The coffin was closed and a small sign set in front said: "By request of the family this is a closed coffin service." I peeked anyway. I'll tell you one thing about Sandy Berman. He was one big son of a gun. His fingers were clasped like interlocking kielbasas on a chest that was barely contained by his pin striped suit. Even in death there was a king of sergeant major look to him that brooked no nonsense. I bobbed my head respectfully and closed the lid just as a heavily veiled woman tottered into the room.
There was something about her that was decidedly unmournful. Perhaps it was the little bustle-like arrangement on the back of her dress with the cheeky white slashes peeking out. Maybe it was the ring of white roses around the brim of her black straw hat. With that black and white outfit and her skittish walk she looked for all the world like a magpie. A grieving magpie.
Keywords: Woman detective, disguises, cross dressing
Suitable for School Performances: Students age 16+
Year Printed: 2014
First produced in 1993 on Brand X on CBC Radio.
Running TIme: 30 minutes
Acts: 1
Male Cast: 5
Female Cast: 6