The play was based on an idea by Ronald E. House[1][2] and Diz White, was written in 1974 and first performed that year, by House, White,[3] John Neville-Andrews, Alan Shearman,[4] Brandis Kemp (Lenya Von Bruno) and Derek Cunningham at the Palladium Theater,[5] 1031 Kearny Street, San Francisco, California.
However, at many times during the play, humor arises because Crummond fails to notice something very obvious, or because he is easily defeated in a fight.
For instance, when Crummond and Rosemary are in a tight spot, they manage to catch a wild carrier pigeon and have it convey a message from them; or a mysterious assassin steals an important letter, but because the letter had tea spilled on it, its ink stained a cloth napkin, so that Crummond can still figure out what it said.
Otto's plots to kill Crummond include poison, a tarantula's bite, a stick of dynamite triggered by the "Converse Force Field", and a sword fight.
The show is designed to be performed by only five actors, one of whom plays seven characters: Professor Fenton; Crummond's friend Algy; a Chinese assassin; a local police officer; a waiter in a hotel restaurant; a one-armed Scotland Yard inspector (who is really one of Otto's henchmen in disguise); and a Cockney crook.