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"Big Al's Boitday" is a great puzzler By Liz Dadson |
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If you enjoy murder mysteries and solving puzzles, you'll want to get a ticket to the Bluewater Summer Playhouse production of "Big Al's Boitday." The play opened last night (Aug. 9) to a small crowd but everyone was pleasantly surprised by the show. An interactive whodunit, the play opens with the actors mingling through the audience, putting a name sticker on each person - either his/her real name or a pseudonym, whatever the person prefers. The show is a trifle slow at the beginning, as five actors - Big Al, Harry, Jake, Edy and Geraldo - explain the story and set up the action. Then in walks Frankie who was supposed to be headed for the electric chair for killing "Big Jaw" a year before. He apparently received a pardon from the governor. Minutes later, as he grabs the microphone to make a big speech, Frankie is actually fried - electrocuted - and then the fun begins. After the intermission, in swaggers the detective, Corumba (a spoof of Colombo), who starts investigating what happened to poor Frankie. The show picks up speed as the actors and the audience start working with Corumba to find out who killed Frankie. There are a plethora of groaning puns, and excellent references to things Canadian and things Kincardine, including a report of the incident in the "Kincardine Times." Clues abound and, at the end, each member of the audience receives a card to fill out who he/she believes is the murderer. The cast is remarkable, sticking to the script at one moment and then improvising beautifully the next. Including the audience as much as possible is a definite skill and these actors prove they are up to the challenge. Michael Millar is tremendous as the detective, moving through the crowd and dropping hilarious lines along the way. He has an incredible ability to read the audience and works it to the show's best advantage. Joining him in the cast are Carol Riddell as Edy and co-director and -producer of the show with Millar; Kevin Burnett as the musical and whimsical Geraldo; Aaron Fallowfield as the methodical, financial guru Jake; John Bond as the "fixer" Harry; Peter Evans as the boss Big Al; and Quigley Wiggler as the boisterous wild man, and murder victim, Frankie. It's an interesting evening of fun and mayhem and if you want to find out whodunit, you'll have to get a ticket and go. The show continues today (Aug. 10) at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. (Ladies Night Out), and Aug. 11-12 at 8 p.m. The gala evening was catered by M&M Meat Shops in Kincardine, and the show is sponsored by Bruce Telecom and Greenfield Ethanol.
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The next production, "The Valentine's Day Masseur," is another audience participation, interactive show, also directed and produced by Millar and Riddell. It invites the crowd to take part in an infomercial for Alberto Valentine's world-famous Feel Good Centres. It's a big production: the best director, the best cameraman, and a surprise host! That show opens Aug. 16, with a gala at 8 p.m., and continues Aug. 17 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Aug. 18-19, at Scrolling stops when you move your mouse inside the scroll area. You can click on the ads for more
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