The Yellow Point Drama Group cordially invites you to the funeral of Samantha Pennington in its latest murder mystery production Dead Awake, which opens Friday.
Attendees are encouraged, but not required, to dress in funeral attire and get immersed in the well-written farce.
“In the first few minutes, you realize that this very wealthy woman, Samantha Pennington, has, at the last minute, changed her will, and she’s decided she’s going to give all her vast fortune to those who are in the greatest need, to charity,” said director Pamela Walker.
“That’s a huge revelation because everyone who knew her thought that they were going to get a piece of the pie.”
That includes artists whose careers have been helped by Pennington’s generosity, including a ballet dancer who break dances, and a common-as-muck maid who seems the brightest of the bunch.
“Everything is not what it seems … people aren’t what they seem to be, and they do what they shouldn’t do,” Walker said. “It’s like a mirror — but instead of reflecting back what it sees, it shows you something completely different.”
The seven-member cast has been in rehearsals since after Christmas.
The production is Walker’s first turn in the director’s seat, though she herself has written several plays and has played parts in other productions, such as Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None.She said the new role has had its challenges, given that many of the actors are seasoned directors themselves, including Dead Awake writer Brian March.
“We’ve been working so terribly hard, and it’s so much fun,” she said.
Dead Awake runs March 9, 10, 16, 17, 23 and 24 at Cedar Hall, and tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for youth. There will also be a preview performance March 8 — all tickets for that show are $10. A special dinner theatre performance will take place March 17 at a cost of $30 per ticket.
Prizes will be awarded to a few fortunate audience members who are able to successfully take a stab at the identity of the real murderer. Prizes could include tickets to the next YPDG production or dinner at the Crow and Gate Pub.
“There are so many twists and turns in the plot. I dare you to figure it out,” Walker said.
