By Kayli Miller
In Motion Staff Writer
The showings of Murder at Cafe Noir raised around $15,000 for student scholarships and dazzled 825 spectators in the News-Journal center one weekend in October.
Set on the island of Mustique, a murder occurs and it is up to the audience and the character Richard Archer, private investigator, to figure out who done it. By a show of hands the audience was given a few opportunities to help Archer decide what to do next and at the end everyone got to guess who committed the dirty deed. From the sassy prostitute to the scar face thief, from the bold and bossy restaurant manager to the creepily silent waiter, everyone is suspect.
“Everything was perfectly organized. I liked the floor plan and the way it moved around. They kept surprising me. Each character became more and more intriguing,” said audience member, Jeannii Berg.
Witty humorous dialogue, lively music, tasty eats and spirited audience interaction provided guests with a riveting entertainment experience. Walking into the Grand Lobby at the News-Journal Center was like entering a time machine.
The 10 cast members, dressed to kill in fedoras, flashy long dresses and gangsta suits were in character before the show even began. As if they were the restaurant staff, they assisted in seating the guests who entered, using accents and theatrical 1940s lingo along the way.
The cast and lobby alike were decked out in black, white and silver. The theme colors worked well to encourage the audience to feel as though they were immersed in a black and white crime detective film.
Daytona State College student, Matthew Mercer played Archer and prepared for the lead role by watching clips of classic Humphrey Bogart flicks such as “Casablanca.”
“To get into the character I took on that kind of suave persona. I tried to get into the mindset of the detectives that were in those old movies and the way they got the lay of the land and got the ladies,” said Mercer.
The audience members were arranged as though they were actual guests of the Cafe Noir. There were two stages that the characters periodically used for musical numbers or dramatic monologues, however the majority of the murder mystery performance happened off stage. The cast was constantly shifting positions, they weaved around the tables playfully interacting with the audience members during and in between skits.
“I liked that there was an open concept, there wasn’t just one stage, there were multiple places to look and that there was group participation. You kind of got to form a little community with your table. It was a lot of fun. I liked the comedy of it, the whole entertainment value was amazing,”said attendee, Jacklyn Hauge.
The show was presented by DSC’s Mike Curb College of Music, Entertainment and Art in coordination with the Association of Florida Colleges. Hair and make-up was done by DSC’s Cosmetology Department and costumes were designed by the Technical Director of the Theater Program, Sarah Yates. The show was directed by the DSC Theater Professor Samantha Stern.
“I was very pleased with how the show went. The audience really seemed to enjoy the world we created and had fun interacting with all the characters. I am incredibly proud of my students — I hope they will always remember this experience,” Stern said.
For information about upcoming events visit the website
https://daytonastate.edu/thearts/drama_performances.html