Murder and a love triangle appear to be the ideal match for the Elmira Theatre Company’s season opener, Murder at the Howard Johnson’s.
A husband, a wife, and a lover find themselves in quite a predicament at the local Howard Johnson Hotel. Murder is expected to ensue.
Director Michelle Kreitzer says they like to kick off their season with a funny, lighthearted play whenever possible.
“That’s really what this show is all about,” Kreitzer said. “It’s full of punny, corny jokes and if it’s done right then people can laugh non-stop through it. It’s a really good play to start the season because it’s going to get everybody off on the right foot.”
Written by playwrights Ron Clark and Sam Bobrick in 1979, the play originally takes place in the ’70s, but ETC has set it in the present day, including current music.
“There are a couple references that are a little old, but it kind of goes with the characters, so it’s not as big a deal. It’s kind of timeless, so it works out okay,” Kreitzer said.
The entire play happens in a Howard Johnson Hotel. Arlene and Paul Miller are having some difficulties in their marriage, not helped by Arlene’s lover Mitchell Lovell. Lovell, Elmira’s own Andy Wasylycia, is their dentist, and a man of wild fashion. He believes he’s what every dentist should be, Kreitzer explains. And Arlene, played by Sandra Stewart, just can’t resist him.
“She wants to grow. She’s a housewife, but she wants to grow and learn. So she starts getting into some personal, self-growth and that’s what carries her through the play. She grows as a person,” Kreitzer said.
Steve Whetstone, as Paul Miller, is a used car salesman who always seems to get the short end of the stick in life.
Kreitzer says there are a lot of lines in the play audiences will recognize as things they’d like to say, but never would.
“It’s a lovely story and I think people will connect with the characters and who they are because in spite of the comedy, and in spite of the over-the-topness, they are real people. So I think they will connect with the emotions of the characters,” Kreitzer said.
With only three speaking roles, the play requires lots of prompt work. Each actor has to learn a slew of lines, but still be right on each others’ words, not letting the dialogue drag. Timing is crucial and as with any comedy, they have to know how to play the jokes, without going too far.
![Murder and hilarity are at the forefront of the Elmira Theatre Company’s production of Murder at the Howard Johnson’s, which runs Sept.17-26.[Whitney Neilson / The Observer]](https://www.observerxtra.com/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/post_arts_murder.jpg)
“Because it is a show about murder, there are different methods of murder. So they have different things that they have to deal with. They don’t kill anyone in the audience, I’ll tell you that,” she laughs.
The cast has been rehearsing since July and with only seven shows, she encourages people to come out and see it. She hopes people will take away a night of laughter. The first time she read the script she laughed out loud. She gave it to a friend and they laughed out loud. They gave it to another friend and the play publisher and they laughed out loud. Clearly, this show will leave you with a tummy ache.
“We’ve had a blast rehearsing it,” Kreitzer said. “We spend so much time laughing, it’s unbelievable. I think it’s very funny. Laughter’s the best medicine right? If you’re feeling a little sad or you’re feeling a little happy, it’s the best thing you can do is come out and enjoy and laugh.”
The Elmira Theatre Company production of Murder at the Howard Johnson’s runs September 17-26 at the group’s 76 Howard Ave. venue. Show times are 8 p.m., except for a 2:30 p.m. matinee on Sunday. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at the Centre in the Square box office in Kitchener by calling 519-578-1570 or 1-800-265-8977, online at www.centre-square.com or www.elmiratheatre.com.
