Gaslight Theater Announces a collaboration between Gardiner Elks and Gaslight Theater “Murder on the Menu” By Bill Hand Published by Pioneer Drama Service.

Comedy mixes with a good mystery in this easy-to-produce dinner theatre show that could also be produced traditionally.  Artemus Ward, head of the lucrative family publishing business, falls face first into his mashed potatoes, revealing a knife in his back.  Luckily Dr. Bullfinger, an over-eager, newly elected county coroner, was dining at the restaurant and is eager to lead an investigation…  and give herself a career boost in the process!  It’s hard to say who did it considering everyone has a motive.  Reginald, heir to the business?  Major, who wrote the company’s bestseller but hasn’t received his royalties?  Alexis, four time widow of husbands who died at the dinner table?  The destitute nephew, Bernie, from the mailroom?  Or Eileen Morrow, a backstabbing attorney? 

Between scenes, there’s plenty of time for the audience to interact with cast members and discover additional clues so they can fill out their ”Whodunit?”  sheet.  The humor, twists, and surprises don’t end in this cleverly crafted mystery that’s ideal for high schools and community theatres.

• Cast of characters
• Artemus Ward—elderly murder victim: Philanthropic, crank, and opinionated owner and publisher of Ward books.
• Bernie Jones—Artemus Ward’s young nephew; an insecure loafer from the wrong side of the tracks.
• Eileen Morrow—Artemus Ward’s attorney at Law and executor of his will; Crisp and Professional, but cold and defensive.
• Jeannie Dell— young owner of The Manor, a barely surviving, but tasteful little restaurant; a trifle daft.
• Alexis Ward-Regent-Middlefield-Abernathy-Gillicuddy-Boskowicz— Artemus Ward’s oft-widowed Dickinson quoting daughter, whose sanity is more than a little suspect; acquisitions editor for Ward Books and signer of their one best seller, Steamy Nights in N’Awlins; she and her brother are heirs to Ward Books
• Reginald Ward—Artemus Ward’s son; warm as fish scheming as a snake; the other heir to Ward Books
• Dr. Bullfinger— the ambitious but incompetent newly elected county coroner.
• Major— an Ambitious and quick thinking journalist whose father was a big fan of Joseph Heller’s Catch-22

Auditions To be Announced