Shelf Life

In the 36th Master Mystery Production, Shelf Life is a bookstore mystery where our favorite literary characters come to life in new and funny ways. But their night off from being read by bibliophiles everywhere is interrupted when a new character emerges: a character with amnesia. Can you learn who she really is? A fun and fantastical comedy, the show is perfect for families, actors, and audiences of all ages.

After hours at a bookstore is when the real story begins. Tired from their shifts being read by people all day long, some of the best known literary characters step out from the pages and take a little “me time” in the quiet store. King Arthur and Sherlock Holmes catch up over their ongoing board game, and Juliet never forgets to make time for tea with Jane Eyre. However, tonight their restful evening in gets shaken up by a newcomer: a literary character who has forgotten who she is. Her book has been neglected by readers for a long time, and her memories of herself are fading fast. Which means she’s fading too. And time’s running out before the bookstore reopens and they all return to the world of ink and paper. Can her fellows in fiction be able to solve the mystery of her identity and give her a sense of self again? Or is her shelf life going to run out?

Status: AVAILABLE

Body Count: Zero; Non-murder mystery

Mechanics: Ensemble production which can be scaled up to a showstopper. Works best in a venue filled with books. Fantasy costuming. Excellent vehicle for educational theatre.