Books published by publisher Samuel French Inc.

21 characters (4 males, 6 females (w/ doubling) This popular children's book has been magically adapted into a play that toured extensively before its successful West End production at the Duke of York Theatre. "While the kids will be thrilled by the dazzling illusions and the complex puppetry, their parents will be no less engaged by the sly humor that lurks within this ostensibly frivolous confection."-What's On

Melodrama adapted from Henry James' The Turn of the Screw Characters: 1 male, 3 female, 1 boy and 1 girl aged ten to thirteen. A story of unspeakable horror, it begins when a young governess arrives at an English estate to oversee two precocious, orphaned youngsters. There's also a motherly cook. But these four aren't alone they're haunted by fears and phantoms and by ghastly shadows. The governess and cook are terrified, but the children are possessed by the spirits and w

TYA, Children's Theatre / Characters: 4m, 9f / Simple Set Pre-teen Harriet always gets stuck with her little brother Walt tagging along everywhere she goes. The last thing she wants is an accident prone little brother interferingrnwith her and her friends' preparations for the Winter Carnival. When Walt almost gets hurt, Harriet realizes how much he means to her and stands up to her friend George, who criticized her kid brother. Based on the classic childrens' book by Nancy Carlson, Harriet and Walt, this story teaches an important lesson about sibling rivalry.

Stephen Malatratt Based on the novel by Susan Hill. Drama/Thriller Characters: 2 male, 1 extra Bare stage The framework of this spine tingler is unusual: a lawyer hires an actor to tutor him in recounting to family and friends a story that has long troubled him concerning events that transpired when he attended the funeral of an elderly recluse. There he caught sight of the woman in black, the mere mention of whom terrifies the locals, for she is a specter who haunts the neighborhood where her illegitimate child was accidentally killed. Anyone who sees her dies! The lawyer has invited some friends to watch as he and the actor recreate the events of that dark and stormy night. A classic of the genre. "A real theatrical spine chiller. . . . A truly nerve shredding experience."- The Daily Mail "Provides a pleasurable ripple of fear down one's spine and an uncomfortable lurch in the pit of one's stomach."-Time Out New York "A brilliantly effective spine chiller.... The narrative is gripping."- The Guardian . "A gripping tale, grippingly told."- The Financial Times

Dramatic ComedyCharacters: 1 male, 1 femaleSimple SetMeet Julian and Josephine, an immigrant couple on New York's Lower East Side, circa 1890. Meet Gideon and Margie, an unlikely pair of historical reenactors, circa now. A museum tour goes off the rails in this jaunty tale of old places, new beginnings and timeless questions."A twisty, humorous tale of significance" - Iris Wiener, TheaterMania.com"Mensch's script is a layered, clear-eyed work of art" - Di Jayawickrema, NYTheatre.com"Fulfills the potential of theater circa now." - Mark Peikert, BackStage.com

An assorted group of travelers are staying at a Jerusalem hotel: Lady Westholme and her companion, a young English doctor and her French colleague, a debonair American and a pugnacious Lancashire man. Another guest, Mrs. Boynton, is a domineering American invalid with four stepchildren whose facade of devotion masks enough hatred to murder her as could the doctor whose affection for Raymond Boynton is being obstructed by the old lady. When Mrs. Boynton is found dead, all are suspects even though she was ill enough to die a natural death. Just when the tension becomes unbearable, the doctor discovers essential evidence about Mrs. Boynton's devilish plan to possess and torment the children in death as in life.

Comedy thriller / 5m, 8f or 4m, 9f or 6m, 7f Thirteen people gather on Friday the 13th at the Travers mansion in New York for the reading of Josiah's will which is a wall chart rendered in the form of a rebus (a part word, part drawing puzzle) that almost defies solution. Instead of designating an heir, it offers the estate to anyone who can solve the will! The lights keep going out and people keep getting murdered. The audience will have a ball trying to untangle the puzzle faster than the hapless characters. By the final act, revelations are exploding as surprise piles upon surprise and gasps alternate with howls of laughter.

Dramatic Comedy / Characters: 1 male (can be voiceover), 1 femaleAdrienne Kennedy relates her bizarre and star-studded experience of moving to London and working on THE LENNON PLAY: IN HIS OWN WRITE. Her absolute astonishment at being thrust in among the rich and famous of the theater and film world is really refreshing and charming. This is a great story well told.