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CVLT readies web of 'Murder'
(by Barbara Christian - August 11, 2011)
WINDOW ON MAIN STREET, BY BARBARA CHRISTIAN
CVLT readies web of 'Murder'
You know for sure summer is drawing to a close when news of the Chagrin Valley Little Theatre's annual fundraiser "Murder by the Falls" begins to appear in your favorite weekly newspaper.
Like dandelions in the spring, "MBTF," as it is dubbed, is a certain sign that autumn and back to school is not far behind.
And so, last week, there came a tweak from CVLT publicist Pat Mazzarino. It showed up in my email in box, asking if we could tease the public that "Spider-Man" is coming to Chagrin Falls. Board member and erstwhile theater board member Jean Hood thought it a good idea to "leak" that news to tickle folks' curiosity, Pat said.
Well, you don't have to have a nose for news to know that needed further illumination. So here's the scoop. "Spider-Man will be seen scaling (Chagrin Falls) building during the event ... They are awaiting permission," Pat clarified, albeit cryptically.
To promote this year's "Murder," based on the accident-prone production of the Broadway musical "Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark," little theater folks devised a show based on the well-publicized mayhem that repeatedly postponed the New York show's opening.
Locally, the role of the ill-fated musical's producer will be played by former television personality Jan Jones, a CVLT mainstay and regular "Murder" participant. Others in the cast will include Police Chief Jim Brosius and Mayor Tom Brick, both reprising their roles as themselves, which they have played both on and off stage for the past several years.
This year's "Murder by the Falls" is set for Sept. 9 and 10 at CVLT's main stage on River Street. Its titillating title is "Dead Again ... And Again."
If you have never gone to one of these CVLT audience-participation "murders," this would be the year to do it. You won't be disappointed.
Here's how it goes. Audience members watch the first act of the short two-act play. Someone is murdered, one of the characters is the culprit, and it's up to all of the audience witnesses to solve the crime and finger the guilty party.
At the close of the first act, audience members form teams and search for clues arranged in downtown Chagrin Falls store windows and from cryptic hints given by actor "clues" stationed around town ready to pass along the murder's back-story gossip.
Once the amateur sleuths have collected all of the clues, they repair back to the theater for food and drink. The teams then pool their clues and come up with the identity of the murderer. This is revealed during the second act, which follows said food and drink.
But identifying who did the dastardly deed will not be enough for the CVLT judges. Oh, no. The winning team also must come up with the motive. Not so easy, it requires audience members to pay attention to everything that is said and done by the actors.
As to that personal appearance by Spidey himself? To promote the event, a Spider-Man mannequin is being built and will be appearing on the face of a Chagrin Falls building near you -- if CVLT folks can get permission. But seeing as how the police chief and mayor are involved in the staged mayhem, that shouldn't be too hard.
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