Act4 Rocks First Show of 2016

Many of the Act4Murder cast have participated in large scale stage productions, and I like to think of those groups as something akin to orchestras while Act4 is more like a rock band. Meaning - with our minimal props and small casts - we can adapt to last minute changes (in other words, crises) better than, say, the local production of Mary Poppins or whatever.

For our first show of 2016, we had planned to do our old tried-and-true redneck wedding show Podunk Pandemonium at La Paz in Destin (a great venue, and all you Destin residents should throw your support behind Chatham Morgan's just-announced City Council bid). We had an informal rehearsal the Tuesday prior (okay, we drank and ate a lot and might have gone over some of the script) and everything seemed fine.

Friday, as my job description as the Act4 Ninja specifies, I got the Podunk props, along with my guitar, harmonica, costume and finally-broke-in cowboy boots together early so I could work on my other job as editor of the local entertainment publication The Beachcomber. I planned to arrive at La Paz around 5 p.m. to get the show ready prior to the guests' arrival around 6:30.

At around 3, I received notification that one of the cast members had been rushed to the hospital and would obviously not be able to perform. Since we didn't have an understudy for this particular role, we freaked out for a while and then decided we'd put on our go-to show Decked Out for Death. This show was written by Act4 founder Paula Hilton with the idea that we could switch out any or all of the characters and actors and still make sense.

Phone calls were made, and two of the actors not in Podunk graciously came in at the last minute, while the remainder of us had to brush up on completely different characters and dialogue.

And somehow that first show of the new year went off without a hitch. Literally. Because nobody got hitched, because we didn't do the redneck wedding show.

Anyway, big thanks to my cast mates Joe Chase, Sally Whitesell, Cynthia Bergquist and Kay Yarbrough for your spectacular hoop jumping. The cast member that had to go to the hospital is doing fine by the way. 

We're excited to be back at La Paz Friday, Jan. 22, for A Condo to Kill For. Or maybe something else depending on how things go.

Because you just never know, do you?

- Chris

Annual October Frenzy!

The past week with Act4Murder was filled with the usual October craziness - several shows at multiple locations.  It's funny because in October we also compete with the World Series, the NFL, and about 15 different Halloween-themed fundraisers and events, but we still manage to bring in decent-sized audiences and have a blast in the process.  This year was particularly challenging because we had two shows on one night - and one of them, for over 200 guests, was in Mobile, Alabama.  It meant Chris and I had to figure out how to split up the sound equipment, table decorations, and "dead" props (stretcher, wheelchair, guns, that kind of thing). But we did it, and we both managed our shows (him in Crestview, me in Mobile) effectively with no giant problems.  Made me feel pretty good about how efficient we've become.  And both casts did a great job too!

Chris managed three more shows this week - 4C BBQ in DeFuniak Springs, La Paz in Destin, and our final Halloween show last night at The Club at Hidden Creek in Navarre.  He did a fantastic job, as usual, and I couldn't be happier with our October shows.

Next up, a slew of private parties.  They're coming in fast and furious and I'm having a heck of a time keeping up! But if you're thinking of hiring us for your own party, just send me an email and I'll get you on the calendar.

Happy November everyone! -- Paula

Two for Two at Destin, Florida's Dinner Table

Our second show at The Dinner Table in Destin was just as fun as the first, maybe more fun. Our Oct. 22 performance of Pirates, Lies and Mail-Order Brides (formerly Sex, Lies and Mail-Order Brides) was a big hit. The cast - me, David Smith, Mark Clutter, Ken Olson, Mary Ann Troiano and Kristi Morris - was spot-on, the audience was lively, and restaurant honcho Bridget Carnley and her staff did the expected great job.

Nobody outside of the cast dressed like a pirate, aside from one guy that sported an eyepatch during the last scene. Another fellow brought a bottle of Pyrat Rum that he refused to share with the cast (can't say I blame him). The audience question and answer participation segment was particularly memorable.

We can't wait to go back to this place, so call 'em up or stop by (breakfast and lunch daily except Wednesdays, dinner Thursday through Saturday) and tell them to bring back Act4Murder!

If you still want to see our latest pirate spectacular (complete with song and dance numbers!), make your reservations for next week's shows in DeFuniak Springs and Navarre at www.act4murder.com.

- Chris

We Know All About Your Privates...

We love performing for private groups, whether it's 20 or 200 (or more). Friday night, Act4Murder customized Redneck Rivalry - a funny and songful story of feuding cousins, love triangles and bacon - for 60 very enthusiastic folks in town from California. The cast - me, David Smith, Sally Whitesell, Kristi Morris and Karen Monroe - were provided with some personal info on the guests from our generous event organizer Don Fruta, and all were well-received by the targets of our "additional dialogue."

We can do the same for you and your friends. Just check out the private party info on our website, act4murder.com.

If you'd like to see Redneck Rivalry, we'll be back at La Paz in Destin (one of our new favorite venues) Oct. 30. Restaurant honcho Chatham Morgan promises some fantastic costume contest prizes, and we're looking forward to going back there.

- Chris

Act4Murder's Sally Whitesell and Kristi Morris working on their important pre-show tasks at La Paz in Destin, Florida.

Murder on the Docks

Saturday night the gang dusted off their machine guns and zoot suits to perform Gangsters on the Gangplank, a Prohibition-era show that takes place on a boat. This was a private party for a nice Pensacola couple, The Simpsons (no, not Homer and Marge), who won this performance in an auction for the Pensacola Little Theater (yes, Act4 does support other theater groups in the area!).

Our hosts were very generous, all the guests dressed appropriately, and lots of hooch was consumed, contributing to the overall good vibe.

We didn't actually perform on a boat, but the view of the docks behind the Simpsons' home was breathtaking. There was also some kind of wedding party going on at a place on the other side of the water, and when my character Smokey Provolone came back in at one point, I had to make reference to that futuristic "gangsta rap" song we could hear on the Simpsons' back porch. (It was "Regulate" by Warren G and Nate Dogg.)

Thanks again to everyone that came to the party, the catering team, and our own terrific cast - Joe Chase, Kay Yarbrough, Mary Ann Troiano, Jim Downum and David Smith. We love doing private shows in people's houses, boats and whatnot. If you'd like to host your own Act4Murder party, check out our website.

- Chris

Another Great New Act4 Venue in Destin, Florida

Thursday night, we had the pleasure of performing our first Act4Murder show at La Paz restaurant in Destin. Chatham Morgan and his staff were spot on, everything ran smoothly and on schedule, and the audience enjoyed our Fab '50s show Bebopped at the Sock Hop.

The cast--Missy Rogers, Mary Ann Troiano, Ken Olson, Heidi Best-Swift, Karen Monroe and myself--was amazing as always. I especially enjoy the new "twist" I added to my character, the washed up jazzbo DJ Barry Contrary--all the music is on good ol' vinyl. The food was great, too, and we can't wait to go back there.

Thanks again, everyone. Best Throwback Thursday ever!

Our New Performance Location in Destin Is to DIE For!

Last night, Act4Murder had its first-ever performance at The Dinner Table (or The Breakfast Table, as it's known weekday mornings and early afternoons) in Destin. Usually when we go into a new location, there are some expected bugs, foul-ups and general confusion. But this place? None, whatsoever! My only gripe is that we didn't start performing here sooner.

The show we did, A Vacation to Die For, was well-received by an audience of locals (including one nice couple that literally lived right across the street) and visitors. The audience participation was at an all-time high, and our fake musical duo, the Wonky-Wunkus Mariachi Mystique, actually had six bucks in the tip jar at the end of the show. (We gave it to Kay Yarbrough, who lives in Pensacola, for gas money.)

We've been doing this show a lot for the past five or six years with the same cast (me, Kay, Jim Downum, Mary Ann Troiano and Cynthia Bergquist), with only a few occasions of other Act4 actors stepping in as understudies. It's hard to keep this particular production fresh, but thanks to the great audience and restaurant staff, A Vacation to Die For has been seriously revitalized. (Keep in mind, the last time we did the show was for a private group of mostly teenagers, and we were interrupted constantly by passing trains outside...)

Anyway, looking forward to going back to The Dinner Table Thursday, Oct. 22, with our brand new pirate show. If you missed last night, you need to come to this one. If you came last night, you already know you want to go back.

Did I mention the food was delicious?

- Chris