River Theater Company and Charlestown Rotary presenting mystery dinner

By BILL LOCKWOOD
Special to the Eagle Times
CHARLESTOWN — “Downtown Crabbey,” a “Downton Abbey”-inspired parody will be presented on Friday and Saturday March 22 and 23 with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. in the old Town Hall on Summer Street behind Ralph’s Supermarket in Charlestown. Diners will be taken back to the early 1900s and a hotel designed for young American travelers to feel at home in London. There is much agitation among the hotel staff and management since a hotel inspector is due and a good impression must be achieved. There is, of course, a murder, and diners gather clues and interact with the actors over the course of dinner to hopefully solve the mystery. Te audience is encouraged to come in period costume in order to add to the festivity of the event.

River Theater Company of Charlestown and the Charlestown Rotary had collaborated on a number of such mystery dinners some years ago. Then after a hiatus the two organizations revived the event last year with a February dinner and production of “Poetry to Die For” that was set around an evening of poetry reading presented by the town’s fictional poetry society. The diners were included as if they had come to attend a poetry reading, and, of course, there was a murder of one of the poets. A detective appeared, the other poets mingled with the diners dropping clues, and the diners attempted to help the detective solve the case. The actors, both last year and this, have both scripted scenes as well as a lot of interactive ad lib.

“Downton Abbey,” which inspired this production, was the incredibly successful and much-watched PBS “Masterpiece Theater” series from England that ran recently for six seasons and is repeated often today. It’s characters are the upper class family of the Earl of Grantham and their downstairs servants. The River Theater characters, if not the same, are certainly recognizable as types to anyone who has seen the PBS series. There is an earl, a dowager countess, a head cook, and a scullery maid. 

Samantha Maskell who directed the production last year has returned in that role again this year. She said this year’s production definitely has “an up down [stairs] feel to it”. She said the hotel is trying to attract the “upper crust” of society, and it is very important that they impress the hotel critic who is coming. And, “like any murder mystery all the characters have their little secrets and that is what makes it fun.” 

Last year the murderer turned out to be Rose Prettel, poet and owner of the town flower shop. She was played by Samaira Aldrich who is returning this year as the head cook. Last year Maskell did not even tell the cast who the murderer was except for the detective who made the revelation on opening night and took Aldrich off the stage in handcuffs. Aldrich said, “It was almost as much a surprise to me as to our guests. It was a lot of fun to put the clues together.” 

This year Maskell said there are actually five different endings in the script she has adapted, and she is using two of them so the murderer may be different the second night. Aldrich said, “I think it will be harder to figure out this year. There are not nearly as many potential weapons being displayed. It is more about motive this time.” Aldrich is also serving in the role of costumer. She said, “Whenever you are dressing in a particular period it’s a little challenging.” But, she adds, that the theater has quite a stock of that period costumes as do other theaters in the area that River Theater can borrow from. 

Other leads in the cast are John Luther who was the detective that solved the mystery for the diners last year. This year he plays the earl, and, though he is not a detective, he heads the discussion that leads to a conclusion. Fran Kemp is the dowager countess, and West Nelson also has a lead role. 

Maskell is an “old hand” at directing mystery dinners. She both wrote and directed one some years ago called “Murder at the Hartness House,” set and performed at the old governor’s house, now an inn, in Springfield. She has also directed a number of other local productions. Most recently “The Vagina Monologues” at World Under Wonder Playhouse in Ascutney where she is artistic director.

Though she is only in the role of the cook and not actually working in the kitchen, Aldrich adds that the “food is always delicious.” This year’s dinner is roasted pork loin with Lyonnaise potatoes and herbed peas. There will be salad, rolls and butter, and sticky toffee pudding (British sponge cake) with homemade whipped cream for dessert, and there will be a vegan option if desired.

Tickets are $30. and include a three course dinner with a main entrée, salad, rolls with butter, dessert, and non-alcoholic beverages. Guests may bring their own alcoholic beverages. Seating is limited and reservations may be made by emailing [email protected] or calling (603) 543-0433. Tickets can be purchased on line at charlestownrotary.org or at Heart and Soul Music, Main Street, Charlestown.