34WEST Mystery recalls days of '40s radio

The audience will participate to help solve the crime.
By L. CROW
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
If you like puns, the kind that make you groan, then 34west Theatre Company has just the play.
Called "Radio Theatre Mysteries," it is the sixth in a series of original dinner theater mysteries written and directed by Steve Baldwin, artistic director of 34west.
"It is set in the '40s, in a radio theater, WCLU, during the broadcast of 'The Shadow's Nose,'" said Baldwin. "There are a series of mishaps -- someone is trying to sabotage the radio program this evening. Detective Perry Columbus enters the scene and needs the audience to help him solve the crime. Everybody joins in the laughter and fun."
"These characters are larger than life," Baldwin continued.
"I play Perry, who is a recurring character in these mysteries and has become an audience favorite. He is a dim-witted Inspector Clouseau sort of guy. He is the emcee of the evening -- helps lead the audience to clues."
Another favorite character returns from last year's mystery, Sir Drake Cula, a legendary British actor who is washed up and can't get a job. "He is like Orson Welles in 'The Voice of the Shadow,' and is played by Jeffrey Querin," said Baldwin. "He is self-centered, egotistical, and also an ex-convict. He committed the crime in last year's mystery, and is now out on probation. He is cheesy, schmaltzy."
Other characters
Tiffany McMillan plays Shirley Dimples, a former child actress who can't get a job and is bitter about not being famous.
She wants to get out of radio and start her own cabaret.
Dotty Ditzy (Janet Cantelupe) is an aspiring actress, and Jack Altrayde (Steve Scott) is the sound-effects man, who is in love with Barbitua Stormclott, the station manager.
Barbitua, the station manager, desperately wants to open a cosmetic shop in Singapore and is played by Rebecca Whittenberger. "Barbitua is slightly medicated, so she is sometimes pleasant and sometimes snappy, and very colorful," said Whittenberger.
"We're not sure if she is in love with Jack, or just using him. Dotty, her sister, hates her. There is a love triangle involved, so the audience will have to figure out these relationships to solve the mystery. But there is also a money issue. She says she has a Swiss bank account, but where is she getting the money? She will need lots of money if she is to open a shop in Singapore."
Appealing
Whittenberger said she thinks this is one of Baldwin's best mysteries. "This is a great show that will appeal to the '40s crowd, but children will find it lots of fun, too," she said. "It has an interesting plot, and is funny and broad enough that everyone can relate to it. Steve has added a new dimension of audience participation -- the audience will be asked to give audible responses to certain lines. There are special effects, and melodramatic music."
"In each of our mysteries, we try for something different," said Baldwin.
"All the sound effects happen onstage, like doors closing, as they would at a radio station, so the audience can see it happen. And I love this era; it is lots of fun. We will be in period costumes."