Peru's Ole Olsen will hold production of 'Murder at the Prop Table'

James Bennett, Kokomo Tribune, Ind.
·2 min read

Apr. 24—A prop table was positioned centerstage during an April 16 rehearsal at Ole Olsen Memorial Theatre. Cast members scurried across the stage in a whirlwind of visual gags. There was supposed to be a murder later.

The Peru theatre group will begin performances of "Murder at the Prop Table" with a dinner theater Thursday. More shows are scheduled through Sunday, then another batch will be performed May 3-5. It's the last show of the group's 59th season.

Performers said the stage design resembles Ole Olsen's actual backstage room.

The comedic murder mystery is centered around a theater performance. Audience members take a backstage view while an unhappily married couple bicker and attempt to reestablish their lost fame.

Lots of changes are made to the fake play, so the show's stage manager is constantly on edge.

Lynn Weil, who plays the frazzled stage manager, has experience as an actual stage manager. She admitted she can get a bit frazzled at times and remembered working on shows that went through constant changes.

Alan Myers, who plays a gardener named Hal, said one of the most accurate aspects of the show is how the characters have to deal with mistakes.

Director Bryan Bertoline said the cast have filled their roles well and have approached him with ideas for their characters.

"It looks effortless to them," he said. "I know there's been a lot of work in learning the lines and trying to figure out the character."

Cari Bean, who plays the unhappily married Lynn, said the production has been a bit of a homecoming for her.

"This is where I started to come and play pretend," she said. Having worked with most of the cast in previous productions, she said the return to Ole Olsen felt like coming home.

She said she hopes the audience laughs.

"You'd be surprised how much a rolling crowd just fuels people that are up there," she said, later adding, "it's always good to laugh, especially in 2024."

James Bennett III can be reached at 765-454-8580 or james.bennett@kokomotribune.com.