The Last Noel

This is a Dark comedy, a Noir farce, a tribute to all those who find the holidays a little to sugary for their liking.

Sam Chase is a software developer dead set on going to Vegas for the holidays, that is until he's named as a suspect in his ex wife's murder.  Since she was bludgeoned to death with a giant candy cane, and Sam's finger prints are all over the candy, the cops are happy to pin the blame on him.  Now he has just  few days to find the real killer so he can make that trip to Vegas.  

Assisted by his trusty side-kick Part-Time, he pulls back the curtain on the nefarious Christmas underworld in Seattle.  Together they navigate wicked winter land, dodging reindeer muggers, feuding Christmas carolers, and a mad bomber determined to eliminate all the caroling in the Emerald City.

Dramatis Personae

SAM, Male, (30 – 40), software engineer, a modern day Humphrey Bogart   

PART TIME, Female, (18-24), a barista, Sam’s sidekick  

Detective FELDMAN, Female, (30-45), no nonsense cop  

Uniform COP, Male   

JASON, Male, neighbor, flamboyantly gay  

TRACY, Female, (22-30), musician, beautiful, soon to be Sam’s new love interest 

MYRNA, GOLDIE, FRANKIE King, Sisters, Female, (30-45), music antiquities specialists, all played by same actor.  

JIMMY, Male, informant  

NATHAN Nicholas, Male, (25-30) musician 

CONNIE Hanson, Female (20-25) Bookish composer 

JESSICA Holly, Female, (25-35), owner of the Yule Time Singers, femme fatale 

NORMAN Ivy, Male, owner of the Olde Towne Carolers 

The FAT MAN, Male, the kingpin of Christmas Crime  

Security GUARD, Male 

MUGGER ONE, MUGGER TWO, MUGGER THREE, 

SHOPPER 

MEDIC ONE, MEDIC TWO, MEDIC THREE, MEDIC FOUR 

CAROLERS (at least four), dressed in traditional Victorian costumes.

The play can be performed by 12 actors (and 4 singers), using this plan for double-casting:

Sam

Part Time

Tracy

Detective Feldman

Fat Man 

Jimmy, Cop, Guard

Jessica

Norman

Myrna, Goldie, Frankie, Medic 4 

Jason, Mugger 1, Medic 1

Nathan, Mugger 2, Medic 2

Connie, Shopper, Mugger 3, Medic 3 

Four Carolers (may be distributed among cast members, if casting permits)

SETTING: Seattle, multiple locations. The present.