By Chip Chandler — Digital Content Producer
Show business is deadly business in Amarillo Little Theatre's latest production.
The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 — which opens at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 18 for a two-weekend run on the ALT Mainstage, 2019 Civic Circle — brings to life 1940s-style light mysteries, including The Cat and the Canary, an early Bob Hope film.
"There are lots of dead bodies, killings in the dark, things that go bump in the night, trick bookcases that open up and lead you into the catacombs," said director Allen Shankles. "It's a lot of pure fun and silliness."
In the show, we meet the eccentric Elsa Von Grossenknueten (Liz Wilson), a wealthy benefactor of several Broadway productions who's desperate to learn the identity of the Stage Door Slasher, who killed her close friend, Bebe, during the last musical she backed. Elsa calls the creative team to her home — including director Ken De La Maze (Dennis Humphrey), producer Marjorie Baverstock (Kristen Loyd), Irish tenor Patrick O'Reilly (Michael Newman), ingenue Nikki Crandall (Cheyenne Haynes) and soused writers Roger Hopewell and Bernice Roth (Tony Brazell and Marley Hoggatt) — for a backer's audition.
"They think they're coming for her money, but in fact, she's trying to figure out the identity of the killer," said Brooks Boyett, who stars as Eddie McCuen, a Hope-like comedian with a penchant for bad jokes.
Along for the ride is police officer Michael Kelly (Zeke Lewis), and helping out at home is Elsa's maid, Helsa (Ryan Sustaita). Or so we think.
"Half the people aren't who they say they are," Boyett said. "And just when you think it's over and the crime's been solved, it hasn't been."
Humphrey wasn't sure what to make of the script at first.
"But as we've gotten into rehearsals, this show is hilarious," he said. "Oh my gosh, it's so funny."
It's also a stretch for him.
"I've only ever done dad roles or funny roles before," he said.
But this time, he's a name-dropping artiste whom he's modeling after someone close to the production.
"I am doing my best Shankles impersonation, absolutely," Humphrey said.
Shankles himself said he had passed on the script previously, but a desire to stage more lighthearted works this season made him reconsider.
"Several of us on the staff thought it was fun and offered lots of great opportunities for 11 people," he said. "We thought we'd give it a whirl."
He's glad he did.
"We have all laughed out loud several times during the blocking process," he said. "We're playing it a bit stylized so it will have a lot of energy to it. It's going to be fun."
Performances are set for 7:30 p.m. Jan. 18 and 25, 8 p.m. Jan. 19-20 and Jan. 26-27, and 2:30 p.m. Jan. 28.
Tickets are $19 for adults, $16 for students and seniors, and $13 for children Thursdays and Sundays, and $21 for adults, $19 for students and seniors, and $15 for children Fridays and Saturdays. Call 806-355-9991.
Chip Chandler is a digital content producer for Panhandle PBS. He can be contacted at Chip.Chandler@actx.edu, at @chipchandler1 on Twitter and on Facebook.
