By Manoush Zomorodi In New York

A murder mystery play called Who Killed Woody Allen? is returning to New York. Its three writers - lifelong Allen fans - penned it after his lawyer wrote to tell them they could not put on one of his productions, called Death.

"It appears Woody Allen did not die of natural causes. He was poisoned and it's quite obvious that everyone in this room had a motive."

So says the detective to the famous congregation gathered at the funeral of acclaimed director Woody Allen.

Diane Keaton is there, so is Leonardo DiCaprio, and Spike Lee - all portrayed by New York actors as part of the Empty Stage Theater Company's play Who Killed Woody Allen?

Allen has been invited to see the play

Director Tom Dunn has brought back his off-off-off Broadway show for a four-week run starting on 13 February at the Triad Theatre on the Upper West side of Manhattan.

He and his colleagues, Dan Callahan and Brendan Connor, wrote the script after losing the rights to Allen's play Death which they wanted to stage here in New York.

Rather than lose the cost of renting the theatre space, the trio penned Who Killed Woody Allen?

For those who don't know, the 30-year-old black comedy Death was the basis for Woody Allen's 1992 film Shadows and Fog about a group of vigilantes who are searching for a murdering maniac.

Tom Dunn and his writers have been given no explanation as to why Allen withdrew the rights to his play at the last minute.

The play is off-Broadway

"Just before we were about to open we got a letter from Woody Allen's attorney saying that the rights had been denied, we're in effect, not allowed to do the show.

"Who Killed Woody Allen? was born out of our frustration at the time."

The three writers call themselves life-long Allen fans.

Director Tom Dunn says their one-act production is a humorous murder mystery not a vindictive stab at Woody Allen.

"As we developed the piece it became less about Woody and more about the entertainment industry and celebrities.

'Wicked imitations'

"And about deflating a group of people who take themselves way too seriously."

The light-hearted funeral is hosted by an actor portraying Billy Crystal who opens the show by breaking into song:

"Woody, I hope you watch your funeral tonight
It's going to be a Jewish funeral tonight
We loved his films more than enough to overlook the personal stuff
Poor Woody's dead now, we'll miss him and how."

The play's authors are life-long Allen fans

The actors do wicked imitations of Woody Allen associates who each deliver a eulogy to the dearly departed director.

Actress Jill Ann Dugan plays Diane Keaton complete with Annie Hall tie and a nervous hair flip.

She explains why her character might be the killer.

"Woody was the love of her life- she never married herself and that would be a good motive for her to get revenge," she says.

Lawyer's letter

Christopher Walken, who also starred in Allen's Annie Hall and is played by actor Peter Loureiro, cannot imagine why his character would want to poison Allen.

"I don't think he'd want to kill Woody. He wants to experience the totality of Woody's being. And both shared a passion for the Spice Girls," he said.

After Allen's lawyer Irwin Tenenbaum heard about Who Killed Woody Allen? he sent the Empty Stage Theatre Company a letter.

"Since I have not read the play," Tenenbaum wrote, "I trust that you have adhered to and stayed within the parameters and applicable law with regard to the use of my client's name and character.

"I reserve all my client's rights with regard to this project, should events prove otherwise."

'Clever humour'

So far the events have not proved otherwise and critics have praised the production.

The large cast has received kudos for their dead-on impersonations.

One theatre writer, Helen Gershkovich of On and Off magazine, cautioned however that "to fully understand the clever humour of the show, the observer should have a keen insight into the lives of movie celebrities of the 70s, 80s, and 90s".

She added that knowledge of Woody Allen's life and films was also needed.

Allen invited

One man who knows Allen's history all too well is his manager Jack Rollins.

According to the play's director, Dunn, Rollins has attended and liked the performance. Dunn is convinced Allen would also enjoy it.

"We have invited him on many occasions and we think he would get a kick out of Who killed Woody Allen?

"We're fans. [Ideally] we'll sell the film rights and Woody will come and direct it."