Van Buren Community Players will present Billy St. John’s “Murder’s in the Heir” in the Aspen Room of the Van Buren Community Center on March 14, 15, 21, and 22.
Turn the game of Clue into a play and you have the entertaining “Murder’s in the Heir.” Almost every character in this mystery has the weapon, opportunity, and motive to commit the unseen murder. And it’s up to the audience to decide who actually did it!
Each of the heirs to the tyrannical billionaire Simon Starkweather has the means and the motive to do away with him. Starkweather gathers his family and employees to announce the contents of his will. His lawyer reveals that he has bequeathed vast fortunes to his befuddled niece Fiona, her playboy son Jordan, his great-niece Paula, and his grandson Simon III, as well as to his many servants. Then his lawyer delivers the bombshell.
Within hours the will becomes invalid. Predictably, the lights go out and Simon is discovered murdered. Simon III is determined to find his grandfather’s killer.
Secret ballots gathered at intermission from the audience determine the killer in this curious maze of murder. The public is invited to join the entire cast to see who can solve the mystery.
“The cast and I are elated that Mr. Billy St. John has graced us with his play, ‘Murder’s in the Heir,’” said director Chandler Gimson. “We are eager to be a part of the dramatic process as he chooses which of the eight endings and character’s he’d like for his play. It should go absolutely swell, right? Alas, if we run into any difficulties we can always ask the audience!”
The cast of this show includes Damon Williams of Detroit, Marci Karp of Flat Rock, Brandon Gallerani of Garden City, Elizabeth Rusanchin of Ypsilanti, Andrea VanDenBergh of Van Buren Township, Heidi Leads of Van Buren Township, Jen Cousino of New Boston, Nevaeh Robinson of Belleville, Cindy Franklin of Ypsilanti, Jill Yob of Van Buren Township, Barb Day of Belleville, Maddie Dickerson of Plymouth, Tiffany Darby of Taylor, and Sherrie Saksewski of Van Buren Township.
Dinner theatre performances are March 14 at 6:30 p.m., March 15 at 1 p.m., March 21 at 6:30 p.m. and March 22 at 1 p.m. in the Aspen Room of the VBT Community Center, 46425 Tyler Rd., Van Buren Township.
A buffet of beef braised pot roast, mixed greens salad, rice pilaf, garlic mashed potatoes, brown gravy, mixed vegetable medley, buttery yeast roll, water, lemonade, fruit punch and coffee is included with each ticket.
Tickets to the performances are $43-$47 each and can be purchased online by going to http://vbtvbc.ludus.com or in person at the Community Center desk Monday through Friday 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. For ticket assistance via phone, call (734) 699-8921. Online ticket sales will close one week prior to performances. For group sales (10 or more tickets) use code Buy10 on general tickets to receive a discounted rate of $42 per ticket before fees.
For more information on this show and all upcoming shows, visit www.vanburencommunityplayers.com, email [email protected] or call (734) 796-7900.
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1 Comment
Weather
This past Saturday was “date night” for my wife and me — at the penultimate dinner theatre performance above previewed.
I’m here to Comment on the “dinner” part.
My earliest, benchmark-setting memories of dinner theatres go back to the 1970s, when my mother and I would attend a handful of times each year. Rather often she’d say to me (and as many others as could be reached within earshot):
“It’s really the meal that sets the stage.”
Half-a-century later, her pun could not be more true than for those of us who were priviledged to dine before, I suspect, all performances of “Murder’s in the Heir” at the Van Buren Community Center this month.
Mrs Dell Deaton and I were seated at Table 11 (of 15?), just in front of the cupcake table, near the back wall. People were queued for buffet service in table-order, no doubt evoking trepidation among those with a history of palate abuse à la on-the-cheap wedding receptions.
“Norman Catering and Events” was the refreshing, complete opposite of that.
In fact, I would rate Norman on par or better than any of the nicer restaurants that I regularly frequent in our fine Tri-Community.
Owner Ashon Norman was the first server that we encountered in the Saturday evening line. He was stationed behind the roast, potatoes, and gravy that Rosemary has already referenced.
But my wife, who went before me, told Ashon that she was a vegetarian — which prompted him to alert his colleague Chandler. Then each not only assured complete preparation to accommodate non-carnivores with equal aplomb, but exactingly described, before plating, how all choice dishes had been prepared.
As good as everything promised to be in presentation, it tasted even better off-the-fork. “Hot” was perfectly cooked and seasoned, “juicy” was just as succulent as what I image Table 1 had gotten, and the mix as a whole impressed me as having come from a team that genuinely wanted each and every customer to enjoy their personal parts of the experience.
I’d have come out last Saturday just for the food!
In fact, next time I head over to see Mom, I’m going to have to ask her if she ever worried that any dinner theatre “stage” set by its “dinner” part might raise the bar too high for the “theatre” part.
Meantime, I’ll note for anyone reading this Comment and who has not connected the dots: Norman Catering is also the “Norman Cafe” on-site at the Romulus Athletic Center.
Several years ago when I used to take my wife there to swim at the RAC pool, I enjoyed many wonderful ad hoc conversations with Ashon. We talked about anything and everything.
Same great guy I chatted with briefly last Saturday.
Come to think of it, I should head out there for lunch next opportunity. And I encourage others to do the same.