Under the Floorboards – An Adaptation of Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe

$6.50

Under the Floorboards is an adaptation of Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe with a twist! We enter the narrator’s mind as she seeks deliverance from ‘the eye’ that has dominated and abused its privilege for far too long.   A murder has been committed. You know who did it. So do I. Let them tell you about it.  This is a story told from the perspective of the narrator’s inner world set in the modern world.   We are able to hear the inner workings of the marginalised. A one act play suitable for stage or visual media – it deals with power, retribution, dominance and justice.

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adaptation of tell-tale heart

UNDER THE FLOORBOARDS – ADAPTATION OF TELL-TALE HEART

Under the Floorboards is an adaptation of Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe with a twist! We enter the narrator’s mind as she seeks deliverance from ‘the eye’ that has dominated and abused its privilege for far too long.   A murder has been committed. You know who did it. So do I. Let them tell you about it.  This is a story told from the perspective of the narrator’s inner world set in the modern world.   We are able to hear the inner workings of the marginalised. A one act play suitable for stage or visual media – it deals with power, retribution, dominance and justice.

PRODUCTION HISTORY

This play has had development readings:
This Moment Production 2021
Rainy Day Artistic Collective 2021

REVIEWS

https://newplayexchange.org/plays/1540006/under-floorboards

 I loved the way that this adaptation managed to update the story for a modern context while still keeping its grand, Gothic feel. The Freudian flair is really fun and well-handled; some plays that try to theatricalize the inner mind end up feeling kind of awkward or overly literal, but this play does a great job of making it highly theatrical with just a few elements. The gender-swapped story, tied into the unrealistic and impossible expectations placed on women, is a great way to make the story feel both timely and timeless. A creepy delight! ” – Conor McShane, 2023.
Author: Dana Hall

Type: One act play

Genre: Horror, Thriller

Length: Ten Minutes

Cast: 3F or 3 non binary (N).

Note: The role of the narrator is divided into three parts. The parts should be depicted as parts of the same person. The narrator is female and/or non-binary.
Narrator 1: ID- The ID is the primitive and instinctive component of personality.
Presentation: Primitive tatters and/or sexual in nature.

NOTE: Narrator 1: Will also present as a police officer in the retelling of the story. It should still be clear it is a part of self.

Narrator 2: EGO- The ego works by reason. It is the mediator between the chaos of ID and the hyper-morality of SUPEREGO.
Presentation: Regular, everyday attire

NOTE: Narrator 2: Will also present as a police officer in the retelling of the story. It should still be clear it is a part of self.

Narrator 3: SUPEREGO- It strives for perfection and believes it’s the ultimate morality, almost narcissistic.
Presentation: Pristine & proper

Ages of the actors: Older teens up

Suitable: Older teens up, not suitable for children (Violence)

Set: Black box stage

Level of difficulty: 7/10 – classic stories retold are always challenging as the audience knows the original story, so the actors must not disappoint.

Read a Sample of the Script

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Contact Off The Wall Plays with any queries about Under the Floorboards

Copyright © March 2023 Dana Hall and Off The Wall Play Publishers

Like this play? Other plays based on stories by Edgar Allen Poe:

The Last Voyage of the Albatross – a play based on a horrific tale by Edgar Allen Poe
The Dark Chronicles of the Golden Raven Society – a triple bill of Poe’s stories adapted for stage
The Red Death – horror set in a theatre

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