The Butler Did It

The American Red Cross plans another intriguing murder mystery for April 20 and 21.

The year is 1950. The head “Boss” of a crime gang from Kansas City, Missouri has rented a large house in Claremore for a meeting with Mr. Big, a rival gang boss from St. Louis. The Boss wants to meet with Mr. Big in a neutral location to discuss a truce or the union of the two rival gangs so they can take over all of the Midwest.

Of course, the plot thickens, just as all of Mark Ogle’s murder mysteries do. In “The Butler Did It,” Ogle has done it again with a play guaranteed to entertain and stretch the ­audience’s sleuthing skills.

Part of the fun of the ­murder mysteries written by Ogle is audience involvement and the opportunity to win the coveted “Super Sleuth Award.” Not only do audience members take a stab at who the culprit is, they must figure out why he or she committed the dastardly deed.

“When I write a play, I tell the story so that there can be three to five possible logical ­endings,” says Ogle. “I give many extra clues so there is no ­pre-determined ending. Sometimes I am not sure while I am writing who the culprit is going to be,” he adds.

“In the past,” says play ­director Dan Huey, “it has been known for the guilty party to change from night to night of the play’s performance. A classic example is the ‘Ghost in the Mansion.’”

Ogle and Huey’s partnership as playwright and director was formed in 2004 with that same play, which was performed at the Belvidere Mansion. “He does the writing,” says Huey, “and I do the directing. It’s a good partnership because I can’t write and he can’t act.”

Both laugh because even Ogle admits that he tends to overact, although he does appear in some of his mysteries. This is his 18th play, with two mysteries performed each year, one in the spring at RSU’s Will Rogers Auditorium and in the fall at Claremore First United Methodist Church, which ­collaborates with the American Red Cross in a dinner theatre. All proceeds from both ­performances support Rogers County American Red Cross ­disaster-related services.

The spring event, ­co-sponsored by Rogers State University and Rotary Club of Claremore, will take place this year on April 20 and 21. “We are very grateful to RSU because they allow us to use the theater for rehearsals for a week leading up to the play’s debut,” says Huey.

Audience members will delight in the return of some well-known characters from past Ogle plays, including Deputy Harold, a cousin to Sheriff Buford Tullis, who will also appear in “The Butler Did It.”

David Brace will return as Deputy Harold. “Once he puts on the costume, he is Deputy Harold,” says Ogle.

Another character, Deputy Harold’s friend, is Filbert, played by Ted King. Filbert owns a used car business and is a “wannabe detective,” says Ogle. “Filbert graduated from the Acme School of Private Investigators in Las Vegas.”

Twenty-three actors will round out the cast of characters, including David Barron, RSU’s executive director of enrollment management, who will portray “The Boss.” This is Barron’s third play with the American Red Cross.

Eight youth, ranging in age from eight to 15 years old, will also appear in this classic ­mystery with the iconic “butler did it” theme. Other familiar ­acting faces will also include Ken Skidmore, Celina Davis, Dakie Reeder, Ray Crawford and Lisa Fink, along with a host of ­new faces.

Both performances will begin at 7 p.m., with doors ­opening at 6. Cost is $15 for adults and $5 for students­. “We invite everyone to come to this family-oriented, clean entertaining fun,” says Ogle.

 

For more information, contact

American Red Cross

(918) 344-8842