No Mystery As to How Troupe Does Crowd-Pleasing Shows
By MONTAGUE GAMMON III
By Montague Gammon III
Correspondent
Maverick Murder Mysteries’ knack for producing crowd-pleasing shows is evident agai n with its latest audience-interactive murder mystery.
A recent performance of “A Hollywood Homicide,” subtitled “I’d Kill for a Break,” also demonstrated the depth of talent that Maverick can tap for its productions.
Each Maverick show takes place among the diners at Angelo’s Restaurant at the Oceanfront.
A detective of the fictional Maverick Detective Agency tells the seated diners, during the salad course of a buffet dinner, that a murder may take place. If it does, each of them will be designated as assistant detectives and asked to help solve the crime.
Audience members can win prizes for the completeness of their solution or for witty comments about doling summary judgment upon other people.
Not only are the diners detectives, but they are also potential suspects, though some supposed dinner guests who are involved in each crime are, of course, professional local actors.
Here the scenario plays out around an upcoming “Miss Tidewater Actress of the Year” fictional award.
Critic Mel Van Gogh, played by John Pycior , is set to make his final choice for this award from among three finalists – Liz Tyler, Pam Anderson and Kate Spears.
Riding on Van Gogh’s choice is a walk-on part on the television series “Caveman.”
Pycior, one of the most frequently seen of Maverick’s informal stock company, does Van Gogh with an admittedly contrived posh accent and self-congratulatory mannerisms.
In the reviewed performance, Maverick stalwart Jeannette Rainey stepped into the role of Anderson, in place of Melynda Belby. Spears was played by Kathy Applebee, instead of Celia Burnette, who usually does that role. Maverick newcomer Sara Quilenderino replaced Applebee as Liz Tyler.
No one unaware of these substitutions would guess that the three real actresses had not been playing their fictional characters repeatedly.
Each was convincing, at home with her character and every bit as believable as the somewhat caricatured personalities who make up most Maverick shows are meant to be.
More importantly, they were funny. Acting when one is mere inches away from audience members is a specialized skill, and this group has it down pat.
Anderson is a fairly familiar type – the supposedly ditzy dame who may or may not be a total air head – in Maverick shows. She seems lost in the stars of some distant galaxy, but there are memorable hints that she’s not someone with whom the risk-averse should trifle.
Spears also seems a bit man-hungry, with a more conniving and manipulative nature. In Applebee’s hands, she blends vulnerability with a sense that she is completely self-confident.
As Tyler, Quilenderino is quiet self-assurance, as if she knows something the others do not.
Anderson and Spears trade accusations of promiscuity and of sleeping with the married Van Gogh to influence his choice. Tyler lets Van Gogh’s openly high opinion of her speak on her behalf.
Nancy Bloom was the detective named Iona Gunn, who as a sort of mistress of ceremonies is charged with promoting audience interest and involvement. In that part she’s really on the hot spot as the one person most charged with energizing the evening.
The buffet includes beef, chicken and fish entrees , vegetables, a rice or pasta dish, and dessert.
Montague Gammon III,
montaguegammon@fastmail.net
going?
What Maverick Dinner Theatre’s production of “A Hollywood Homicide” by Gary Morton
Where Angelo’s Restaurant, 28th Street and Atlantic Avenue
When Seating at 6:30 p.m., show at 7:15 Saturdays through May 17. Call for exact dates and times.
Cost Includes buffet dinner and show; $36.96 plus tax or $25 plus tax for those 12 and younger
Info 425-0347 or www.maverickmurdermystery.com for reservations
(c) 2008 Virginian – Pilot. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.