Letter from the Editor

 

 

 

 

It doesn’t take a lot of imagination to figure out who the rehab celebrities are supposed to be at the Sooner Theatre’s 2010 Musical Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre. There’s Tonya and Mel, Gary and Kristy, Oscar and Nurse Hatchet, Lindsey and Willie and a few other malcontents.

 

 

 

 

It does take more effort to figure out who might have killed “The Rocket,” a fellow patient undergoing celebrity rehab. Most of the characters had reason to eliminate him from their therapy sessions. He was often late, unliked, had swindled some of the patients, got a few in trouble and slept with the others.

The audience never really gets to know “The Rocket.” He dies quickly, setting the scene for a musical mystery whodunit featuring a a dozen community performers, most of whom will keep their day jobs for now, thank you.

The show, performed at the Old Town Plaza, was written by Sooner murder mystery veterans and city parks department staffers Jud Foster and James Briggs and choreographed by the Sooner’s own Jennifer Baker. It follows the therapy sessions of a handful of celebrities who have dealings with the victim, a professional athlete. All proceeds benefit the Sooner Theatre and its programs.

 Thursday night’s show includes a late dance-cam worthy cameo by Sheriff Joe Lester who is only following the tradition of Cleveland County sheriffs who aspire to the stage. Dinner was provided by Benvenuti’s.

Death at Rehab completes its run Friday, Feb. 12, and Saturday, Feb. 13, on the Old Town stage. Cost is $50 per ticket.

The “Murderous Mystery Tour” songs are well choreographed. The show features “Day Trippin,” with local architect Mark Krittenbrink as “Slick Willie,” “We Can Work it Out,” with city parks director Jud Foster and Jay Potts’ “Revolution.”

During breaks in the show, nurses with plastic bedpans and actors with deadpans work the crowd for tips as to the killer’s identity. Nurses Kris Abbey, Nancy Coggins, Terri Paden and Gaye Sayers prove they can work a room. Intermissions allow audience members to ponder who could have killed the Rocket. Although the clues are there, most of us found the ending a surprise.

Cast members include Jud Foster, ‘chelle Breedlove, Chris Maxon, Jay Potts, Kerrie Green, Jody White, Sharon Pyeatt, Damon King, Charlene Bradley, Mark Krittenbrink and Joe Lester. Musicians are Cindy Parsons, Richard Lock, Wes Sharon and Bo Pate.

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