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The Real Inspector Hound is a short play by Tom Stoppard. The story line follows two theatre critics that are watching a ridiculous set-up of a country house murder mystery, in the style of a "whodunit". By accident, they become involved in the action causing a series of events that parallel the play they are watching.

The play was written between 1961 and 1962, initially named The Stand-ins and later, The Critics. It is a parody of the stereotypical parlor mystery in the style of Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap, as well as of the critics watching the play, with their personal desires and obsessions interwoven into their bombastic and pompous review.

The Real Inspector Hound, much like Stoppard's earlier play Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead, examines the ideas of fate and free will as well as exploring the themes of the "play-within-a-play".

It is an example of the dramatic style of absurdism.

The work premiered at the Criterion Theatre on 17 June 1968, directed by Robert Chetwyn.

Moon - a theatre critic, called to the production to critique it in the absence of Higgs, another critic. Moon's jealousy of Higgs' superior reputation seems to make him question his own purpose, with Moon's ultimate thoughts being of Higgs' death.

Birdboot - a theatre critic and a womaniser, who is having an affair with Felicity, one of the actresses in the 'play-within-a-play'.

Higgs - A "first-string" theatre critic, who presides over "second-string" and "third-string" critics Moon and Puckeridge respectively.

Puckeridge - The "third-string" critic; Puckeridge is called in if both Higgs and Moon are unavailable.

Mrs. Drudge - The cleaner and maintainer of Muldoon Manor.

Simon Gascoyne - Has had affairs with both Felicity and Cynthia. Takes an instant dislike to Magnus, as they are both in love with Cynthia.

Felicity - A young friend of Cynthia's who has had an affair with Simon.

Cynthia Muldoon - Apparent 'widow' of the 'late Albert Muldoon'. She has had an affair with Simon.

Major Magnus Muldoon - Albert Muldoon's "crippled half-brother" who just flew in from Canada. Has a desire for his late brother's widow, Cynthia. Takes an instant dislike to Simon, as they are both in love with Cynthia.

Inspector Hound - Appears from outside the house in the middle of the play to 'investigate' the murders in Essex.

The Plays of Tom Stoppard

15-Minute Hamlet, After Magritte, Arcadia, Cahoot's Macbeth, The Coast of Utopia, Dalliance, Dirty Linen and New-Found-Land, Dogg's Hamlet, Enter a Free Man, Every Good Boy Deserves Favour, Hapgood, Indian Ink, The Invention of Love, Jumpers, Night and Day, On the Razzle, Professional Foul, The Real Inspector Hound, The Real Thing, Rock 'n' Roll, Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead, Rough Crossing, Travesties, Undiscovered Country