Playwright Louis Palena scores with “Murder at Cheltenham Manor”

One of the exciting facts about our area is that there is so much talent, including playwriting, that we have the privilege to attend new work.
Louis Palena, co-artistic director and founding member of Music Mountain Theatre in Lambertville, N.J., has shown an additional ability of being a fine writer in the very arch murder mystery romp “Murder at Cheltenham Manor.”
If you like Agatha Christie, which is to say murder served elegantly with style and wit and a lot of twists and turns, again … as the English would say … this will be your cup of tea. And it certainly was mine.
It begins with Detective Basset played by the always engaging Alex Klein, interacting with the audience about a murder most strange that occurred at the family home of the Daltons, Cheltenham Manor.
The first mystery to be solved is “Who was murdered?” In a recount of the events, we do find out, but then “Who committed the murder? By the end we find out that as well and, a la “The Mystery of Edwin Drood,” which also did the same, the audience at intermission gets to vote on the 12 characters who could be the murderer. The script ending changes nightly as the votes will differ.
The story is that the family is coming together for the weekend at the family home of Lord George Dalton (David Whiteman) and his wife Lady Florence Dalton (Anna Hentz). Their children are Maud Dalton (Madison Kotnarowski), Bertie Dalton (Louis Palena) and Constance Dalton-Walker (Lauren Brader.)

Bertie is married to the actress Nora Davies-Dalton (Katie Rochon). Constance is married to Cyril Walker (Jordan Brennan). Also attending is a guest of Maud’s, Evelyn Edwards, the American suffragette (Cassie West).
The household staff are also under scrutiny by the police, which includes the head butler Henry Harris (Mike Prikril), the gardener Daniel McCarthy (Eddie Honan), the maid Mercy Clark (Jill Gibilisco), and a brand new staffer whose name is Phillip Martin. Two people show up for that job. Those people are played by Patrick Mertz and Rhett Commodaro. It begs the question as to who is the real Phillip Martin and who the other man actually is.
Mr. Bassett’s superior appears at the beginning of Act 2. That is Inspector Wallace, played with great aplomb by Patrick Lavery
Those familiar with the actors coming out of Music Mountain will recognize all the names and will, no doubt, want to see these great actors flesh out such juicy roles. Each part has its moment to chew up the scenery or to intricately weave their own yarn into the tapestry of an intricate whodunit.
A big shout-out to the beautiful costume design by Jordan Brennan, Travis Gawason and Ava Scanlon. Gawason is extremely talented and will be starting his freshman year at Shenandoah University in Virginia to continue a career in costume design. He already is doing amazing work. Also, another tip of the hat to Louis Palena, who along with writing and being in the show, directed it.
The show runs until June 27 and can be seen in the theater or online. This is a great family show. I highly encourage you to come and be the detective and solve the murder. You will die laughing. You definitely should take a stab at it.

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