Murder mystery comedies are popular with regional community theater audiences and the Edmonds Driftwood Players and the Red Curtain Productions in Marysville offer some of the best, beginning Feb. 20.
Part murder mystery and part black comedy, “Death By Chocolate,” written by Craig Sodaro, runs through March 8 at the Wade James Theatre in Edmonds under the direction of David Alan Morrison.
The character Nick Noir, private eye, has fallen on hard times. His last botched case has cost him jobs. He may even be forced to fire his devoted secretary.
That is, until Vinnie the Leech falls over dead at Precious Perks Coffee Shoppe, poisoned by their signature drink Death By Chocolate.
Performances are 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through March 8 at 950 Main St., Edmonds. Tickets are $25, with discounts available. Book tickets online at www.edmonds-driftwoodplayers.org or by phone at 425-744-9600.
Agatha Christie’s “Spider’s Web” runs through March 1 at the Red Curtain Arts Center, 1410 Grove St., Marysville. Performances are 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.
Christie, the undisputed queen of theatrical murder mysteries, tells the tale of Clarissa, the second wife of Henry Hailsham-Brown, a woman adept at spinning tales of adventure for their bored diplomatic circle.
When a murder takes place in her drawing room she finds real drama much harder to cope with, especially as she suspects the murderer might be her young stepdaughter, Pippa. Worse still, the victim is the man who broke up Henry’s first marriage. Clarissa’s dramatic flair only serves to cloudy the waters as she and her guests try to determine the culprit and outwit the police.
The production’s cast and crew, under the direction of Victoria Ritchey, hail from Seattle, Bothell, Lake Stevens, Arlington, Mukilteo and Stanwood.
Tickets for “Spider’s Web” are $15 for adults, and $12 for seniors, students and military personnel. Not appropriate for children younger than 12. Buy tickets at the Red Curtain Art Center from 2 to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
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