'The Butler Did It' in new BPCT show

As the saying goes, it’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt and that’s particularly true in the Bigfork Playhouse Children’s Theatre’s production of “The Butler Did It, Singing.”

The show, a murder mystery musical which will be on stage Nov. 12 and 13, features a group of writers invited to an isolated house by a wealthy widow to masquerade as their fictional detectives. The hostess throws in a few spooks, but there’s one she didn’t plan on — that one of the guests would be murdered. That’s when it turns into a real “who-done-it” mystery.

Plans for the show itself also come with a twist. November’s show typically gets the smallest turnout of the group’s season, artistic director Brach Thomson said, though he’s not sure why. That’s why this year he decided to try something different.

“It’s traditionally slow for us. We thought we’d see maybe if going some place else would spark it,” Thomson said.

This show, the second in the group’s 10th anniversary season, also marks the children’s theatre’s first foray into dinner theater, which will take performances to BruMar Estate instead of the Bigfork Center for the Performing Arts. The dinner-and-a-show combination is also meant to serve as a fundraiser for the non-profit children’s theatre.

Thomson said he looked into a variety of scripts for the performance, including those with endings that can change with each performance. In the end, he decided to go with a show that didn’t feature those original endings because it only has two nights on stage.

“I wanted a show that was strong from beginning to end with all kinds of twists and turns,” he said. “The kids were really excited when they read the script.”

The show features a cast of 10. Thomson has also enlisted about a dozen other children’s theatre regulars for the chorus and serving staff.

The characters are modeled off of a number of popular literary detectives like Miss Marple and Sam Spade.

To help prepare cast members for their roles, Thomson gave each person at least three similar detectives to study through movies, books and other media prior to the beginning of rehearsals, he said.

“The show has a 40s feel, like an older-style horror movie,” Thomson said. “It has a little (Humphrey) Bogart feel.”

A live three-member band will provide the music for the show and will offer up entertainment during dinner. The band includes Thomson and two local youth.

The children’s theatre will be transforming the space at BruMar into a set and Gothic mansion, bringing in lights and other equipment to create a stage.

The dinner part of the evening will be a three-course chicken meal by BruMar.

Thomson encourages those interested in attending to get their tickets early.

Only about 175 tickets are available each night. Costs are $40 per person or $75 per couple.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.bigforksummerplayhouse.com/Children’s Theatre.html.

Reservations can also be made directly through BruMar by calling 837-2231.

Groups can also call BruMar to arrange seating together or to provide special meal instructions.