Homegrown’s production of The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 whisked me back 22 years to the old Spotlight Theatre at Ledges Playhouse where I played the drunken lyricist, Bernice (brought to tipsy life in this production by Debbie Lundeen) — and back to Riverwalk Theatre in 2011 when Bob Murrell first inhabited the role he’s reviving, the comically exasperated Roger Hopewell.
It’s such an intricately convoluted murder mystery farce, I hardly remembered “whodunit” with such a slew of suspects. It is not a musical, but a comedy about people who make musicals — particularly a musical with an unsolved chorus girl murder. Co-directors Susan DeRosa and Tom Webb met the challenges of this script with the help of set magician Bob Gehrls, secret passage specialist.
M.D. Nelson and Kallie Marrison added energy as the comic and the dancer, and I was sorry to see "divoon” Marjorie (Sandy Thomasson) killed off too soon (spoiler, sorry!) Performances were somewhat uneven, pace-wise, but the mysterious twists and surprises carried us through.
MCM of 1940 continues this Saturday at 7:30 and Sunday at 3. It’s an easy drive north on 127, turn right on Cass Street and you’re there in a few blocks, with convenient parking right across the street from The Wilson Center in St. Johns. Tickets are available at the door or at https://clintoncountyarts.org/experience-the-arts/homegrown-productions/