by Wyleen Luoma

For the second production of their 2017 Season, the Kings Players are presenting Murder Me, Murder Me Not, a hilarious romp of a mystery farce.

The characters in this wacky puzzler include Randolph Gaston, who’s been murdered (or has he?); his grieving widow Geraldine (who may or may not be grieving…or a widow); Alice, the family maid who serves up a whole lot more than tea and crumpets, and Father Bentley, the parish priest, who seeks to bring comfort to the Widow Gaston……and also to Mary Ellen, the Gaston’s very friendly next-door neighbor. And everybody seems to want the deceased’s insurance money.

Cast of Kings Players’ production MURDER ME, MURDER ME NOT!

Throw into the mix a “French” inspector whose accent defies detection and a confused boyfriend whose flustered demeanor is just the tip of the iceberg–and voila!–the result is an hysterical mix of misdirection, marital misbehavior, migrating mustaches, mistaken identities, double and triple crosses and semi- hidden bodies.

Among the cast of three women and three men (and ten characters) are two newcomers to the Temple Theater stage. Patrick Wilder portrays Inspector Fenwick Feydeau, his first time back on a stage in eighteen years. Patrick is having so much fun he’s already aiming to audition for upcoming productions. Steven Auyung as private investigator Ambrose Brinks is having just as much fun with his first-ever mustache and two-bit gumshoe accent.

Temple Theater veteran performers include Mike Spicer as Father Bently; Kim Spicer as Geraldine Gaston; Debra Lines as Mary Ellen Rodgers and Bethany Reynolds as Alice the Maid. Directed by John Rabe; Assistant Director Louella Moreland.

If you go:

What: Murder Me Murder Me Not!
When: June 2-3, 9-11, 16-18, 24-26. Friday and Saturday performances at 7:30 p.m., Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.
Where: The Temple Theater, 514 E. Visalia St., Hanford
Price: $12 if reserved at www.kingsplayers.net; $14 if purchased at the box office.

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