The Review

Issue date: 10/12/07 Section: Mosaic

Media Credit: Sammi Cassin

Upon entering the small hotel dining room of the Courtyard Newark - University of Delaware, the kitsch ambiance of a small-town diner is evident. There are tables clad in white and blue checkered tablecloths and colorful posters bearing the name "Aunt Edna's Kitchen," where the food is "to die for."

However, the cute, down-home diner feeling ends there, as this is the setting for the Three Little Bakers' dinner theater, where attendees enjoy a fine-dining experience while simultaneously trying to solve a murder.

Diners are immediately integrated into the "Killer Cuisine" dinner theater, hosted by the fictional Howard family, and are told that, as possible investors in a new Aunt Edna's food chain, they have been invited to this dinner to sample some of her award-winning cuisine.

Aunt Edna, who has been on the lamb for the past 10 years, shows up at the diner where she befriends Alexis Howard. Meanwhile, Howard Howard, husband of Alexis, finds kinship with a second Edna who turns up around the same time. Minutes later, a third Edna (with suspicious leg hair and an Adam's apple) appears, claiming she is the real Edna.

As it turns out, Reginald, who used to work with Edna and is the only one who can identify the non-imposter, is shot dead before he can reveal the truth.

A web of secrets, lies and affairs soon unfolds.

The debacle is produced by Weber-Prianti Productions, a local company that provides entertainment and shows for the Three Little Bakers Dinner Theater, James Weber, producer of the theater company, says. They have partnered with the Courtyard Newark for the current show.

"The entire cast is local for this one," Weber says. "These actors are fun to work with and exceptionally talented."

Peyton Dixon, who plays Reginald Howard and is also the writer and director of "Killer Cuisine," says the show developed out of a request from Three Little Bakers for a murder mystery-type show.

"They had been looking for ways to expand their repertoire and I told them I was interested in a murder mystery," Dixon says. "I'm glad the Marriott took this chance to bring the show back. It's nice with all the changes in the arts community to have more shows opening. Keeping the arts alive is always good."

The show can be performed in a variety of locations due to the nature of murder-mystery plays, and Dixon says it has worked to the company's advantage.

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools