‘The Butler Did It’ on stage in Hammond
It has been a long road back from temporary closure due to concerns about coronavirus for Beatniks on Conkey but the Hammond, Indiana, venue recently returned to monthly shows.
After the DJayma Show’s St. Patrick’s Day Show on March 14, 2020, Beatniks on Conkey closed and did not reopen until October 2020 for “Arsenic and Old Lace.”
The next Beatnik Entertainment show was not until June 2021 when “Making God Laugh” ran for two weekends.
“We had to have a couple of fundraisers and we had some sponsors or supporters of Beatniks that helped us through all that time. The city of Hammond gave us some money too,” said Bonnie Johnson, who created Beatniks on Conkey with her husband, Rip Johnson.
“Hammond Community Theatre had a little bit more money so they were able to help us with bills and stuff. We struggled through but we made it. We’re kind of on the other side although the pandemic is still there.
“There’s still a lot of concerns but we’re going forward for necessity. In order to stay running you have to have theater. We prefer live theater than doing it online like so many places have tried to do virtually. We have to have a live show every month in order to stay afloat.”
Hammond Community Theatre, which was in rehearsals for “Denial” at Beatniks on Conkey when the venue temporarily closed in March 2020, finally staged the play originally scheduled for April 2020 in August 2021.
Then Beatniks on Conkey presented “Fantome: An Evening of Ghosts and Gore” in September and Beatnik Entertainment presents “The Butler Did It” from Oct. 8 to 17.
“It’s a comedy thriller, which we love, and what could be better for October than a thriller?” said Bonnie Johnson, director of “The Butler Did It.”
“This one’s not scary. It’s a murder mystery play within a play. It’s definitely funny so it really brings a smile to your face. Everyone’s going to leave the theater happy and feeling good about the show.”
Walter Marks, a composer known for “I’ve Gotta Be Me” that was recorded by several artists including Sammy Davis Jr.,” and Peter Marks wrote “The Butler Did It.”
“It’s about a director that’s written a play. He’s a has-been director so this is going to be his big baby that he’s going to come back with,” said Bonnie Johnson, of Dyer, Indiana.
“He’s having problems getting the actors to respond to the murder correctly onstage so he decides to throw a supposed murder into it to get the right response from them.
“Things change and the next thing you know, you don’t know who’s dead, who’s not and who did it. It does make for some twists and turns but in a very funny way. It’s a lot of fun.”
The cast includes Dean Johanson of Griffith, Indiana; Diana Smoot, of Gary, Indiana; Rip Johnson; Ray Huntington of Hammond; Marilyn Catinella of Munster, Indiana; and Michael Depriest Reed of Robbins.
“They so good. A couple of them we’ve dealt with many times before and they’re always wonderful onstage. They bring such new creations to every character that we ask them to do,” Bonnie Johnson said.
“Then we’ve got a gentleman from Robbins, Illinois. It’s the first time he’s been in the show here.
He’s an accomplished actor and brings a lot to his part.
“We also have a new-to-theater person playing one of the bigger roles. She’s doing fabulous. She hasn’t been in theater since high school so we’re thrilled to have her be part of Beatniks.”
Delaney Craig, 15, of Munster, is director intern for “The Butler Did It.”
“She’s helping out. She’s been in a lot of shows at Beatniks. She’s a talented young actress. This is her first time doing tech so I’m super excited to give her this opportunity,” Bonnie Johnson said.
“She’s helping with lines and things like that and just helping me watch that things are in the right place. She wants to direct in the future so she’s learning the ropes.”
Beatniks on Conkey’s 2021 schedule also includes Hammond Academy of Science & Technology Theater presenting “She Kills Monsters” from Nov. 5-7, “The Babes & Boys Variety Show” from Dec. 3-5 and Hammond Community Theatre’s “The Charitable Sisterhood Christmas Spectacular” from Dec. 10-19.