by T. James Belich
| Genre: | Murder mystery |
| Length: | 90 minutes |
| Total Cast: | 14 (4 women, 7 men, 3 men or women) – Doubling possible |
| Set: | One interior set (no set changes) |
| Suggested Royalties: | $40 per performance |
| Performance Rights: | Contact T. James Belich at James@playwrighting.org |
The play begins as Detective Datch Hudson receives a visit from a mysterious visitor who informs him that all the guests in a nearby house are to be murdered during a party. When the party begins the following evening all are unaware of the impending danger... until the guests start dying. A clue to the motive behind the killings is found in a mysterious telegram which reads, "They say a stitch in time saves nine. But beware, a slip in time kills nine." Detective Hudson soon finds himself at the center of a conspiracy which revolves around the research of Dr. Lance Rice. His specialty: Time travel. As the "party" continues Detective Hudson must delve deeper and deeper into the secret pasts of the eight guests in an effort to discover the truth behind the murders and their connection to Dr. Rice's time slip research. But one question continues to plague the detective: If a slip in time kills nine, then who is the ninth?
View full script (PDF format)
Production History
A Slip in Time was first performed by the Willerby Methodist Drama Group in Kingston-upon-Hull, England on November 6th, 7th, and 8th, 1997. It was directed by Tym Huckin with the following cast:
| DATCH HUDSON | Dave McCready | |
| DR. LANCE RICE | Sean Wilson | |
| LENYA MARITZA | Barbara Flowers | |
| BUTLER | Jeremy Cook | |
| CLARANCE MACDONALD | Alun Friend | |
| FLORENCE RAULI | Charlotte Walker | |
| WILLIAM MACDONALD | Chris Dunnachie | |
| TELEGRAM DELIVERER | Stuart Hickson | |
| JEAN-LUC LEMAY | Tym Huckin | |
| MARIE ARLIN | Anne Brabbs | |
| JACK ANDERSON | Rob Watkinson | |
| PHYSICIAN | Andy Wharam | |
| SERGEANT ROBERT PARSON | Dave Wescott | |
| OFFICER ROLAN | Barry Cowle |
A Slip in Time was also performed by the Bayside Youth Theatre Ensemble in Mordialloc, Australia on November 29th, 30th, and 31st, 1997. It was directed by George Iliakis. (Cast information not available.)
A Slip in Time was also performed by Van Buren High School in Van Buren, Arkansas on April 6th and 7th, 2001. It was directed by Pamela Bibbs with the following cast:
| DATCH HUDSON | Dustyn Brewer | |
| DR. LANCE RICE | Seth Lathrop | |
| LENYA MARITZA | Katy Wilkins | |
| BUTLER | Greg Hurst | |
| CLARANCE (CLAIRE) MACDONALD | Ashley Dobbins | |
| FLORENCE RAULI | Jennifer Jerrell/Amber Harris | |
| WILLIAM (WILHEMENA) MACDONALD | Marisa Renaud/Alicia Lindsey | |
| TELEGRAM DELIVERER | Sara Vaughn | |
| AGENT BROCKTON | Russell Moore | |
| JEAN-LUC LEMAY | Dustin Seaton | |
| MARIE ARLIN | Betty Phansiri/Cherise Pritchett | |
| JACK (JACKIE) ANDERSON | Susie Najarro | |
| PHYSICIAN | Russell Moore | |
| SERGEANT ROBERT PARSON | Dustin Seaton | |
| OFFICER ROLAN | Mandy Osborne/Brandi Daunis |
A Slip in Time was also performed by the Te Awamutu College at the Little Theatre in Te Awamutu, New Zealand on October 16th, 17th, and 18th, 2001. It was directed by Patrick Jansen with the following cast:
| DATCH HUDSON | Nathaniel Lee | |
| DR. LANCE RICE | Andre Maragfoou | |
| LENYA MARITZA | Thanaa Mahjeed | |
| BUTLER | Sam Christopher | |
| CLARANCE MACDONALD | Che Gardiner | |
| FLORENCE RAULI | Danelle Barugh | |
| WILLIAM MACDONALD | Mickey Hughes | |
| TELEGRAM DELIVERER | Christina Draize | |
| JEAN-LUC LEMAY | Elai Verhaij | |
| MARIE ARLIN | Jennifer Weal | |
| JACK ANDERSON | Chris Dimery | |
| PHYSICIAN | Sam Christopher | |
| SERGEANT ROBERT PARSON | Aroha Raukawa | |
| OFFICER ROLAN | Jessica Melville |
A Slip in Time was also performed by Granger High School in Granger, Washington on May 21st and 22nd, 2003. It was directed by Bill Roulston. (Cast information not available.)
A Slip in Time was also performed by Whiteoak High School in Mowrystown, Ohio on April 7th, 8th, and 9th, 2006. It was directed by Sarah Lomske with the following cast:
| DEBORAH (DATCH) HUDSON | Leah Neal | |
| DR. LACY (LANCE) RICE | Tava Combs | |
| LENYA MARITZA | Briana Hooley | |
| BUTLER/TELEGRAM DELIVERER | Theresa Zinser | |
| CLARA (CLARANCE) MACDONALD | Victoria Bohrer | |
| FLORENCE RAULI | Bethany Lomske | |
| WILLOW (WILLIAM) MACDONALD | Katie Phelps | |
| JEAN-LUC LEMAY/PHYSICIAN | Sarah Neal | |
| MARIE ARLIN | Lorinda Hooley | |
| JACK ANDERSON | David Groves | |
| SERGEANT BOBBI (ROBERT) PARSON | Julia Tallieu | |
| OFFICER ROLAN | Pamela Coffey |
A Slip in Time was also performed by LaRue County High School in Hodgenville, Kentucky on May 12th, 2009. It was directed by Caleb Phelps with the following cast:
| DATCH HUDSON | John Marr | |
| DR. LANCE RICE | Tobi Chirunga | |
| LENYA MARITZA | Autumn Kidd | |
| MAID | Kristen Wells | |
| CLARANCE MACDONALD | Blake Whitlock | |
| FLORENCE RAULI | Ashley Stearman | |
| WILLIAM MACDONALD | Michael Large | |
| TELEGRAM DELIVERER | Mary Beth Brennan | |
| JEAN-LUC LEMAY | Alex Thomas | |
| MARIE ARLIN | Jessica Underwood | |
| JACK ANDERSON | Nathan Paden | |
| PHYSICIAN | Christian Cox | |
| SERGEANT ROBERT PARSON | Dez Jakes | |
| OFFICER ROLAN | Destiny Walker |