Waycross Area Community Theatre concludes its season beginning this week with its staging of “Murder’s In The Heir” at the historic Ritz Theatre, 309 Pendleton Street.
The production begins its sevenshow run at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 7. Other dates are Friday-Sunday, May 8-10 and Thursday-Saturday, May 14-16.
All shows are at 7:30 p.m. with the exception of a 2:30 p.m. matinee Sunday, May 10. Admission is $18, reservations are available at www.waycrossritz.com. Tickets may also be purchased at the Ritz box office beginning one hour before each performance.
Turn the game “Clue” into a play and you have “Murder’s in the Heir.” Nearly every character in the hilarious mystery has a weapon, opportunity, and motive to commit the unseen murder.
And it’s up to the audience to decide who actually did it. Each of the heirs to tyrannical billionaire Simon Starkweather has the means and the motive to do away with him.
Prior to his death, Starkweather summons his family and employees to announce the contents of his will. His lawyer, Lois van Zandt, reveals he’s bequeathed vast fortunes to his befuddled niece Fiona, her playboy son Jordan, his great-niece Paula (a Southern belle) and his grandson Simon III, as well as to his many servants.
Then van Zandt delivers the bombshell. Within hours this will becomes invalid. Of course, the rejected heirs are not pleased, so it’s not surprising when they roam the old mansion carrying such items as an ax, a gun, and poison.
Predictably, the lights go out, and Starkweather is discovered murdered. Simon III (played by the same actor who plays the elderly Simon) is determined to find his grandfather’s killer with the help of detective Mike Davis.
The play’s unique ending, utilizing secret ballots gathered at intermission from the audience, determines the killer in this Billy St. John maze of murder.
The production is directed by Cole Hendley, who’s assisted by Garrett Pritchett.
Memberships for WACT’s 20262027 season will be available during each performance. The upcoming four-show season includes “The Savannah Sipping Society,” “How The Grinch Stole Christmas,” “Annie,” and “The Mousetrap.”
