Batavia High to put on 'Musical Comedy Murders of 1940'
Batavia High School's winter play, "The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940," is coming to the main stage at the Batavia Fine Arts Centre, 1201 Main St.; use the Wilson Street entrance.
Performances will be 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 1 to Saturday, Feb. 3, with a matinee at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3.
Tickets are available online at www.BataviaFineArtsCentre.org and at the box office by calling (630) 937-8930.
Tickets are $12 online or $14 by phone and at the box office.
"The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940" pokes fun at the more ridiculous aspects of "show biz" and the corny thrillers of Hollywood's heyday. This play is full of non-stop laughter as those assembled (or at least those who aren't killed off!) untangle the mystery of the "Stage Door Slasher."
In the musical, the creative team responsible for a recent Broadway flop (in which three chorus girls were murdered by the mysterious "Stage Door Slasher") assemble for a backer's audition of their new show at the Westchester estate of a wealthy "angel." The house is replete with sliding panels, secret passageways and a German maid (who apparently "isn't quite herself today") - all of which figure diabolically in the comic mayhem that follows when the infamous "Slasher" makes a reappearance and strikes again - and again. As the composer, lyricist, actors, and director prepare their performance, and a blizzard cuts off any possible retreat, bodies start to drop in plain sight, knives spring out of nowhere, masked figures drag their victims behind swiveling bookcases, and accusing fingers point in all directions. However, and with no thanks to the bumbling police inspector who snowshoes in to investigate, the mystery is solved in the nick of time and the "Slasher" unmasked - but not before the audience has been treated to a sidesplitting good time and a generous serving of the author's biting, satiric, and refreshingly irreverent wit.
"This play is such a great comedy because it is really funny - and slightly disturbing - how many similarities there are between getting away with murder and putting on a theatrical production!," director Joshua Casburn said. "Every actor and every murderer is struggling with what they should hide and what they should reveal. Killers. Actors. Producers. Musicians. People. We all have a face under the mask that we only reveal strategically."
The small but talented cast of 10 actors features Batavia High sophomores Sophie Chahmirzadi and Maisie Sweeney, juniors Cate Rocha and Isaac Schifferer, and seniors Brandon Belair, Max Micheli, Emily Tae Smith, Natalie Sweeney, Meghan Tucker, and Abigail Weiss. Joined by understudies Anika Thoresen, Hannah Curran, Conall Haldeman, Landon Keller, and Kate Domeier, this cast is deep in rehearsals getting ready to make you laugh.
Tickets for these performances are limited, so don't delay in securing your spot to join them on this wild ride.