Hutchinson Theatre Company presents its annual Fall Dinner Theatre Show at the Crow River Winery. Maureen Style is directing this This 1940’s “detective story come to life”
What made you want to direct Murder at Cafe Noir?
I loved the challenge of this show! This is something HTC has never done before. I love the opportunity to bring something new and fresh to the audience and also the actors
What unique experience will the audience have with this show? This show will take place right in the audience. It is not like your typical show that is set on a stage. I think this will be a great experience for the audience to be that close to the actors. Also the audience gets to vote every night on who they think committed the crime and which direction the show will take!
What has been the biggest challenge during rehearsal?
Because this show takes place in the audience it was difficult to rehearse not being in the space the show will take place. As a director it was difficult because of all the little changes that need to take place with this type of show. I think for the actors to get their heads around the fact that the audience will be all around them is another challenge.
As a director how do you balance the creation of “over the top characters” with real people audience members can relate to? Each of the characters are so rich, they have so much to offer the story. These characters are over the top and in some ways hard to grasp; they are real but then there are the moments when their human element shows and they have the ability to reach out and grab the audience.
As a director with characters like this I like the actors to explore and try some new things with their characters. Then it is my job to “pull the character back” a bit so they do not become a caricature of the character the author of the play intended.
This is a show you do not want to miss. The talent of the actors is amazing, the new experience for the audience will be something they won’t soon forget!!!!
Tickets for Murder At Cafe Noir can be purchased online at http://www.hutchtheatre.org/box-office/, or at Hutchinson Center for the Arts and the Chamber of Hutchinson.
Audience members are encouraged to wear 1940s attire.
Doors open at 5:30pm
Meal starts at 6:00pm
Show starts at 7:00pm
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