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Dial 'M' for murder...and mystery
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On the phone with Amy, Page2Stage's founder and artistic director
Who doesn't like a good Whodunit mystery? Not many people, I'd guess, as sales for Agatha Christie-esque, Sherlock Holmes-ian novels, movies, and other forms of entertainment can likely attest. The world renowned Clue boardgame, made popular in the 1960's, adds further proof to Americans', and non-Americans', obsession with the tried and true genre of the murder mystery. And it wasn't too bad of a movie either (and stage-play too, for that matter).
Why am I, a reporter of all things thesbian, on a sudden kick about murder and mayhem and "why the butler did it?" Four words: Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre.
Dinner Theatre is usually enough to get most folks' attention, or mayhap, just the singular word "dinner". Or even "theatre". But add those two 'M' initiated words, "murder" and "mystery", and eyebrows become all the more raised, pulses raise ever so slightly, lips become licked in anticipation of the evening's feast, often buffet-like, or the night's soon-to-be homocide victim.
All in good fun, of course, and most often, in good humor. And there's one coming up quite soon at George Pierce Park in Suwanee, an event worthy of being marked on your calendars. It's produced by Page2Stage Productions, whose founder is one Amy Szymanski, a local actress and, well, murder mystery dinner theatre writer. I've been cast in two roles, in a birthday party-based event cleverly titled A Surprise To Die For, Matthew (a very openly gay guy) and Ziggy (and very openly non-gay British rocker). Rounding out the rest of the intriguing list o' characters are Joe Millionaire, Joy, Carol, Trudy, an eccentric Bag Lady, and (naturally) a detective, all portrayed by an incredibly talented cast (Beth, Katie, Ilene, Shaniqua, and Chuck, you guys doth rock!)
From an actor's standpoint, one of the best things about Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre (or MMDT for semi-short) is the improvisation. Many -- perhaps even most -- thesbians truly enjoy the challenge and spontaneity of improv, although there are some out there whom are deeply terrified of it. And probably with fairly good reason, for improvisational theatre is most definitely a "flight or fight" response, a quick-thinking shot in the proverbial barrel, where things come summoned from the brain in an instant, oft-weird stuff that the body (and voice) then has to manipulate into something resembling a performance. It's quite a test, I think, and quite frankly, I believe all actors should seek out some kind of improv-based show or classes, for such skills are usual in all forms of theatre. And in real life, for that matter (who hasn't had to improv their way out of a traffic ticket or a bad first date?).
The last I heard from Amy, our producer and "director", is that the April 10th show is almost sold out. An encore show is already likely in the making, perhaps for the day after (April 11) or some time in May. We definitely want to try for an all-original cast, though, which is harder to pull off further down the road. A lot of us end up getting cast in other theatrical productions, after all, sometimes too many at one time (ahem).
So, get your tickets while you can, folks, for who, truly, can resist the lurid temptation of food, fellowship, entertainment, mystery, and....murder? All for $25, which is, actually, an incredible deal. And failing to make this one, Page2Stage Productions will most assuredly have other productions that they'll be producing throughout the course of the year, at various locales around Gwinnett County and beyond (such as the old Lawrenceville Courthouse, Pickneyville Park in Norcross, among others). Also, I hear tale that Fifth Row Center, based out of Flowery Branch, has some Mystery Dinner-style theatre coming out soon too, which can only be a good thing.
One can never have too much dinner, after all. And mystery. Okay, pass the rolls -- preferably not the ones with the red sauce.
For more info: www.fifthrowcenter.com http://www.gwinnettcounty.com/cgi-bin/gwincty/egov/ep/home.do?tabId=0
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