The Daviess County High School Theatre Department is gearing up to present “Musical Comedy Murders of 1940” by John Bishop, a comedic thriller that promises plenty of laughs and suspense.
Under the direction of DCHS Theatre Director Karen Feldhaus, the production will run at 7 p.m. on October 18 and 21, as well as at 2 p.m. on October 20 — with all three performances taking place in the Daviess County High School auditorium.
Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for students, with tickets available at the door. The Daviess County Speech team will also sell roses for audience members to give to their favorite stars.
The plot follows the creative team behind a Broadway flop, where three chorus girls were murdered by the “Stage Door Slasher.” The team gathers for a backers’ audition at a Westchester estate filled with secret passageways, sliding bookcases, and a German maid with a hidden agenda. When the “Slasher” reappears, chaos ensues as the cast members find themselves trapped in the mansion during a blizzard, with bodies dropping and knives springing out of nowhere. With no help from the police inspector, the masked villain’s identity is revealed just in time, ensuring a comedic and thrilling experience for all.
Feldhaus chose this production because the department hasn’t done a box set show in several years.
“Plus murder mysteries are fun and folks love comedy,” she said. “Our students were very excited about getting to be on a very cool set, designed and built by John Campbell. The cast was also eager to perform such a funny show.
Rehearsals have been underway since August, although the cast is currently on a break due to fall break. Feldhaus expressed her hope that the students will review their lines while on break, as she and a few others continue to work on the set’s finishing touches.
“Folks should check out this production because it has lots of goofy moments and secret passages,” Feldhaus said. “It’s just good fun and I would hate for anyone to miss out on that.”
