The Tell-Tale Farce by Don Zolidis

(14)
Productions (20)
Farce
|
105 - 115 minutes
4 W, 5 M, 
Content Notes: Some mild adult content.
Set: An 1840s parlor with four doors.

It's 1848, and Edgar Allan Poe is just coming off the spectacular success of "The Raven." Unfortunately, it's only earned him a grand total of nine dollars. So when a wealthy dowager commissions him to write her a poem for the vast sum of one hundred dollars, he leaps at the chance. Only problem: the man who shows up to write the poem isn't Poe, he's Poe's mailman, and he's on a quest to woo the dowager's spinster niece. Playing Poe is harder than it looks, though, especially when your mustache keeps falling off, the teenage grand-daughter of the house is lusting after you, and Poe's arch-nemesis, Rufus Griswold, just happens to be dropping by to settle old scores. A freewheeling, door-slamming farce with a touch of the macabre.

Pricing Information

Min. Performance Fee* $85
Standard Edition $13.99
eScript Digital Edition $17.5
Stage Manager Edition $24.99
Archival Video License $150

*The per performance fee begins at $85. Your per performance fee will be provided during the ordering process.

eScript Digital editions when purchased as a retail item cannot be printed or downloaded. They are for reading on personal computer, or tablet devices (phones, iPads, Kobo, Sony, etc.). It can viewed on up to 5 individual devices. When an escript is purchased as part of a license, please email [email protected] to receive your printable PDF.


Playscripts is pleased to offer an Archival Video License for an additional $150 for full-length plays and $75 for one-act plays.

Play Details

It's 1848, and Edgar Allan Poe is just coming off the spectacular success of "The Raven." Unfortunately, it's only earned him a grand total of nine dollars. So when a wealthy dowager commissions him to write her a poem for the vast sum of one hundred dollars, he leaps at the chance. Only problem: the man who shows up to write the poem isn't Poe, he's Poe's mailman, and he's on a quest to woo the dowager's spinster niece. Playing Poe is harder than it looks, though, especially when your mustache keeps falling off, the teenage grand-daughter of the house is lusting after you, and Poe's arch-nemesis, Rufus Griswold, just happens to be dropping by to settle old scores. A freewheeling, door-slamming farce with a touch of the macabre.

  • Farce
  • |
  • 105 - 115 minutes
  • 4 W, 5 M, 
  • Content Notes: Some mild adult content.
  • Set: An 1840s parlor with four doors.
  • Standard Edition ISBN: 978-1-62384-283-3

Production History

APR 13, 2025 - APR 23, 2025
Richmond Hill Players
Geneseo, IL United States
Richmond Hill Players Geneseo, IL United States
FEB 21, 2025 - MAR 10, 2025
The Stone Arch Players
Lewistown, PA United States
The Stone Arch Players Lewistown, PA United States
FEB 08, 2024 - FEB 17, 2024
Greeley Garage Sale Theatre
Greeley, CO United States
Greeley Garage Sale Theatre Greeley, CO United States
NOV 16, 2023 - NOV 18, 2023
Newman Players
Saskatoon, SK Canada
Newman Players Saskatoon, SK Canada
OCT 26, 2023 - OCT 28, 2023
Parkway North Theatre
St. Louis, MO United States
Parkway North Theatre St. Louis, MO United States
OCT 19, 2023 - OCT 22, 2023
Florentine Players
Omaha, NE United States
Florentine Players Omaha, NE United States
SEP 08, 2023 - SEP 23, 2023
The Village Players Of Hatboro
Warminster, PA United States
The Village Players Of Hatboro Warminster, PA United States
NOV 19, 2021 - NOV 20, 2021
Community High School Of Arts & Academics
Roanoke, VA United States
Community High School Of Arts & Academics Roanoke, VA United States
OCT 29, 2021 - NOV 06, 2021
Caroline Community Theatre
Ruther Glen, VA United States
Caroline Community Theatre Ruther Glen, VA United States
NOV 21, 2019 - NOV 23, 2019
Delaware Valley Regional High School Theater
Frenchtown, NJ United States
Delaware Valley Regional High School Theater Frenchtown, NJ United States
SEP 25, 2019 - SEP 28, 2019
Albuquerque High School Drama Dept
Albuquerque, NM United States
Albuquerque High School Drama Dept Albuquerque, NM United States
MAR 01, 2019 - MAR 16, 2019
Essex Community Players, Inc.
Essex Junction, VT United States
Essex Community Players, Inc. Essex Junction, VT United States
FEB 01, 2019 - FEB 10, 2019
THE GREAT RIVER ROAD THEATRE
River Falls, WI United States
THE GREAT RIVER ROAD THEATRE River Falls, WI United States
JUN 09, 2018 - AUG 09, 2018
Brownville Village Theatre
Brownville, NE United States
Brownville Village Theatre Brownville, NE United States
APR 20, 2018 - APR 28, 2018
Huron Players
Ann Arbor, MI United States
Huron Players Ann Arbor, MI United States
MAR 23, 2018 - APR 08, 2018
Graham Regional Theatre
Graham, TX United States
Graham Regional Theatre Graham, TX United States
JAN 12, 2018 - FEB 03, 2018
Stage Coach Theatre
Boise, ID United States
Stage Coach Theatre Boise, ID United States
JUL 26, 2016 - AUG 06, 2016
Pioneer Playhouse
Danville, KY United States
Pioneer Playhouse Danville, KY United States
DEC 03, 2015 - DEC 04, 2015
Coronado High School
El Paso, TX United States
Coronado High School El Paso, TX United States
NOV 08, 2015 - NOV 08, 2015
STAGE Company
Wilmington, NC United States
STAGE Company Wilmington, NC United States
APR 13, 2025 - APR 23, 2025
Richmond Hill Players
Geneseo, IL United States
Richmond Hill Players Geneseo, IL United States
FEB 21, 2025 - MAR 10, 2025
The Stone Arch Players
Lewistown, PA United States
The Stone Arch Players Lewistown, PA United States
No professional productions.

Archival Video License

Playscripts is pleased to offer an Archival Video License to add to your order for an additional $150 for full-length plays and $75 for one-act plays.

This allows you to record one of your live performances for your internal archives only. This cannot be streamed.

For more information, please reach out to [email protected]

eScript Details

eScript Digital Editions cannot be printed or downloaded. They are for reading on personal computer or tablet devices (phones, iPads, Kobo, Sony, etc.) It can viewed on up to 5 individual devices.

You do not need to download any additional program to view your eScript. They will become available in your account on Playscripts.com after payment has been made. For more information on eScripts, please visit our Help page.