Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Mystery dinner theater date changed

Those planning to attend the Artesian Arts Leagues Mystery Dinner Theater production this weekend will have to wait.

Because of scheduling conflicts, the production of Murder on the Prairie has been changed to Saturday, Aug. 20, at 6:30 p.m., and Sunday, Aug. 21, at 2 p.m.

The Mystery Dinner Theater is the Leagues summer fund raiser.

The meal on Saturday night will consist of brisket, coleslaw, pinto beans, cornbread and dessert. The cost of a ticket is $15. During the Sunday matinee, dessert will be served and the cost is $7.50

This Mystery Dinner Theater will be a little different format than most productions. The setting is in the Old West. All the characters are suspects in the murder of a local wealthy landowner. The actors will be given clues to reveal during the performance and will be able to use their scripts and do some ad-libbing.

Here is a brief description of whats to come: A wealthy landowner has been shot down in cold blood whilst he was riding through town. There is a gathering of family and townsfolk to discuss what should be done. The people at the meeting are uneasy. They are afraid of the gunslingers that are present and fear that they might take matters into their own hands.

Members of the cast did a run-through at a meeting Thursday, Aug. 4, to get a feel of how the performance will go. It was a trying time, not because of the script but because they had to work without air conditioning.

The auditoriums air conditioning unit wasnt working, but the troupers were troopers and braved the heat to the point of getting on stage with the lights on, which only added to the heat.

However, the rehearsal went surprisingly well, for being a first run-through, and those who attend will be in for a lot of laughs.

What will help make this dinner theater special is dinner being served after the first act ends. This, though, isnt special in and of itself. But, members of the cast can sit with the audience. They will remain in character and have the option of answering questions. But, it will be up to the audience members at the tables to determine if the actors are being truthful or not.

One other thing, it wont do any good for the audience members to ask cast members at their tables who the killer is  they dont know either. The murderer will be revealed in a surprise ending, currently known only by one person.

Just to tease the audience a bit, every member of the cast had reason to kill the victim. Their reasons will be revealed throughout the performances.

Those planning to attend are encouraged to dress in western duds and come for an entertaining night as we try to solve the mystery of Murder on the Prairie. Mosey on down to the City Hall Auditorium where there will be plenty of laughs and good food.

Advance tickets are on sale at Prescott Flowers and Gift or from Art League members. For more information contact Barbara Lowdermilk, 887-2305 or Judy Duke, 887-5506.