Somebody’s getting bumped off in Summerville – twice – next weekend, via a unique dinner theater staging of “Murder at Café Noir,” by David Landau. This homicide happening benefits the Arts, Business and Civic Coalition (ABCC) which is partnering here with the Flowertown Players to help get a civic center for Greater Summerville. If you’d like to be part of the action – literally – and the fun – definitely, plan to attend the production at Atlanta Bread, 1114 North Main Street, on Saturday, August 14, at 8:30 pm or Sunday, August 15, at 6:30 pm. Cost is $25. For more information, call 843-851-2024. This Interactive theater production, which encourages the audience to come dressed in black and white or gray, and is a comedic take on the Humphrey Bogart flicks of the 1940s, offers a prize for guessing the guilty party.  
Monica Shows, “Murder” director as well as self proclaimed overall crew-chief, talks enthusiastically about the play and the players and promises that the audiences have some real surprises coming up. Assessing the cast, she begins with Ernie Eliason (Rick Archer, PI). She first worked with him as a last ditch replacement on the Players show “Arsenic and Old Lace.” Ernie took on several big roles last season including Big Daddy for “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.” His love of the theatre and performing just keeps growing.
Jane Batten (Madam Toureau, Cafe Manager) hadn’t done anything since high school when she auditioned for “Arsenic and Old Lace.” Even though in real life she was too young to be Aunt Martha, with wig and costume she was so believable her children didn't recognize her.
Sheila Wonderly (Corrine Tyo, femme fatale) is like another daughter to Monica, who watched her grow up and says her only focus in life is to perform in theatre. Corrine is currently a second year student at Syracuse University studying theatre. The summer before her senior year at SHS, she was accepted to the six-week Summer in the City workshop at Juilliard. It was a great experience.
Monica first met Robert Vincelli (Anthony Cairo, dealer in the black market) in “The Odd Couple,” and says he has a great sense of humor and timing. In what may have been a bit of type casting, he plays an Italian. He especially loves the challenge that this show has where you in fact have to be involved with the audience.
Musical theater major at Syracuse University and friend of Corinne is Samantha Blinn (Marie LaRue, voodoo priestess). Monica needed one strong soloist and Samantha, who is from Georgia, was willing – and thrilled – to come here to rehearse and perform.
Jason Pallay (Simon Gutterman, British barrister) performed Guber in “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” and loves this part where his character gets to schmoose the women in the audience. His theater training left him open to try new things and to interact with others.
Jim Brantley (Thursby, gun runner) has written scripts for and performed in the Low Country Singing Christmas Tree drama. Monica says his scripts were marvelous and his performance a delight. She is sure everyone will be amazed when they see him perform in this production.
A body washes ashore on the forgotten island of Mustique. Come see. Come solve.