SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – A new play will be opening at the local CNY Playhouse this weekend. “Prescription: Murder” serves as the inspiration for the long-running television series Columbo, which aired on television for nine seasons with an additional fourteen television specials. The play follows Detective Columbo as he uncovers a murder plot involving a psychiatrist, the psychiatrist’s wife, and his mistress.
Eric Grode, a regular freelance theater critic and reporter for The New York Times, is fascinated by the idea of this play being the inspiration for the television series. In an interview with Grode, he said, “Prescription: Murder had been based on another little TV thing they had done, which didn’t do well… they kinda dusted off this play and turned it into essentially an episode of Columbo.”
It is not typical for plays to serve as inspiration for a television series. In fact, the opposite is much more apparent in today’s entertainment industry.
The play was written by William Link and Richard Levinson and will be opening on October 20 and will run at the theater until November 4. For more information regarding getting tickets, visit cnyplayhouse.org.
