- Skyline (Play)
Skyline is a two-act play by Northern Irish playwright Christopher McQuillan written in 2007. It has been billed as an American comedy/thriller.
It is set in the fictitious Skyline Club, a corrupt Manhattan jazz club and casino in 1961.
The plot follows the investigation of Detectives James Navarro and Teri Fisher who are assigned to the Mob-related murder of club owner Frank Mullin; killed for failing to control club finances and ignoring the authority of the Mafia ownership, namely the mysterious Mob villain, Vic.
Throughout the two acts, the audience (along with Navarro and Fisher) attempt to work out who in the club is involved in the murder. Suspects include the lascivious Ilene Webb, anxiety-troubled Tony Falsetto, egotistical singer Paul Crane and down-to-earth waitress, Elisha Jones.
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Performance and publication
"Skyline" was first performed at the Riverside Theatre in
Coleraine ,Northern Ireland , on Friday,28 March 2008 . It was the second production by theStab in the Dark Theatre Company founded by Elizabeth Eustace. It was directed byChristopher McQuillan and featured the following cast::
Marcus Ewing (Det. James Navarro)
:Rachel Garrett (Det. Teri Fisher)
:Steven Henry (Paul Crane)
:Elizabeth Eustace (Ilene Webb)
:Christopher McQuillan (Vic)
:Thomas Rajan (Frank Mullin)
:Rebecca Farmer (Elisha Jones)
:David McLaughlin (Tony Falsetto)Plot
It's a quiet evening in the Skyline Club, and Frank Mullin is doing the accounts after closing time. Finances are not good. He bids goodnight to lover Ilene, before being startled by loud, self-centered singer Paul Crane. Refusing to take the hint to leave, Paul irritates Frank to the point that Frank ceases his employment, offering him a $300 pay-off and throwing him out. Looking back at money on the desk, realising he's fired his only real singer, Frank throws a glass to the ground in frustration. Getting up to leave, he is interrupted as Mafia member Vic strolls out of the shadows. Vic mocks Frank's temper, criticising his management style and how he's running the club into the ground. Panicked and desperate, Frank offers to get financial projections from "out back". Nonchalently, Vic agrees. As Frank leaves, Vic pulls out a pistol and shoots Frank through the neck. Vic speaks over Frank's body, suggesting he was attempting to escape, and that it's a "shame", since a "club like the Skyline could be a nice place".
The murder investigation begins.
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