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Death by Fatal Murder

Roy Simmons (Squadron Leader Allwright), Bonnie Theriault (Miss Joan Maple), Jennifer Briere (Nancy Allwright), Jonathan Demers (Enzo Garibaldi), Kyle Rictor (Constable Tomkins), Matt Bailey (Inspector Pratt)

 

 

PUTNAM — Fall is here and the Theatre of Northeastern Connecticut at The Bradley Playhouse has just the play to usher in this spooky time of the year. Death by Fatal Murder is a murder mystery/comedy thriller which opens Oct. 6 and runs for three weekends.

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21 and at 2 p.m. Oct. 8, 15 and 22. Tickets are $20 for adults and $16 for seniors and students. All seats are reserved. Reservations may be made with a major credit card online at www.thebradleyplayhouse.org or by calling 860-928-7887. Tickets may be purchased at the theater box office, either before the performance or at the door. Purchasing your tickets ahead of time is recommended.

Death by Fatal Murder was written by Peter Gordon, who has a well-earned reputation for his comedies in which chaos and confusion arise out of everyday situations. The play is a spoof on Agatha Christie’s well-known murder mysteries. All this leads to an evening that will keep you guessing and laughing as you and Inspector Pratt try to solve the murder.

The action takes place in a British country manor in 1940. One of the local constables is missing and the bumbling Inspector Pratt is determined to discover what happened to him. Throw in a cast of eccentric characters, an unexpected arrival and a spooky séance and you won’t know if you should be on the edge of your seat or rolling in the aisle.

The TNECT production of Death By Fatal Murder is Co-directed by Kathy Parker and Jennifer Briere, who also plays Nancy Allwright, the owner of the manor. J. Matthew Bailey appears as the clueless Inspector Pratt who is assisted by Inspector Thomkins, played by Kyle Rictor. Other characters include Miss Joan Maple, the local amateur sleuth (think Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple) played by Bonnie Theriault, and upper crust farmer Ginny Farquhar who is portrayed by Larissa Bailey. Natasha Darius is the clairvoyant Blodwyn Morgan and Jonathan Demers appears as the skirt chasing Enzo Garibaldi. Squadron Leader Roger Allwright played by Roy Simmons and Gary Kobza as Constable Atkins complete the cast.

Kyle Rictor, who appears on the Bradley stage for the first time, is actually an accomplished musician who just moved here from Nashville. He has been an independent musician for 10 years and won a Grammy for songwriting in 2015. Over 50 of his songs have been featured in film and television.