A dead body, a mad man on the loose and an isolated English country manor.
Theater critics have sat through this plot a hundred different times.
Whodunit? Was it the butler with the candlestick?
“The Real Inspector Hound,” satirizes the familiar murder mystery plot, with a twist. The Allen Community College Theatre will present “The Real Inspector Hound,” at 7:30 tonight, Friday and Saturday at the college theatre.
The story begins in the theater with critics Moon and Birdboot. Moon, played by Colton Schubert, is a second-string theater critic. Tonight he is glad to be alone, because he usually is in the shadow of a more known critic, Higgs.
Sometimes he wishes Higgs would just vanish. Birdboot, played by Barry McAnulty, is also a critic and loves the ladies. Although he’s married he tends to date actresses and give them raving reviews. He’s having an affair with an actress in the play he is about to review.
The play within the play takes place at an English country manor. Mrs. Drudge, the maid, played by Carley Nelson, turns on the radio to hear that a crazed mad man is on the loose. Drudge answers the phone and announces to the receiver, and the audience, that the manor is isolated on a cliff and her lady, Cynthia, owns the home. Cynthia’s husband Albert had gone missing many years ago. He is assumed to be dead after falling off the cliff.
Simon, played by Jason Davis, appears at the manor even though it’s secluded and there are no roads leading to the home. He is there to see Cynthia but runs into Felicity, played by JeriLyne Troyer. Felicity and Simon were together the night before and she is happy to see him but he’s not there for her. His heart belongs to Cynthia.
Cynthia, played by Alexandria King, is happy to see Simon but is still in love with her husband Albert. Meanwhile a distant relative from Canada, Magnus, played by Jordan Garcia, arrived a few days before.
As the night unfolds the household finds a dead body but no one knows his identity. Inspector Hound, Matthew Wynn, arrives on the scene to figure out the case.
Critics think they have the murder pinned down but this murder mystery isn’t as elementary as they thought. Moon and Birdboot become sucked into the plot. Literally.
“The Real Inspector Hound,” twists and turns frequently, leaving the audience guessing the murderer’s identity.
Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for students. Tickets can be purchased at the door or at Iola Pharmacy.
‘Hound’ leaves ’em guessing, laughing
