1. Sleuth
(Setting Placement)
DRAM 083
Sarah Evans, Sheila Gaynor, Amber
McDowell, Jonathan Mun, Uhlee Oh

2. Weak Areas for
Background Research
• What was happening in that time period (1970)
• Manor House
• Wiltshire, England
• Various versions of Sleuth performed

3. What was happening in that time period (1970)?
Current events of the 1960s in England and the whole world
A. The Downturn of the British Economy
• By the mid-1960s, Britain's economic recovery from World War II
seemed uncertain. As the 1970s opened, the country faced severe
economic problems.
• Outdated factories, low productivity, and lack of worker interest
made it difficult for Britain to compete economically. Labor unions
formed and strikes took place in widespread industries.
• Britain alone experienced declining exports in the 1970s.
– Wyke: very well-off, wealthy
– Milo: more humble; maybe the economic crisis is part of the
reason why he was so eager to "steal" the diamonds from
Wyke…he really needed the extra cash….

4. What was happening in that time period (1970)?
B. Vietnam War is going on (1959-1975)
• Protests in London (and other major European cities)
• Anti-war movement ("make love, not war")
• Prime Minister Wilson tried to mediate the conflict
• 32 countries gained independence from Britain (symbolism?)
– Andrew Wyke ≈ Britain
» He is used to being the head honcho
» Experiences difficulty; things are being taken from him
(even if it is just his wife who he says would be good to
get off his hands)
– Milo Tindle ≈ Newly Independent Nations
» Young, appears naïve at first, but he can take care of
himself

5. What was happening in that time period (1970)?
C. Theatres Act (Sep. 26, 1969)
• The English theatre had been subject to preproduction censorship
by the Lord Chamberlain, who was responsible for reviewing
scripts and granting performance licenses.
• The Royal Court used to get around this by presenting "theatre
club" performances which did not require a license.
• This Act ended all the subterfuge, bringing censorship of the
theatre to an end.

6. Weak Areas for
Background Research
What was happening in that time period (1970)
• Manor House
• Wiltshire, England
• Various versions of Sleuth performed

7. Manor House
• A manor house or fortified manor-house is a country house, or the
lowest unit of territorial organization in the feudal system.
• Used as a technical term for minor late medieval fortified country
houses intended more for show than for defense (aka “Stately
Home”).
• A stately home is, strictly speaking, one of about 500 large properties
built in the British Isles between the mid-16th and early 20th century.
• These country houses are distinguished from true “castles” because
they were built later, purely as residences. They were status symbols
for the great families of England who competed with each other to
provide hospitality for members of the Royal Household.
• The agricultural collapse towards the end of the nineteenth century,
World War I, and World War II changed the fortunes of many houses
and their owners. Now they remain as a mix of living museums, partly-
ruined houses and castles, and grand family estates.

8. Manor House

9. Manor House (Barrington court)

10. Manor House (Great Chalfield Manor)

11. Manor House (Waddesdon Manor)

12. Weak Areas for
Background Research
What was happening in that time period (1970)
Manor House
• Wiltshire, England
• Various Versions of Sleuth Performed

13. Wiltshire, England
• Wiltshire is a county located in
southwest England, characterized by its
wide valleys.
• Salisbury Plain, the closest surrounding
city, is famous for its ancient landmark,
the Stonehenge stone circle, and the
UK’s main training area for the British
army.
• Salisbury is notable for its medieval
cathedral and important country
houses, including Longleat and the
National Trust’s Stourhead.
• Malfoy Manor, the home of Lucius
Malfoy in the Harry Potter books, is
described as being in Wiltshire.

14. Longleat Manor

15. Stourhead Manor

16. Weak Areas for
Background Research
What was happening in that time period (1970)
Manor House
Wiltshire, England
• Various Versions of Sleuth Performed

17. Various Versions of Sleuth Performed
• The play's first production, starring Anthony Quayle and Keith Baxter, was
at London’s St. Martin’s Theatre.
• After four previews, the Broadway production, with Quayle and Baxter
directed by Clifford Williams, opened on November 9, 1970 at the Music
Box Theatre, where it ran for 1,222 performances.
• In the late 90's, a Bengali adaptation of the play was staged and toured all
over the world. The play was titled “Tik Tiki,” which literally means ‘lizard
in Bengali’ but the more relevant connotation here was ‘detective'.
• Sleuth won the Tony Award for Best Play in 1971 and has inspired two film
adaptations.
– Sleuth (1972 film) adapted by Anthony Shaffer and directed by Joseph
L. Mankiewicz
– Sleuth (2007 film) directed by Kenneth Branagh, starring Jude Law and
Michael Craine

18. Weak Areas for
Background Research
What was happening in that time period (1970)
Manor House
Wiltshire, England
Various Versions of Sleuth Performed

19. Topics for Conceptual Research
• Manor Design
• Lighting/Color
• Overall Conceptual Theme
• Things We Want vs. Things we Need

20. Manor Design

21. Manor Design

22. Manor Design

23. Manor Design

24. Manor Design

25. Manor Design

26. Topics for Conceptual Research
Manor Design
• Lighting/Color
• Overall Conceptual Theme
• Things We Want vs. Things we Need

27. Lighting
(Setting: Friday Night at 8 o’clock)

28. Lighting
(Setting: Climax of “Murder Scene” at Staircase)

29. Topics for Conceptual Research
Manor Design
Lighting/Color
• Overall Conceptual Theme
• Things We Want vs. Things we Need

30. Overall Conceptual Theme
(Antique, Vintage)

31. Overall Conceptual Theme
(Antique, Vintage)

32. Overall Conceptual Theme
(Onyx, Puzzling, Mysterious)

33. Topics for Conceptual Research
Manor Design
Lighting/Color
Overall Conceptual Theme
• Things We Want vs. Things we Need

34. Things We Want vs. Things we Need
We NEED….
• Staircase
• Entrance/Door
• Drink Cart
• Telephone
• Clown Mask
• Golf Club

35. Things We Want vs. Things we Need
We WANT…
• Chandelier
• Paintings
• Fireplace
• Heavy Furniture
• Plants/flowers
• Grandfather Clock
• Teapots/cups
• Lavish Curtains
• Bookshelves
• Typewriter
• Antique Globe
• Chess Board

36. Topics for Conceptual Research
Manor Design
Lighting/Color
Overall Conceptual Theme
Things We Want vs. Things we Need

37. Setting Placement of
Sleuth in the 20th Century

38. Penthouse Apartment in
Upper East Side New York, Madison/Park Avenue

39. Penthouse Apartment in
Upper East Side New York, Madison/Park Avenue

40. Penthouse Apartment in
Upper East Side New York, Madison/Park Avenue

41. Hollywood Mansion

42. Hollywood Mansion

43. References
• http://www.bookrags.com/studyguide-sleuth/hist.html
• http://www.icons.org.uk/theicons/icons-timeline/1960-1970
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manor_house
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stately_homes
• http://www.gardens-to-go.org.uk/Photos/Groombridge_Place_ManorHouse.jpg
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiltshire,_England
• http://www.animalthoughts.com/Manor_House%20soft.jpg
• http://www.roomforromance.com/images/uploaded/9632/MANORCOMBE_PG_By_night.jpg
• http://www.maggiesale.ca/The%20Lune%20Valley/images/03%20Manor%20House%20adj.jpg
• http://image06.webshots.com/6/7/42/3/82074203Klawap_ph.jpg
• http://www.worldofstock.com/slides/AIN1729.jpg
• http://grathwohlfamily.com/Summer2006_Nathan%20356.JPG
• http://www.emptysea.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/img_3386_2.jpg
• http://www.chicagostagereview.com/wp-
content/uploads/2008/09/batistasmithdfouglasdempseyjethmalani3.jpg
• http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/thumb_280/1213749734b40Th0.jpg
• http://img1.photographersdirect.com/img/13259/wm/pd415185.jpg
• http://www.communitymx.com/content/source/B462B/ubuntu.jpg
• http://treat.typepad.com/treat/images/2008/04/14/irenesuchocki.jpg
• http://farm1.static.flickr.com/65/194205153_aa9c28c0e6.jpg
• https://www.leahprofancik.com/cart/images/actions/vintage.jpg

44. References (Continued)
• http://www.pubshop.co.uk/catalog/images/AT04.jpg
• http://www.showroom411.com/Media/Category/Spiral%20Staircase.jpg
• http://www.bikudo.com/photo_stock/463204.jpg
• http://img.costumecraze.com/images/vendors/disguise/10521-thumb2.jpg
• http://www.countryliving.com/cm/countryliving/images/Antique-golf-bags-AWS0806-de.jpg
• http://www.chapmansltplus.com/chapman_gf_clock.jpg
• http://www.mychesspieces.com/i/WWI%20Photos/40RC-DR.JPG
• http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/57/WLA_vanda_English_Tea_Set_18th_century.jpg
• http://machinesoflovinggrace.com/large/CoronaJrS38.jpg
• http://www.amaps.com/images/GLdepauw.jpg
• http://farm1.static.flickr.com/21/33278470_3340d09b95.jpg
• http://rinalie.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/onyx-stone.jpg
• http://www.nestseekers.com/images/Apt/v15.entrance.jpg
• http://elitechoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/tel_aviv_1.jpg
• http://www.marilynjenettlocations.com/images/HollywoodMansion/night.jpg
• http://images.ownersdirect.co.uk/atlantic-seaboard-home-south-african-rentals-hollywood-mansion-camps-bay-
at-night-75245.jpg
• http://idrawgirls.com/images/0109/paint_landscape_valley_03.jpg
• http://www.trendir.com/archives/brunswick-billiards-table-manhattan.jpg
• http://www.planetizen.com/files/chicago-roof.jpg