BMax — Butch Maxwell, Playwright
The Case of the Show Biz Whiz: a glowing Opening Tonight marquee above Elliot Brick’s fedora, trench coat, casebook, Michael Obits’s recorder, coffee mug, and a quotation card, all fully contained within a wide theatrical composition.

The Case

Synopsis

Michael Obits is the most powerful agent in show business—and the most hated. He's blackmailing his British “star,” shortchanging his blues legend, and strangling his fading diva's comeback with a contract she can't escape.

Enter Elliot Brick: a private eye with more confidence than competence, hired to dig up dirt and instead landing in the middle of a murder.

When Obits catches a bullet mid-monologue, Brick's got a room full of suspects, a tape full of static, and an audience ready to crack the case before he does.

People leave evidence of themselves.

Backstage Evidence

Five lives reconstructed from the objects left behind.

Fedora, notebook, coffee mug and case papers belonging to Elliot Brick
Elliot BrickConfidence, caffeine, and a casebook with more guesses than answers.
Briefcase, recorder, appointment calendar and business cards belonging to Michael Obits
Michael ObitsThe recorder remembers what the agent expected everyone else to forget.
Feather boa, champagne glass and comeback script belonging to Dame Loretta LaDiva
Dame Loretta LaDivaA comeback arranged beneath dressing-room bulbs and contractual shadows.
Vintage microphone, sheet music and royalty papers belonging to Big Mama Johnson
Big Mama JohnsonA million records sold. A royalty statement that tells another story.
White gloves, prop revolver and rehearsal script in Dressing Room 4
Dressing Room 4White gloves, a prop revolver, and one actor working very hard not to switch his first consonants.

Case Materials

Evidence Locker

Obits's dictation recorder, the opening-night Playbill for Murder on the Federal Express, Big Mama's marked-up “Ain't Misbehavin'” orchestra copy, the insurance policy, agency card, and stage callboard.

Memo to myself—
Ruin Brick after dinner.
Collect insurance.
Buy island.
…

An evidence locker containing the recorder, Playbill, sheet music, insurance policy, business card and stage callboard

Dressing Room 4

Sir John's Rehearsal Sheet

The sheet breaks the grid deliberately: a loose page, a curled corner, red coaching notes, blue frustration, and the now-infamous practice phrase:

~~leading lady~~
bleading lady
I DID THINK THEM.

A loose rehearsal sheet covered in red and blue corrections, with a pencil and curled paper corner

Four Guest Roles

The audience doesn't watch the investigation. They become part of it.

Elliot Brick recruits four willing guests before the mystery begins, coaches them privately, and gives each a small comic role designed for success—not embarrassment.

  • Three Fingers — Newsstand Operator
  • Apple Annie — Street Vendor
  • Blinkie the Stoolie — Informant Consultant Innocent Bystander
  • Lt. Cleftjaw — Brick's Police Nemesis
Four vintage backstage passes for audience participants

From the Notebook

The craft behind the case

Interactive Theatre Is Honest TheatreThe audience doesn't watch the investigation. They become part of it. Mystery Is Comedy with Different StakesThe same timing that earns a laugh also earns a revelation. Why Comedy Is an Act of TrustParody works when the audience completes the joke. Audience Is the Last CollaboratorNo Elliot Brick mystery is complete until the audience solves it.

Production & Licensing

Bring the case to your audience.

If you're considering The Case of the Show Biz Whiz for your season, you'll find complete production information, cast details, and script request information on New Play Exchange.

View on NPX Request Script

Continue the Investigation

The Elliot Brick Collection