KENOSEE LAKE - The Moose Mountain Players performed to sold out crowds at the Kenosee Lake Rec Hall from Nov. 24-26.
Murder at the Pie Auction is a comedy written by Michael Druce in which the lead judge of a pie auction is murdered. The performance was highly interactive with the crowd and there were laughs and gasps from the audience. At the end of the performance, the murderer was revealed.
The Moose Mountain Players was formed just prior to the pandemic and in 2019 hosted two events. This is their third such performance. The group consists of around 25 local members, and it is their goal to showcase the many talented actors and actresses that reside in and around the Moose Mountains.
Robyn Roy co-directed the play together with Ben Dubois and she was extremely pleased at how the event went.
“The audiences were great, everyone was energetic, and the performances were electrifying,” said Roy.
“The Kenosee crew put on a tremendous show,” said Nicole Currie of Carlyle. “They kept the audience on their toes and had tears rolling down their faces as they were all laughing so hard. Each character, including the singing ladies, played their part to a tee and was fully engaging throughout the show.
“You couldn’t take your eyes off any of them. They had great little takes on the Moose Mountain area, which added to the humour. Congratulations to all who were a part of the show. It was a huge success, and we plan on being back every year.”
Heather Vermeersch of Kenosee Lake provided an in-depth review of the show and was in attendance for all three days.
“The group did a fantastic job of telling the story of a murder at a pie auction,” said Vermeersch. “The scene was set at Kenosee Lake, and many local references were made throughout the production.
“Ben Dubois and Ron Bennett played the parts of Park CO’s Darrel and Darrel Junior. These two made quite a pair and did a great job of involving the audience.
“The cast was exceptional. Everyone took on the role of their character and added a flair and style that kept you in stitches. The character of Pheobe Muffet, played by Shelly Kapell, the local paper editor, was a hoot. Pheobe was quite a lush and her actions and attempts to ‘land a man’ and get a story just kept getting more outrageous as the play progressed.
“Darren Swanson, in the role of Roger Crustworthy, brought Disco to life. He had the looks, the moves, and the attitude. He had some seriously funny lines that brought the house down!
“Terri Field was flawless in her portrayal of the uptight Felicity Hubbard. She had an air of importance that added just the right amount of humour to the story.
“The French pastry judge Guy La Flour, played by Brian Rutten, was another notable character. His accent and actions were exceptional.
“We were thoroughly entertained by the horn playing of Clay Johnstone playing the role of Herb Carport. The choir sang renditions of disco songs which told the story of the characters and the play plots throughout the show. They had everyone clapping along.
“The costumes for all the characters were great. It was clear that a lot of time and effort went into making sure everyone looked like they belonged in the disco era.
“You could talk about each actor individually because they all did a superb job of portraying someone unique and interesting in their own way. Together the cast brought the play to life, and you could tell they were having so much fun. They brought the house down every night.
“So much work goes into a production like this, and credit needs to go to Robyn Roy and Ben Dubois as co-directors. They are fantastic at adding local flavour and music to any production Moose Mountain Players does.
“If you missed it, you missed a great time and some amazing talent. Congratulations to the group.”
Proceeds from the three-day performance will be used to assist with various upgrades to the Kenosee Rec Hall including adding various stage accessories and lighting.
“We had a fabulous time and right now another production is being planned for the spring of 2023,” said Roy. “Twhank you to everyone who attended.”
