NORMA RICHARDSON :::
What do you get when you combine a bit of Victorian melodrama, a bit of “Wuthering Heights,” a bit of Alfred Hitchcock’s “Rebecca,” a bit of penny dreadful horror and a whole lot of laughs? You get “The Mystery of Irma Vep,” the third production of Main Street Players’ 2017-2018 season.
The tale begins within the confines of Mandacrest Manor in rural England, where Lady Enid Hillcrest attempts to settle into life with Lord Edgar, her new husband. Alas, life in the manor can be a little unsettling. The peg-legged butler, Nicodemus and the scheming housekeeper, Jane, have lots of troubling stories about the manor’s dark history… and Edgar’s dead wife, Irma Vep.
Thus begins a gleefully satirical mystery that will leave you doubling over with laughter. Before the show concludes, you’ll be treated to a whirlwind trip to an Egyptian tomb and appearances by vampires, mummies and werewolves.
“The Mystery of Irma Vep” was written American playwright Charles Ludlam, and first premiered off-Broadway in 1984. Ludlam wrote many different works over the course of his career but reached a new level of success with Irma Vep. By 1991, it had become the most-produced play in the United States. Tragically, Ludlam would not live long enough to see the show reach the height of its popularity; he passed away at the age of 44 in the spring of 1987. However, The Mystery of Irma Vep remains a beloved comedy, and has received numerous successful revivals in the United States and abroad.
All the roles in Main Street’s production of “The Mystery of Irma Vep” are played by two actors – Curtis Brown and Walker Davis, two versatile, talented men who will be faced with the challenge of leaping in and out of different characters at a delightfully frantic pace. The play is directed by Norma Richardson, who is also Main Street’s artistic director. The set is designed by B.J. Hughes, while costumes are provided by Creative Costumes.
“The Mystery of Irma Vep” opens Wednesday, Feb. 21 and runs through Sunday, March 4. Wednesday-Saturday performances are at 7:30 p.m., while Sunday matinee performances are at 3 p.m.. Tickets for this show are expected to sell quickly, so make your reservations today by calling the box office at 770.229-.9916. Remaining tickets will be available at the box office the evening of the performance. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and $10 for students.
Don’t miss this inventive, hilarious show!