[NEohioPAL] Preview of "Something's Afoot" at Geauga Lyric Theater Guild

[Bob Abelman]

Music, murder are 'Afoot' in Chardon

 

Bob Abelman

News-Herald, Chagrin Valley Times, Solon Times, Geauga Times Courier

Member, International Association of Theatre Critics 

 

This preview appeared in the News-Herald 10/8/10

Some art doesn't cater to mainstream tastes. There's the eroticism of Robert Mapplethorpe's photography.  There's the national war memorial in central Prague that a Czech sculptor painted pink.  There's the World's Largest Rubber Stamp in downtown Cleveland.

By contrast, there's the musical murder mystery parody-an art form that attempts to offer something for everyone.  It's got the improbable dramatic arc of the classic whodunits, the broad, self-referential humor of satire and, of course, singing and dancing.  And all the music is in the key of Aaaaaaaaaa!!  

"It's the perfect type of show for a community theater audience just looking to be entertained," notes Karen Porter, who is directing Something's Afoot at the Geauga Theater. 

Something's Afoot, which opens this evening, is based loosely on the murder mysteries of Agatha Christie.  It comes complete with your standard scene of the crime, a population of recognizable stock character types, assorted sight gags, a dozen songs with corny titles like "I Don't Know Why I Trust You," and murder most foul and frequent.  

The show, of course, is set on a dark and stormy night at the secluded country estate of eccentric millionaire Dudley Rancour.  Several guests have been invited for the weekend and, naturally, the storm has washed out the bridge and killed the telephone line. One of these guests, it would seem, has come to commit a horrible crime.

But which one? 

Attempting to solve this mystery, while simultaneously fueling suspicion, is self-appointed amateur sleuth Miss Tweed (Lyn Phoenix).  Victims. no, suspects. uh, guests include: the greedy nephew, Nigel Rancour (Anthony Nedelman); the Grande Dame, Lady Grace Manley-Prowde  (Jill Walters); the family physician, Dr. Grayburn (Winn Douglass); Colonel Gillweather (Todd Sarbach); the ingénue with a secret, Hope Langdon (Leah Phoenix); and Geoffrey, an uninvited guest (Jonathan Porter).

Also under suspicion are the saucy maid, Lettie (Jessica Boalt), the caretaker Flint (Mike Bollinger) and, for sure, the butler Clive (Sue Becker).

Written by James McDonald, David Vos, Robert Gerlach, and Ed Linderman, Something's Afoot was itself short-lived on Broadway in 1976.  The reason was no mystery, according to The New York Times critic Walter Kerr:  "There is no such thing as a musical that is also supposed to be a 'whodunit'.... The music totally relaxes the suspense, and the suspense makes the music seem intrusive." 


Director Porter disagrees, suggesting that "it is these very elements that give the show its charm and general appeal.  There is suspense without it being too scary.  There is melodrama nicely offset by the comedy. It is a fun way to open the Geauga Lyric Theater Guild's season, and a great way to spend the evening."

 

The weather is turning cold and the sky is turning dark.  The winds are kicking up and it looks like a storm is brewing.  Something's afoot in Chardon.  

 

Details

 

What:     Something's Afoot

When:    Tonight through October 24 (8pm Friday and Saturday, 2pm Sunday). 

Where:   Geauga Theater, 101 Water Street, Chardon.

Tickets:   $15 to $18.

Info:        440-286-2255 or www.geuagatheater.org.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.neohiopal.org/pipermail/neohiopal-neohiopal.org/attachments/20101008/d7298074/attachment-0003.htm>