“Murder’s in the Heir” is the story of cranky, old, tyrannical billionaire Simon Starkweather, who calls his family and staff together for the reading of his will.
Though the characters are anticipating a sizeable portion of Starkweather’s fortune, their hopes are dashed as he has other plans for the money.
True to the title, the billionaire is eventually dispatched and it’s up to the audience to choose whodunit.
This weekend the Shadow Mountain Community Players will bring the story to life at New Hope Fellowship, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Cast member Carlton McCaslin plays Detective Mike Davis, who said nearly every character in the humorous mystery possesses the means, motive and opportunity to commit the unseen murder.
“He reads the new will and he will use his money to clone himself so he can leave his money to himself,” McCaslin said. “He would be the only man who leaves an inheritance to himself.”
The performance for all ages includes dinner.
McCaslin said it’s up to the audience to determine who killed the billionaire.
“By intermission time, the audience has met all of the suspects and they get to figure out who was the most likely suspect and they are usually right,” he said. “It’s going to be a different show every night.”
The play, which opened last weekend, will run for the next two weekends.
McCaslin, who’s been involved with the production company for more than 12 years, said Pahrump audiences seem to prefer murder mysteries.
“The audience seems to like those the most,” he said. “We also do the melodrama at the Wild West Extravaganza, but the audience here in Pahrump seems to go more for comedy than anything else. We put this play on about five years ago but we didn’t do it as a dinner theater.”
Shadow Mountain Community Players will enter their 13th season next year.
New Hope Fellowship is located at 781 West St.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m., while the bloodshed begins after 6:30.
Tickets can be purchased for $18 at the Pahrump Community Library or at the door.
For additional information call 775 727-6145.
Contact reporter Selwyn Harris at sharris@pvtimes.com. On Twitter: @pvtimes