Laura Walsh, Helen Rusnak, Terri Marin, and Sheldon Hofferman during a rehearsal of “Death at The Devereux."
The cast of “Death at The Devereux," the spring performance of the Clifton Dinner Theater, will take audience members back to the 1920s in this musical-murder-mystery-comedy.
The musical, written by director Charlotte Yakovleff of Centreville, follows the grand re-opening of “The Devereux,” Bobby Lyle's speakeasy.
This is Yakovleff’s fourth year directing the Clifton Dinner Theater.
“A lot of people came back this year, and we have a lot of new faces,” Yakovleff said. “It’s always nice to see what the actors have to bring to the table, as far as developing their character.”
Yakovleff says this year is different, as she wrote the play and a musical is being done for the first time.
“A friend and I were brainstorming, and she said it was a cool concept. She asked if I would write it, and I said yes, not really thinking of how hard it was going to be, because it’s a period piece,” she said.
Yakovleff said learning the vernacular from the 1920s was somewhat of a challenge.
“I had to go and research. I spent a lot of hours watching period movies, like Dick Tracy and Chicago, and the Untouchables, just to get a feel for how those characters carried themselves, and what they said,” she said.
Lynne Strang, a Clifton resident who plays Mabelline Lyle in the play, is in her third year of performing for Clifton Dinner Theater.
“It’s a great group and lots of fun. There’s a lot of community spirit,” Strang said.
According to Dianne Janczewski, the show’s producer, the dinner theater has been a sellout every year.
“Most of the cast members are from the town. We first advertise within the town,” Janczewski said.
This year is also the first year the show is done in a lounge format. Dinner will be served by children from Clifton.
Matt Brooks, who plays Bobby Lyle, has lived in Clifton since 1998 but is participating in the dinner theater for the first time this year.
“It’s a lot of fun,” Brooks said. “I enjoy my character- he has the role of being a manager and a gangster-style person.”
The Clifton Dinner Theater is an annual event that raises money for Clifton. Cast members include several residents of Clifton, as well as Centreville and Fairfax.
Tickets are $35 for the Thursday, March 20 performance and $40 for March 21 and 22, and are available at several locations in Clifton, including All that Glitters, The Clifton Wine and Tasting Shoppe, Clifton Brite Cleaners and Hydrangea of Clifton. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the show begins at 8.