2019 Season

The Victorian Ladies’ Detective Collective

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a cheeky thriller
written by Patrica Milton
directed by Gary Graves
Produced in: 2019

World Premiere #63: from the Central Works Writers Workshop

Is Jack the Ripper at it again?

Victorian London: Two sisters run a boarding house for Single Ladies. When a series of gruesome murders terrorizes their neighborhood, Loveday and Valeria appeal to the police for protection. But Scotland Yard is no help at all. And the bodies are piling up on their doorstep. So the sisters team up with a cheeky American actress to bring the killer to justice.

From the writer of last season’s award-winning comedy, Bamboozled!

 

Production sponsors: Zelda Bronstein, Linda & Will Schieber, and Ann Singer

 

Watch the trailer!

This play is available for licensing! Please contact us for details.

comic thriller, 3F/1M

Chelsea Bearce
Alan Coyne
Stacy Ross*
Jan Zvaifler

Costume design: Tammy Berlin
Lighting design: Gary Graves
Fan Fight Choreography: Marcella Rodgers
Prop design: Debbie Shelley
Sound design: Gregory Scharpen
Stage Manager: Callie Garrett

*member AEA

PC Henry Crane, the Victorian police constable in charge of the investigation of a series of brutal murders by the Battersea Butcher; one of three characters portrayed by Alan Coyne.

Is Jack the Ripper at it again?

Central Works presents world premiere #63: The Victorian Ladies’ Detective Collective May 4-June 2, Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Avenue, Berkeley

Photo by Jim Norrena

A series of gruesome murders of actresses in the Battersea district of London, has made former actress Loveday Fortescue (Stacy Ross*) take on her most impressive role yet: The Detective, in Central Works’ production of The Victorian Ladies’ Detective Collective by Patricia Milton.

Central Works presents world premiere #63: The Victorian Ladies’ Detective Collective May 4-June 2, Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Avenue, Berkeley
*member AEA

Photo by Jim Norrena

Ex-pat American actress, Katie Smalls (Chelsea Bearce-far right), joins forces with sisters Loveday Fortescue (Stacy Ross*-center) & Valeria Hunter (Jan Zvaifler-left) to solve the mystery of the Battersea Butcher in Patricia Milton’s new play, The Victorian Ladies’ Detective Collective.

Central Works presents world premiere #63: The Victorian Ladies’ Detective Collective May 4-June 2, Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Avenue, Berkeley
*member AEA

Photo by Jim Norrena

All photos: ACT OUT Photography by Jim Norrena

Who is the Battersea Butcher? Three intrepid women choose solve the mystery of who is committing a series of gruesome murders of actresses in Patricia Milton’s new play, The Victorian Ladies’ Detective Collective (l to r: Jan Zvaifler, Stacy Ross*, Chelsea Bearce).

Central Works presents world premiere #63: The Victorian Ladies Detective Collective May 4-June 2, Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Avenue, Berkeley
*member AEA

Photo by Jim Norrena

“a bone-chilling and unexpectedly hilarious thriller” –East Bay Express

“brainy, but in a very entertaining way” –Repeat Performances & Piedmont Post

“a charming tale of murder and mayhem” -Berkeleyside

“a clever script with suspense and social consideration delivered by four fine actors” -For All Performances

“Central Works keeps us laughing and guessing.” Theatrius

“[A] fun and excellent production” -Theatre Eddys

“the script’s shining assets are the intelligence with which its narrative has been crafted and the skill with which each plot twist has been planted” –myculturallandscape.com

“Milton’s dialogue is richly enjoyable throughout” -SJ Mercury News

“A wonderful balance of a whodunit, a charming period piece, a consciousness-raising experience, and a greatly entertaining evening of theater!” -Surviving the Trump Era Blog

 

Learn more about the inspirations for the play.
Check out Patricia’s dramaturgical site!