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Arts & Culture

SHAKESPEARE & HATHAWAY-PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS: The Play's The Thing

Jo Joyner as Lu Shakespeare, Mark Benton as Frank Hathaway in SHAKESPEARE & HATHAWAY-PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS "The Play's The Thing."
Courtesy of Gary Moyes / BBC Studios 2019
Jo Joyner as Lu Shakespeare, Mark Benton as Frank Hathaway in SHAKESPEARE & HATHAWAY-PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS "The Play's The Thing."

Airs Friday, Jan. 10, 2020 at 10 p.m. on KPBS TV + Wednesday, Jan. 15 at 7 p.m. on KPBS 2

When a Larp battle in the woods goes wrong, Lu and Frank must clear the Queen’s name and catch the culprit

Adrian Messenger, creator of The Legends of Engelworld, successfully controls the loves and lives of his LARP characters, but struggles with his own.

He suspects wife Maggie, aka Queen Margaret, of having an affair with the Duke of Yorcastria, aka Major Tony Suffolk, and employs Frank and Lu to find proof.

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Emma Fryer as Maggie Messenger, Marek Larwood as Ewan Clarence in SHAKESPEARE & HATHAWAY-PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS "The Play's The Thing."
Courtesy of Gary Moyes / BBC Studios 2019
Emma Fryer as Maggie Messenger, Marek Larwood as Ewan Clarence in SHAKESPEARE & HATHAWAY-PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS "The Play's The Thing."

Undercover in the game, our private detectives witness a devastated Maggie threatening to kill Tony when he breaks things off.

Jo Joyner As Lu Shakespeare, Ray Fearon As Major Tony Suffolk in SHAKESPEARE & HATHAWAY-PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS "The Play's The Thing."
Courtesy of Gary Moyes / BBC Studios 2019
Jo Joyner As Lu Shakespeare, Ray Fearon As Major Tony Suffolk in SHAKESPEARE & HATHAWAY-PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS "The Play's The Thing."

When Tony, along with Adrian's assistant Katie, is shot during battle by real arrows fired by Maggie, it seems an open and shut case, although Maggie denies knowing her arrows were real.

Sophie Stone as Katie Harper, Patrick Walshe Mcbride as Sebastian Brudenell in SHAKESPEARE & HATHAWAY-PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS "The Play's The Thing."
Courtesy of Gary Moyes / BBC Studios 2019
Sophie Stone as Katie Harper, Patrick Walshe Mcbride as Sebastian Brudenell in SHAKESPEARE & HATHAWAY-PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS "The Play's The Thing."

Adrian begs Frank and Lu to prove Maggie's innocence - there are others in Engelworld that might want Tony hurt, including Ewan Clarence, whose King was recently murdered by Tony's Duke.

But is the crown of Engelworld really worth killing for?

Find out on "The Play's The Thing."

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SHAKESPEARE & HATHAWAY: The Play's The Thing: Preview

Credits:

From BBC Studios. Created by Paul Matthew Thompson and Jude Tindal. Producer: Ella Kelly. Starring Mark Benton and Jo Joyner.