Letter, A Play in Three Acts

The Letter is a play by W. Somerset Maugham, first premiered on February 24, 1927. Set in British Malaysia, it tells the story of a plantation manager's wife who shoots a man, claiming he attempted to rape her. As her lawyer navigates the case, they face the threat of blackmail from someone possessing incriminating evidence. The play is notable for its innovative use of flashback in Act 3 and has seen successful productions in both London and Broadway.