Murder Mystery Dinner Theater

The Pocahontas Opera House Murder Mystery Dinner Theater is back on schedule. The interactive murder mystery and immensely popular fund-raiser for the Opera House will be presented in October. Guests will once again get the chance to watch a murder unfold over dinner, interrogate the suspects while enjoying dessert, and find out “who done it” by the close of the evening.
This year’s production, Murder at Marlinton Abbey, will be presented October 27, 28 and 29 at the Opera House in Marlinton at 6 p.m. Tickets cost $40 and will include dinner (Rayetta’s Lunchbox lasagna), beverages and an evening of fun and mystery. Tickets will go on sale September 7, and can be purchased through the Opera House website pocahontasoperahouse.org or by calling the Opera House at 304-799-6645. 

Murder at Marlinton Abbey is written and directed by Pocahontas Opera House Board member and local playwright Arla Ralston. Ralston describes the play as “Downton Abbey meets Young Frankenstein.” 

The play, set in the 1930s, centers around Marvin Marlin, played by Jesse Groseclose, who suddenly finds himself heir to his family estate and a large fortune in England. The play takes place in a castle in the English countryside where a number of guests/suspects are gathered for dinner. The cast includes Marvin’s new wife, Myra (Brynn Kusic), Lady Mary, (Kristen Beverage), the Duchess of Durbin (Ruth Taylor), her son, the Duke (Brian Cannon), the Vicar Woodrow Worthington (Nathan Dameron), the cook, Martha White (Blair Campbell), and Boris the Butler (Bob Martin). The psychic called in to help solve the crime is played by Leslie McLaughlin.

Guests will be seated at tables of eight and people are encouraged to get a group of friends to go together and join in the fun. Some folks who really like to get in the act may want to come in costume. 

“The Opera House will be decked out for Halloween and there will be opportunities for photos with the cast,” Ralston said. “If you’re into it, just wear what you would normally wear to a spooky castle dinner party in the 1930s.”