by Annie McGrath

Info at the end of this post on a special performance of the play that will include a booksigning by local mystery author Lorie Lewis Ham.

Mark Twain, played by Ron. W. Bates, roasts Edgar Alan Poe in Murder By the Book, opening November 7 and running for four weeks. In this murder mystery dramedy, we meet the Raven Society and its colorful members. Edgar Alan Poe, played by RaeLynn Royer, the founder of the Raven Society, bids the society good evening and commences with the “sacred duty” of selecting the winner of the prestigious “Smoking Gun” award from amongst all the mystery books published this year. At the end of the weekend, they will also “plunge the dagger” into the worst mystery of the year.

Cast of “Murder By the Book”

Jules Verne has committed a grievous sin and so has been ousted from the club to be replaced by none other than famous ladies’ man Shakespeare, played by Jared Kirk. Shakespeare then proceeds to woo all the ladies and irritate all the gentlemen.

After receiving a threatening letter, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, played, by Wayne Tilley, suggests that all the “chaps” investigate. Outside they find a strange woman, Violia Danglon, played by Melinda Boutte, lurking around. She claims she is the housekeeper who was hired to “cook and clean up after the rich folks,” but is she all that she seems?

Cast of “Murder By the Book”

When Emily Dickinson, played by newcomer Tammi McCort, drops dead, Poe and Agatha Christie, played by Kim Spicer, do some sleuthing in the fashion of Inspector Dupin and Miss Marple to discover who is committing such heinous acts. Meanwhile a game of cat and mouse is played by the ladies: Mary Shelley (Diana Trejo), Louisa Mae Alcott (Debra Garske), and Charlotte Bronte (Bridget McCort), who all try to get the elusive Shakespeare alone.

Who is the killer?

Will any of them make it out alive?

Or will they all fade “OUT OF PRINT!”

Tickets sell out fast, so get yours today at kingsplayers.org

The Kings Players are Located in the old Chinese school building in the heart of Hanford’s China Alley Historical District, 514 Visalia Street Hanford, California.

SPECIAL BONUS EVENT BOOKSIGNING BY LORIE LEWIS HAM:

Local mystery author Lorie Lewis Ham will be doing a booksigning at the November 23 matinee performance of Murder By the Book. Her books will be available for purchase, and she will be signing them, before the show, during intermission, and after the show. Having a mystery author at the performance of a mystery play sounded like a perfect fit! Lorie writes the Tower District Mysteries set in the Tower District of Fresno.

In case you aren’t familiar with Lorie’s books, here is just a bit about them. You can learn more on her website.

One of Us (book 1)-
A woman starting over. A gossip website. A handsome playwright with a dark side. A director with an explosive temper. And a murder without a motive. It’s a mystery set in the historic Tower District—Fresno’s dining, arts, and entertainment hub.

One of You (book 2)-
Secrets, gossip, theatre, mystery writers, and murder! A Halloween Mysteryfest. Or is it a murderfest? One author murdered, others attacked. Is the killer writing their own murder mystery in blood? It’s a mystery set in the historic Tower District—Fresno’s dining, arts, and entertainment hub.

If you love local theatre, be sure to check out Mysteryrat’s Maze Podcast, which features mysteries read by local actors. You can find the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, and also on podbean.

Check out more theatre reviews & other local entertainment articles in our Arts & Entertainment section. You can also find more theatre coming up on KRL’s Local Theatre event page.