Back in 1989, Cher released a major hit called If I Could Turn Back Time. In our everyday life, everyone knows we can't turn back time.
However, Criselda Mierau, artist director of Acting Out Musical Theatre (AOMT) is going back even further to the 1940s in her latest production of Murder, Mayhem and Music taking place June 1 at St. Albert Legion.
AOMT’s Forte Plus choir of 32 voices and Readers Theatre cast of 13 voice actors create the world of a 1940s radio play. It’s a musical comedy where the audience breaks through the fourth wall and witnesses all the elaborate shenanigans actors and singers do to create a semi-realistic murder.
“We even have a Foley artist who creates sound effects. Ruth Kult is our Foley artist, and she went home and made every sound effect. She even has to bark. A body drops on the floor. There’s traffic. A gun shot. It’s very visual to see her making all these gyrations. Everything happens so quickly. She barely has time to finish one sound effect, and she must pick up another sound effect,” said Mierau.
Murder, Mayhem and Music is set in 1940s Cairo and heats up when two sisters arrive in the packed city looking for adventure. As they travel through the heavy traffic and settle into their hotel, they meet a series of characters including Honor Posey, the host, Mr. Smooth, the hotel detective, a barfly as well as thieves planning to steal priceless gems.
When the sisters visit a local museum, a blackout occurs and priceless gems disappear. Adding to the mystery theft is a dead body falling to the ground.
“The whole show goes so off the rails, but it’s very funny,” Mierau said.
Forte Plus is a choir of older singers as is Readers Theatre. In scripting this show, Mierau wanted to place their talents in the spotlight as a show “for seniors by seniors.”
“Our seniors are very energized. They work hard and have a lot of input. It’s really cool to see how far along they’ve come in two years. I’m excited to see them so engaged.”
The show starts off with the jazz song, As Time Goes By, laying the groundwork for the play. The song was performed in the 1942 film Casablanca by Dooley Wilson as Sam, the piano man with a soulful voice.
Acting Out Musical Theatre also collects monetary donations for food banks and is asking guests to support those in need with a small financial contribution.
More information is available on the website at aomt.ca.
