In Depth

It's the late 1940s and our play is set in a "film noir" mood.  Think of films like "The Maltese Falcon" and "Laura" for a comparison.  The acting style leans toward the melodramatic.  Detective Pips Domino is the typical gumshoe of the 1940s and 1950s film noirs.  The music is "smoky jazz" for lack of a better comparison.  The language is written in the style and vocabulary of those thrillers from the 40s (a glossary is included).

Film noir moves in a world whose meaning exists in a mood, where story and content cannot be separated from the palpable atmosphere in which they exist. It’s here where you find the tension and suspense of an unknown and uncertain journey; in the melancholy air of something just out of reach; in the dark terror of the menacing and forbidden. Feelings are expressed through set design and acting that exude the ambiance like a vapor. Shadows, rain-slicked streets, blinking neon signs and dimly lit rooms shrouded by heavy drapes permeate the atmosphere. Sadness and menace lurk around every corner. The Light we find in our story can only be found in one place - in God. That is the message of “The Legend of Pips Domino.”

In a recent production of Pips Domino, one church chose to design the sets in shades of grey.  All costumes were also muted shades of grey and black . . . giving the impression of an old black and white film or television program.

• Pips Domino is our intrepid detective.  He knows something is up in Metro City and it has something to do with the sudden appearance of a couple of "Wise Guys" and their boss "Evil Dog."
   

• B. Lila (or Lyle) Beelze (pronounced beel-zee) could be played by a male or female (thus Lila or Lyle).  He/she owns the Beelze Pub tavern.  This is the incarnation of the devil who tries to lead the characters astray.
   

• Stella Nellencaster is the sultry jazz singer who is indebted to Beelze.  She makes her living singing at Beelze Pub and lives above the tavern.
   

• Gabs is the verbose and unintimidating "Wise Guy" who works for "Evil Dog" (who everyone assumes is the local mob boss).  He provides some comic relief as he attempts to "act tough."
   

• Mikey “The Guardian” is the tough and intimidating "Wise Guy" who also works for Evil Dog.
   

• Cracklin’ Johnny, a wannabe "Wise Guy," wannabe singer and wannabe waiter (he's actually a furniture salesman) and Ermelinda his long-suffering wife who is a waitress at Beelze Pub.  Both Cracklin' Johnny and Ermelinda or optional comic relief parts that may be eliminated if casting numbers are a concerned. However, it will be hard to eliminate one without the other as they are married!
   

• Ceselia (with an ‘s’) Blankmore is Detective Pips Domino's new ditzy blonde secretary sent over from the temp agency.  She provides a tremendous amount of comic relief.  She loves the tabloids and a juicy story.  She turns out to play an important role in solving the mystery.  She knows a lot more than she initially lets on in her own convoluted way!
   

• Bonita Vanbushenbury is the uppity, rich widow of Beauregard Vanbushenbury who contacts Detective Domino after she receives a strange and threatening note from "The Dog."
   

• Georgette Vanbushenbury is Bonita’s stepdaughter and assumes that Bonita killed Beauregard for his money.  She ends up hiring Detective Domino right out from under Bonita.
   

• Basil Ostroom is a jealous husband who hires Detective Domino when she thinks his wife is having an affair with "Evil Dog."
   

• Billie and Gracie Kallen are a couple of poor kids (could be teens - a recent production had them played by two fifth graders and it worked very well).  They claim they are orphans as they beg on the streets.  Then, Gabs and Mikey approach them with the message that they are to see "Evil Dog" which terrifies them and sends them into hiding.
   

• Father Duggins (could be changed to a female part simply by changing to “Sister Duggins”) appears at the end of the play.  It turns out that his prayer list and sermon notes were the reason for all of the trouble caused by Gabs and Mikey (the supposed "Wise Guys"). 

Our epilogue provides one of the surprising twists (stop reading if you don't want to know one of the spoilers).  It turns out that Mikey and Gabs are actually angels sent by God to do His work but through mistaken series of events end up a little "off track."  Of course, the reason for this is another mystery that can be discovered by reading or watching the entire play!