the play.
AN ESTATE AGENT, any age. A small cameo appearance.
NORA, 60s. Simon's mother, and not the easiest of women to get along with.
DAPHNE, 30s. Simon's wife. A nervous character who doesn't cope easily with life.
SALLY, 20s. Paul's wife or partner. Another cameo at the end of the play.
Cast: 4m, 3f
Mr GODLEY, 60s. Charming, self-effacing, but ultimately something of an enigma.
SIMON, 30s. Carrying a burden of guilt from a previous relationship.
PAUL, 20s. A man with a story to tell, essentially a cameo at the end of the play.
AN ESTATE AGENT, any age. A small cameo appearance.
NORA, 60s. Simon's mother, and not the easiest of women to get along with.
DAPHNE, 30s. Simon's wife. A nervous character who doesn't cope easily with life.
SALLY, 20s. Paul's wife or partner. Another cameo at the end of the play.
| Richard James / Actor & Playwright |
| Richard James / Actor & Playwright |
Simon: (Walking to meet her, Centre) All right, look. This is getting ridiculous. Daphne, it’s just a house. We’ve all been getting carried away, letting our
imagination get the better of us. But it’s just a house. Now, let’s think about it rationally. The door isn’t marked on the plans because of a mistake at the
agency. No offence, Mr Godley.
Godley: None taken.
Daphne: And the cold?
Nora: It’s an old house, it’s bound to be draughty.
Simon: Exactly.
Daphne: What about the rain?
Simon: Coincidence. Nothing more.
Daphne: And the murder?
Simon: We’re not even sure there was a murder. Just a load of old stories dreamed up by the local gossips to scare the children.
Daphne: But someone died in this house
Simon: Possibly
Nora: I should imagine you'd be lucky to find a house this age that no one had died in. Isn't that right, Mr Godley?
imagination get the better of us. But it’s just a house. Now, let’s think about it rationally. The door isn’t marked on the plans because of a mistake at the
agency. No offence, Mr Godley.
Godley: None taken.
Daphne: And the cold?
Nora: It’s an old house, it’s bound to be draughty.
Simon: Exactly.
Daphne: What about the rain?
Simon: Coincidence. Nothing more.
Daphne: And the murder?
Simon: We’re not even sure there was a murder. Just a load of old stories dreamed up by the local gossips to scare the children.
Daphne: But someone died in this house
Simon: Possibly
Nora: I should imagine you'd be lucky to find a house this age that no one had died in. Isn't that right, Mr Godley?
| SAMPLE DIALOGUE |
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