The Grand Cham's Diamond: A Play in One Act

"The Grand Cham's Diamond: A Play in One Act" by Allan Monkhouse is a dark comedy set in the early 1900s that explores the lives of the Perkins family when they suddenly find themselves owners of a priceless diamond. Living in a simple London suburb, the family’s ordinary evening is interrupted by the arrival of the Grand Cham’s Diamond, thrusting them into a world of temptation and moral dilemmas. Mrs. Perkins, especially, finds the allure of wealth and a life free from the daily grind hard to resist, setting the stage for greed to corrupt the family's dynamics. The stakes rise when a stranger arrives, demanding the diamond back, leading to a tense standoff where Mrs. Perkins' refusal to relinquish the jewel tests the family’s values. Through humor and suspense, the play questions what people are willing to do for wealth and challenges notions of honesty in the face of overwhelming desire, leading to a frenzied climax.