Signal Mountain Playhouse combines fun, mystery in ‘The Butler Did It, Again!’
Mystery lovers will be in paradise when they immerse themselves in “The Butler Did It, Again!,” which opens today at the Signal Mountain Playhouse at the Mountain Arts Community Center.
They’ll recognize many of the characters, the names just a shade off ones they’ve enjoyed in books and movies.
“It’s a comedy murdermystery spoof,” said Anne Rittenberry, corresponding secretary for the playhouse board.
The play, written by Tim J. Kelly, finds publisher and socialite Miss Maple (instead of Miss Marple) convening a group of mystery writers and mystery characters such as Louie Fan (Charlie Chan), Rick and Laura (Nick and Nora) and Chandler Marlowe (Raymond Chandler and Philip Marlowe) for “murder games” in a rented plantation house in the swamps of Louisiana.
Her plan is to introduce the varied detective types to her new literary find, Ruth Dice (Anne Rice), author of “Conversation With a Ghoul” (instead of “Interview With a Vampire”).
When a crime is committed, there are plenty of experienced hands around both to blame and to solve it.
Many of the actors, according to Rittenberry, are Chattanooga Theatre Centre and Signal Mountain Playhouse veterans.
“It’s a very well-done show,” she said. “All those people are well-known actors.”
Kelly previously wrote “The Butler Did It,” which includes many of the same characters, but Rittenberry said it is not necessary for theater patrons to have seen the first play to enjoy “The Butler Did It, Again!”
The play is directed by David Wood and presented in the National Register of Historic Places-listed Mountain Arts Community Center.
The ticket price includes dessert and coffee from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m. before the 8 p.m. show.
“It’s a good deal,” Rittenberry said.