Write Me a Murder

Write Me A Murder is a mystery play in three acts by Frederick Knott, which premiered on Broadway at the Belasco Theatre on October 26, 1961, presented by the Compass Productions, Inc., directed by George Schaefer, stage design by Warren Clymer, costume design by Noel Taylor. It totally ran for 196 performances, closing on April 14, 1962 at the Belasco Theatre.
Plot.
The play tells the story of the brothers Clive and David Rodingham, who inherit the family fortune upon the death of their father. They then meet business man Charles and his wife Julie, a would-be thriller writer. Charles is anxious to work with the brothers on property deals, and so encourages David, who is also a writer, to co-author a murder story with Julie. It isn’t long before the two concoct the perfect crime, which is soon twisted into a reality…
Awards.
Knott was awarded an Edgar from the Mystery Writers of America for Best Mystery Play. He had won an earlier Edgar in this same category for "Dial M for Murder".
Original production.
"Write Me A Murder" opened at the Belasco Theater on October 24, 1961, and ran for 196 performances.
Australian TV Adaptation.
A 60-minute adaptation for Australian television aired in 1965 as part of ABC's "Wednesday Theatre". It was directed by Henri Safran. Murder mysteries were a popular subject matter on Australian television at the time.
Production.
The show was made in Sydney. Francesca Crespi did the design. Henri Safran, who directed, said the drama came from not wondering "whodunnit" but from "will the murderer get caught".
Reception.
The "Bulletin" said "Safran tried to force life into the mummified corpse of another of those traditional British murder mysteries, set in a decaying mansion and suffering from mouldy plot."