Bloody Jack has the rare distinction of being a triple-crown winner in the playwriting sweepstakes. The play received the Colonial Players Original Script Contest award, the Forest A. Roberts Playwriting Award, and the $5000 Nederlander Playwriting Award. Prior to publication it was presented (as The Whitechapel Horror) by a community theatre, the Colonial Players of Annapolis, Md., and by two colleges—Northern Michigan University at Marquette and Wayne State University in Detroit.

Who was Jack the Ripper? For three months in 1888 death stalked the gloomy alleyways of a London slum. Seven women were brutally murdered; the bodies were horribly mutilated. The murderer was never caught or identified. The play offers theories. It takes place in the home of Dr. Sargeant. Each person who comes to visit him is a suspect. "In traditional mysteries," Kelly said, "the audience is supposed to guess who. In this play to get the who, you have to establish the why." Carefully constructing his plot, Kelly throws suspicion on each character, with the final revelation coming as a surprise.

The action of this 2-act takes place in the parlor of Doctor Thaddeus Sargeant's house in the Whitechapel district of London's East End. The year is 1888. Costumes are the usual requirements of the "Gaslight" era.

"It's the best full-length I've worked on for years."—Kathy Mead, St. Cedd's Players, Romford, England. "Adroit construction...Kelly lets each of the characters take turns tantalizing us."—Detroit News. A fine, literate thriller." —Stage Review. "The epitome of the well-made play"—Contest judge commentary. "Will be remembered as one of the season's strong points"—Elwood Theatre Co., Australia. "The play is excellent."—After Hour Players, Minot AFB, N. Dak.

More horror from Kelly: Adventure of the Speckled Band, Crimes at the Old Brewery, Dracula, Fall of the House of Usher, Murder Takes a Holiday, Sweeney Todd

See also: Audience-Participation Plays and Mystery, Murder, and Mayhem