Minot Area Theatrical Society's "Let's Murder Marsha"

Terry J. Aman/MDN - - In a scene from the Minot Area Theatrical Society’s comic farce “Let’s Murder Marsha” by Monk Ferris, Kirk Nybakken as Tobias Gilmore, left, plots with Angie Caskin as interior designer Persis Devore, right, to smash a champagne bottle across the nose of a seaplane he’s purchased as a birthday surprise for his wife, Marsha, played by Christine Morse, seated. Hilarity ensues as Marsha, a huge fan of murder mystery thrillers, overhears and entirely misunderstands their intentions.

The Minot Area Theatrical Society presents

‘Let’s Murder Marsha’

MATS opens its 2010 season

with a raucous comic farce

By CLEO CANTLON, Correspondent, cecantlon@srt.com

It was all a dreadful misunderstanding -- a combination of a husband's wish to surprise his wife on her birthday and the wife's vivid imagination.

Building on that promising combination, Monk Ferris, author of "Let's Murder Marsha," adds lively characters and plenty of plot twists to the Minot Area Theatrical Society's 2010 season opener.

The two-act farce, set in an upscale Manhattan apartment in the early 1980s, opens with stockbroker Tobias Gilmore, played by Kirk Nybakken, committed to surprising his wife, Marsha, portrayed by Christine Morse, with a spectacular gift for her birthday. He is determined not to share his secret with anyone, including their maid, Bianca, played by Amanda Kraft.

That degree of secrecy may not have been such a great idea. Marsha misunderstands his intent when she sees him coming out of the bedroom with mystery woman Persis Devore, played by Angie Caskin.

Persis, an interior designer, was essential to his wonderful gift. But Marsha, whose imagination is fueled by her love of murder mysteries, suspects her husband is planning to murder her -- a suspicion enhanced by overheard conversations.

Marsha and her maid, deciding that first-strike retaliation may be necessary, involve the neighbor, Virgil Baxter, portrayed by Graham Toler. Eventually the maid's boyfriend, police officer Ben Quade, played by Gerald Stevens, is drawn in.

Twisting the plot further is the arrival of Marsha's mother, Lynette Thoren, played by Ceecy Nucker. When her birthday gift of an unusual liqueur gets mistaken for poison, no one is beyond suspicion.

Characters

"The characters are wonderful," said Terry J. Aman, director. "For instance, the maid, Bianca, is like the other half of Marsha's paranoid brain. And the actors have made the play their own, adding lines, comedy and insights that really enhance the show."

He noted the commitment the actors took on in balancing rehearsal time. Morse, for instance, had to miss a month of rehearsal for her title role because she was on temporary duty in Texas with the Air Force and has committed to additional rehearsal time since her return.

Toler, an actor since childhood, said he loves playing the strange neighbor. The North Carolina native has also had to schedule rehearsals around a hectic Air Force schedule.

Caskin, whose Scots brogue enriches her character's femme fatale voice, praised the MATS.

"Since my husband, Steven, is in the Air Force, we move around a lot," she said. "We find community theater is a great introduction to a new community."

This is her third MATS production since they arrived last August. Steven has taken on stage manager duties for the production.

New mics

A welcome addition to MATS performances are lapel microphones donated by Nybakken.

"This is the first production when we can use the new mics," said Jaye Jameson, executive director for the MATS. "They are wonderful assets to let audiences hear all the clever lines over the noise from outside the theater, like pool noises."

Jameson, who also is assistant director for "Let's Murder Marsha," said the group has 10 mics, which should cover most productions.

"We seldom have 10 actors onstage at once, so everyone will be heard," he said.

Reservations

"Let's Murder Marsha" opens at 7 p.m. April 8 in the Vegas Motel. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for seniors and students.

Tickets are $20 for April 9-10 dinner theater performances, with grilled shrimp and pepper penne April 9 and pork tenderloin April 10. Dinner service begins at 7 p.m. The luncheon show April 11 begins at 1 p.m. and features grilled chicken melt. Tickets are $15. Meals are catered by Sevens, and ticket prices include the price of the meal.

Reservations are required at least two hours ahead of dinner shows by calling the MATS at 852-2290. Reservations cannot be taken by Sevens or The Vegas directly. Reservations may also be made via e-mail. For more information, log on at (http://minottheater.com/).

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