Playhouse murder mystery opens Thursday with 'Death'

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Who is killing the staff members of the Meadowbrook Health Resort?

Almost everyone in the next Putnam County Playhouse play, "Death by Chocolate," could be the next to die. Or each could be the murderer in this comedy/drama directed by Jack Randall Earles.

The play runs Thursday, July 13 through Saturday, July 15 and Wednesday, July 19 through Saturday, July 22 with performances at 8 p.m. Tickets are $8 each and can be reserved each night beginning at 5 p.m. with the exception of July 16.

The play, written by Paul Freed, is sponsored by Asbury Towers and First National Bank.

One of the characters, Henry Meadowbrook, portrayed by Jim Green, dies as the play begins, but after that all bets are off.

The new owner of the resort, Lady Riverdale (played by Holly Pritchett), brings on a new manager, John Stone (David Lee Buttram) to run the place, and he begins to investigate Meadowbook's murder. Then two staff members are killed, too, and he is by joined by mystery writer Ed Pryor (Larry Sutton) and tabloid reporter Margaret Daniels (Marian Zennie) in his quest for the truth.

Who will be the next victim? Gym manager Ralph Deadwood (Bryan Schroeder), secretary Dyslexia (Joan Osborn), nurse Anne (Sandi Rossock) and aerobics instructor Dick Deadwood (Justin Renner) are all in line for execution.

Alfred the butler (Jeff Osborn) and Sweatpea Meadowbook (Pam Turner) help in the investigation. Chef Edith Chiles (Karen Temple) cooks up a storm, but can she survive?

Earles agrees that the play is full of laughs. He is assisted by Melissa Green. Lighting design is by Bob Hedge. Jim Green will run the sound board. Nathan Rogers is the stage manager. Set design is by Linda Gjesvold.