by Emma Fleming
On Thursday, Nov. 8 the Parkland Theatre Program will be presenting the opening night production of The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 by John Bishop, located in the Harold and Jean Miner Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Following the show, director Mathew Green and his cast and crew will host a “talkback,” and answer any questions that the audience might have about the show.
Mathew Green, the director of this production, has high hopes for the play. The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 will be the second production that Green has directed here at Parkland; Green’s first experience as a Parkland director was for The Crucible. Green is also a member of Urbana’s Station Theatre, where he has directed 12 different shows over a 15-year time period.
“My favorite part of the show has been working with the cast,” Green said. “We have a tremendous amount of fun every night – sometimes making each other laugh a bit too much.” There are 11 cast members in the show, who have spent almost five weeks preparing for opening night. The cast of this show includes Karen Hughes as Helsa Wenzel, Chelsea Collier as Elsa Von Grossenkneuten, Wesley Bennett as Michael Kelly, Jace Jamison as Patrick O’Reilly, Monty Joyce as Ken de la Maize, Mallory Sellers as Nikki Crandall, Quinton Ohlsson as Eddi McCuen, Jenny Gleason as Marjorie Baverstock, Ed Pierce as Roger Hopewell, Mindy Smith as Bernice Roth and Parker Evans as Dieter Wenzel.
According to Dramatist.com, this goofy play has been popular both on and off Broadway. “Poking antic fun at the more ridiculous aspects of ‘show biz’ and the corny thrillers of Hollywood’s heyday, the play is a non-stop barrage of laughter as those assembled…untangle the mystery of the ‘Stage Door Slasher.’” Bishop’s wit and fun spirit make The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 a must-see show.
“The play is first and foremost a comedy, but the plot is a murder mystery,” Green said. He explained that the play involves a group of Broadway professionals that have gone missing. “Broadway hopefuls have been lured to the home of an eccentric woman [Elsa Von Grossenkneuten] who might bankroll their new show,” Green said. “Like many others in the play, [Elsa von Grossenkneuten] has an ulterior motive.” Adding to that, Green mentioned that a key contributor to the plot are the handful of unsolved murders that occurred during a previous Broadway production. Elsa, the eccentric character, believes that she can solve the murder cases. “Oh, and there are Nazi spies, too,” Green states. “It is 1940, after all.”
This theatre season, Parkland’s Theater Program has turned its attention towards hilarious and engaging comedies. Green said that, “This show is pure entertainment. There isn’t much of a larger message beyond ‘enjoy yourself.’ Parkland’s theatre season, this year, is focusing on comedy and fun, and this show certainly delivers that.”
If there is one thing that Green thinks that everyone should understand about the show, it is that there is a whimsical, child-like feel to it. “There’s a very ‘Scooby-Doo’ quality to our show,” Green said. “There are secret passages, spies, blackouts, and killers in disguise. Two hours of silly mystery-solving, live on stage.” Are you looking for a night of laughter and wit? Grab a ticket or two for The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 and enjoy!
The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 will be shown in the Harold and Jean Miner Theatre from Thursday Nov. 8 – Saturday Nov. 10 and from Friday, Nov. 16 – Saturday, Nov. 17 at 7:30 p.m. The theatre program will also be presenting two matinees on Sunday, Nov. 11 and Sunday Nov. 18 at 3 p.m.
