Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site

Roaring ‘20s murder mystery at historic Harrison home

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By John Lyle Belden

Candlelight Theatre at the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site presents “Mobsters, Molls, & Murder,” an interactive mystery in which actors play the suspects and you guess who did the deed.

The home of America’s 23rd President stands in for the 1920s Chicago home and speakeasy of gangster Mickey Scapone, who has been found dead. A knife is discovered, but a gunshot was heard, and there’s also a half-eaten chocolate and some mysterious powder.

The play’s audience are divided into three groups, who are taken to various rooms to meet characters including Tony, Mickey’s lieutenant; Rosie, Mickey’s moll; Robin, the accountant; Bunny, the beautiful dancer; Harvey, the barman; and Senator Sly Schuster and his fiancé, Candy. After hearing their stories, we can ask the suspects for more details, as well as about the nearby clues (the private detective who wants this solved before the real police show up has marked 12 items throughout the house). We are each given a notebook and pencil to write down our findings and suspicions.

At the end, each group confers to give its guess of who killed Mickey, how, and why. I appreciated this cooperative approach, as I’m not personally good at guessing whodunits. The suspects are also all gathered at this point, so we can even ask additional questions.

Wendy and I enjoyed this theatrical adventure, even though our group didn’t get the right answer – we should have listened to the 13-year-old participant who fixated on the right clue (and gave us a well-deserved “told you so”). Everyone liked seeing the historic rooms with their antique furnishings and art, and a couple even dressed up for the occasion (Gatsby-style attire is suggested, but not required).

The cast includes Steve Viehweg as the detective and Candlelight Theatre creative director Donna Wing as Rosie. (We don’t have a full list and will add other names when we do.) As actors “lie” for a living, can what any of them say be trusted? Still, they give good in-character reactions to our inquiries.

One thing we must note is that moving around the building involves climbing up and down stairs from the basement to first, second, and attic levels. There is an elevator available, and staff are happy to assist those who need it. Also, the performance scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27, is “stationary” with participants staying in one room while the suspects come to them.

For a fun mix of history, intrigue and a sort of live-action game of “Clue,” investigate this production at the Harrison home, 1230 N. Delaware St., in downtown Indianapolis. Performances are Friday and Saturday, Oct. 18-19 and Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 26-27, with limited tickets, so go to bhpsite.org to get yours.

‘Classic’ mysteries presented at President’s house

PWJW_Indy Reviews, Stage , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

By John Lyle Belden

One of the more fascinating theatre experiences in Indy is the unique productions by Candlelight Theatre, taking place in the rooms of the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site. The Indianapolis home of Benjamin and Caroline Harrison has been restored and preserved with furnishings, art and accessories of the Harrisons, or of the period (late 1800s), so with seating for approximately 20 persons at a time we get an intimate immersive experience of a bygone era.

Thus we gain a new perspective on old stories, such as the spooky scenes of Candlelight’s spring production, “Classic Murder.” Guided to three different rooms of the historic house, we see Edgar Allan Poe’s “Fall of the House of Usher,” adapted by Candlelight’s resident playwright James Trofatter; “In Memoriam,” inspired by a popular Agatha Christie story, adapted by Marlene Remington; and “The Summer People,” by Shirley Jackson, adapted by Brainerd Duffield. Direction by Jill Whelan and Mavis Washington.

In the Sitting Room, we meet Ethan (Drew Carlson), concerned friend of Roderick Usher (Ken Eder). The servant, Miss Gray (Jill Whelan), is taking the dreary atmosphere in stride, even though Roderick’s dear sister, Madeline (Erin Fralick) looks like a living wraith. Madness is closing in on Usher, and could take everything and everyone with it! Even those familiar with the Poe tale can get a chill from the up-close view of this tragedy.

In the Back Parlor, five guests – played by Donna Wing, Brendan O’Sullivan-Hale, Hazel Gillaspy, Ellis Hall, and Stephen Moore – arrive at a mysterious isolated house. A letter alerts them that there is a purpose behind their assembly: vengeance from beyond the grave! Complete with all the twists and humor one expects from a Christie mystery, “In Memoriam” could also surprise you with the who, the how, and the why. 

Many of us have read Jackson’s “The Lottery” (I did in high school), so note its tense atmosphere with the potential of ordinary people doing extraordinarily macabre things also permeates “The Summer People.” When “city” couple Janet and Robert (Ann Richards and Steve Viehweg) decide to stay in their New England summer rental past Labor Day, the townies who had served their every need all summer (Coleen Kubit and James Hayes) don’t take the news well. In some places, change of season means more than just the calendar.

One weekend remains of “Classic Murder,” Friday and Saturday, April 28-29, at 1230 N. Delaware St., downtown Indianapolis. For information and tickets (as well as info on tours and other programs of the Harrison home), visit bphsite.org (click on “Visit” to bring up the menu for Candlelight Theatre).