The board president Rita Cannon has been killed, left face down in the swamp. Now the Adirondack Community Theatre is down to its last five members and all suspect is the murder.
That is how "The Conflict Within" begins, how it ends is the audience's guess during this audience participation murder mystery.
The tale unfolds at Lisa G's Restaurant. After dinner the first act of "The Conflict Within" is presented, giving audience members clues to who could have laced the ACT president's martini flash with sedatives and then putting the president to bed, face down in a swamp. All the motives are presented, but it will be up to the audience to interview the cast on the Adirondack Scenic Railroad. as it journeys to Saranac Lake.
Once in Saranac Lake the play ends with the Killer revealed. The four mystery trains will have a different ending, taking place the first and third Tuesdays in July and August. On the return trip to Lake Placid dessert will be served.
"The Conflict Within" is another thrilling Gem*Boy Production murder mystery, with an all-star cast and will be staged at Lisa G's in Lake Placid on July 2, 16, August 6 and 20. Each performance begins with cocktails at 5:30 p.m.
Filling in for the missing president is Dina Tonic (played by Chris DeHond). DeHond plays the backwoods bumpkin with comic flair, spitting out jokes quicker than she fills her spittoon. Tonic always wanted her 'friend' on the board and now with the Cannon gone, perhaps now is the time. Reason enough to say bye (spit) bye to the late president.
The ACT resident writer, Rocky Manov, had his reason, namely without the Cannon around he just might get his plays produced. The part of Manov is played brilliantly by Doug Fransen.
Carol Fischer might work for the state police, but it didn't stop her from holding a grudge against Rita Cannon. Cannon destroyed a Fischer family heirloom and maybe have sealed her fate. The character of Fischer is played by Jessica M. Deeb with wonderful seething indignation. Even when not seething, Fischer could have killed the hard drinking president.
Nan Battaglia, the child rep on the board, seems innocent enough, until she opens her mouth and then she removes all doubt about her innocence, but did she do in the president that refused Battaglia a chance at stardom or was she selling Naked Mind CDs. Battaglia is played by Alyssa Cavallo, a new comer to the Gem*Boy stage, but not to theatre.
Rounding out the board of thespians is Al Capella, along with his acting talents he is a used car salesman, and of course the word 'sleazy' is redundant when it comes to Capella. Capella loves power, power that he had when he was president of the ACT board. Power he might get back now that Cannon is dead. With Capella there is not enough alibi for innocence and just enough motive for guilt. Two talented performers, David Niederbuhl and Jeff Letson, will share this role during the summer run.
Enjoy the ride of your life with the dinner theatre and train ride production of "The Conflict Within." Package includes dinner, train ride and theatre performance for one low price. For more information and reservation call: Adirondack Scenic Railroad., 877/508-6728
"The Conflict Within" was written by Gem*Boy
Check out the Hotel Saranac performance