Community Corner

Library Presents Staged Reading of Raymond Chandler Novel

The script is adapted from Raymond Chandler's last Marlowe short story, 1957's 'The Pencil,' as well as Chandler's own letters and papers.

The Santa Monica Public Library and the Ruskin Group Theatre are collaborating to present a staged reading of Raymond Chandler’s last Philip Marlowe short story, The Pencil.

The reading will take place 3 p.m. March 24 in the Main Library’s Martin Luther King, Jr Auditorium at 601 Santa Monica Blvd. 

Adapted by Ed Horowitz especially for this staged reading, The Pencil finds Philip Marlowe taking on the case of a man who’s been penciled in for a hit by underworld figures.  

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The script is adapted from Raymond Chandler’s last Marlowe short story, 1957’s The Pencil, as well as Chandler’s own letters and papers. 

The staged reading is produced and will be performed by members of Santa Monica’s Ruskin Group Theatre Company. A talkback between the audience and actors will follow the onstage performance.

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This staged reading is part of Santa Monica Citywide Reads, the library’s annual community reading program, which encourages everyone in and around Santa Monica to read and discuss the same novel in book discussions and special events held throughout the city. The featured novel for Citywide Reads 2012 is Chandler's The Lady in the Lake.

Seating is first come, first served. The Santa Monica Public Library is wheelchair accessible. For special disabled services, call Library Administration at (310) 458-8606 at least one week prior to event.

For more information on this year’s slate of Santa Monica Citywide Reads discussion and special events, visit smpl.org/Raymond_Chandler.aspx or contact the Santa Monica Public Library at (310) 458-8600. For more information on the Ruskin Group Theatre, visit ruskingrouptheatre.com.


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