Two last things:

- I'd read that de Maupassant was apparently inspired to write The hand (or whatever the original title was) when one of his professors showed him a box containing a desiccated hand. What's the old saying: "With friends like these..."?

- it's interesting to note where the inspiration for some of these plays and adaptations came from as well. Others have noted that these stories more often than not are apparently inspired by more than one tale.

I listened to The Hand a few times and kept thinking I'd heard something before. (Cue the RMT music.) Sir John Rowell, in the original story, and Richard Rowell added in Ian Martin's adaptation. Two english brothers, one of nobility yet also with unanswered, possibly sinister motives. The other de-knighted yet physically stronger, in a different country a long way away, hopefully (in his brother's view) forgotten yet apparently very much a rival...with Sir John wanting to keep his bounty and never see his brother again. Richard and John, John and Richard...

Then it hit me...for this play, Martin mixed de Maupassant's The Hand with elements from Robin Hood. (Remember King Richard the Lion-hearted and Prince John in that tale, which itself was apparently cobbled together?)

I LOVE the RMT!