Pages

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

FUNNY, FAST-PACED WHODUNNIT OPENS @ BICKFORD THEATRE THIS WEEKEND

Ravenscroft
an English drawing room murder mystery and a comedy

WHEN: Thursday, January 26, and runs through Sunday, February 12. Thursday, January 26 and February 2, 7:30 pm; February 9, 2:00 pm (audio described performance); Friday, January 27, February 3 & 10, 8:00 pm; Saturday, January 28, February 4 & 11, 8:00 pm; Sunday, January 29, February 5 & 12, 2:00 pm
WHERE: Bickford Theatre, Morris Museum, 6 Normandy Heights Rd., Morristown
TICKETS: $45 for the General Public; $40 for Seniors; $38 for Museum Members; and $20 for Students (18 & under or with valid college ID). Group rates are available.
Tickets may be purchased online at morrismuseum.org, by phone at (973) 971-3706, or in person at the Bickford Theatre Box Office.

Critics have praised the Don Nigro play as “written at the three-way intersection of Monty Python, Agatha Christie and Downton Abby.” Directed by Bickford Theatre Producing Artistic Director Eric Hafen, Ravenscroft is a production of the Morris Museum and Drew University.

The puzzler begins simply enough. On a snowy night, Inspector Ruffing is called to a remote house to investigate the headlong plunge of Patrick Roarke down the main staircase. Five alluring and dangerous women hold all the cards and all the answers: Marcy, the beautiful Viennese governess; Mrs. Ravenscroft, the flirtatious lady of the manor; Gillian, her charming but possibly demented daughter; Mrs. French, the formidable and passionate cook, and Dolly, a terrified maid. Ghosts on the staircase and skeletons in the closet intensify this psychological comic thriller with a twist. The suspense and laughter build to an uproariously chaotic conclusion.

Leading the cast of English oddballs is Inspector Ruffing played by Clark Carmichael of Montclair who most recently appeared on Broadway in Jumpers. Molly Garner of Bloomfield plays the hilariously wacky Mrs. Ravenscroft, Katrina Klein of New York City takes the role of Marcy, and Gloria Lamoureux of Succasunna plays Mrs. French. The production includes Drew University students Erin Farrah of Fayetteville, Arkansas as the often confused daughter Gillian and Jessica Sroczynski of Bayonne as Dolly.
“Combined with the thrill of a mystery, the laughter of a comedy, and the theatricality of its unique staging, Ravenscroft will play out in your mind as it does in the mind of our Inspector Ruffing,” says Director Eric Hafen. “We are pleased to bring this always popular show to the Bickford Theatre.” (Above: L-R Molly Garner, Erin Farrah, Clark Carmichael, Katrina Klein, Gloria Lamoureux, Jessica Sroczynski. Photo by Annie Belkin)

Ravenscroft is a delightfully unreliable murder mystery that will keep you guessing to the end. Who pushed Patrick Roarke down the stairs? You can be sure of two things: It wasn’t Colonial Mustard with a Candlestick. And you’ll be glad you didn’t miss the fun!

The Morris Museum’s Bickford Theatre is located at 6 Normandy Heights Road in Morristown, NJ, and offers free parking and full accessibility. Box office hours for phone sales are Monday through Friday, 10:00am to 5:00pm. Walk-up hours are Tuesday through Friday, 11:00am to 5:00pm.

Cast

Clark Carmichael of Montclair (Inspector Ruffing) – Broadway:  Jumpers; Bickford Theatre:  Dead Certain; NJ Regional:   Shakespeare Theatre of NJ, Two River Theatre; Other Regional:  Williamstown Theatre Festival, Hartford Theatre Works, Dorset Theatre. Festival, Pennsylvania Center Stage, Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, Missouri Rep; TV/Film:  Unforgettable (CBS), Boardwalk Empire (HBO)

Molly Garner of Bloomfield (Mrs. Ravenscroft)– National Tour:  Billy Elliot, Mary Poppins, 101 Dalmatians; Regional: North Shore Music Theatre, MUNY, Barrington Stage, Gateway Playhouse, West Virginia Public Theatre, Theatreworks
Katrina Klein of NYC (Marcy) – National Tour:  ArtsPower; NYC:  New Brooklyn Theatre, Gallery Players, Players Theatre; Regional:  Theater Barn, Newport Theatre Arts Center, STAGES Theatre

Gloria Lamoureux of Succasunna (Mrs. French) – NJ Regional:  Alliance Rep, Centenary Stage; other NJ Theatre:  Chatham Playhouse, Chester Theatre Group, Circle Playhouse, Holmdel Theatre Company; recipient of the NJACT Perry Award for Best Actress for the role of Shirley in Shirley Valentine at the Chester Theatre Group
Erin Farrah of Fayetteville, Arkansas (Gillian) – Senior at Drew University majoring in Anthropology and Theatre Arts; Theatre Credits:  Sandrine (Almost Maine), Baker's Wife (Into the Woods), Olive (Nothing is the End of the World Except for the End of the World), Rosalind (Moon Over Buffalo), Chloe (The Corporate Ladder)

Jessica Sroczynski of Bayonne (Dolly)– Senior at Drew majoring in Women's and Gender Studies with a minor in Film and Media Studies; Theatre Credits:  Kit/Waitress/Shona (Top Girls), Betty (Sure Thing)