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Comedy whodunnit on stage at WBHS
by Gregory R. Norfleet · News · April 28, 2016


The Barnsley Inn in New England would normally not accept guests this time of year, because a poltergeist named Marco likes to throw knives around the place.


It’s bad for business, you know, when guests drop dead.

Yet a storm forces a band of tourists to seek shelter and the owners of the dilapidated 18th-century inn, the Talbots, reluctantly accept them.

West Branch High School’s drama club takes on this comedy whodunnit with shows 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday. There is also a special dinner theater mini-mystery 5:50 p.m. Saturday.

“It’s good actors in a funny play,” Nick Madsen, who plays Jake Talbot, said. “It’s good old-fashioned family fun.”

This will be Madsen’s first time acting, and his character is the son of the primary owner, Martha Talbot. Jake Talbot is a no-nonsense survivalist type and the inn’s groundskeeper.

“The cast is very goofy,” he said, “but Jake is the normal one.”

On the flipped-out side is Martha Talbot, who believes in the gypsy ghost Marco and does her best to try to hide all the knives in the inn, in hopes of keeping her guests alive until morning.

Katie Hovancik, who plays Martha, said it does not help matters that Martha forgets where she hides the knives … and then goes out and buys more.

“My character spooks everybody and is not fond of these particular visitors … visiting at an inappropriate time,” she said.

This is Hovancik’s second play, and she likes the “diverse and interesting characters.

“Be sure to duck in and come see me, the crazy owner,” she said.

Yet Martha is not alone with her quirky view toward the supernatural. Jenna Bower plays Murial Lampmann, who is obsessed with the paranormal and “very airheaded.”

“She feeds into the freaky murder feel,” Bower said. “She’s also creepy, which gives a lot of suspicion to the overall theme.”

Bower, president of the Drama Club, is now in her third year of acting.

“(Murder Inn) is very funny and different from what we’ve done in the past,” she said. “Come out for a good time.”

Linzee Espensen plays Doris Brooks, one of the tourists traveling with her best friend, Grace Sharp, a sarcastic and snarky woman to Doris’s down-to-earth manner.

“There’s some really funny moments,” Espensen said. “I think it’s a really good production.”

Madsen said the group has put in a lot of hard work memorizing their lines and practicing their blocking, but they are having fun along the way.

The play is written by Howard Voland and Keith McGregor. Tickets may be purchased at the high school; for more information, call WBHS at 319-643-7216.