Timaru’s world first
Timaru will host the world premiere of a British murder mystery farce with six possible endings.
The South Canterbury Drama League’s first performance of CUT! – about a dinner party host murdered by a guest, with a different culprit on each of the six nights – will be staged at The Playhouse on March 15 – three months ahead of the British premiere.
‘‘It’s not often that Timaru gets to do something completely new,’’ play director Stefanie Crawford said.
‘‘The fact we get a world premiere and say na-na na-na-na to Britain is fantastic.’’
Audience members will get a chance at halftime to guess who the murderer is and win a prize.
The play is a revised version of British playwright Robert Duncan’s Cluedo, which had successful runs in 1985 and 1990.
Crawford heard of Cluedo from a fellow cast member of Voices from the Front, a Kiwipenned WWI play staged in Timaru in August last year, while on the hunt for a play to direct.
‘‘It’s not the easiest of plays because it has a different ending every night. Trying to convince cast members to give it a go wasn’t easy,’’ Crawford said.
As well as directing, she had 300 lines to learn as Inspector. She was thrust into the role when the previous actress dropped out.
Crawford said she ‘‘believed in the play’’ and its ‘‘delightful characters’’.
‘‘It’s the banter between them that’s just so funny and each one of them has a real reason for hating their host,’’ she said.
‘‘I’m hoping the audience are roaring with laughter and I’d be surprised if they aren’t.’’