The Mumsy Murders, a new production of Onstage Performance Group of Barrie, will be produced at the Old Town Hall Theatre in Cookstown, from June 11 to June 22.

“What brings a comedy, murder mystery to life?” asks Robert Newby, the award-winning playwright and director of the production.

“Well, for one thing, laughter and lots of it. The emphasis of this play is on the zany characters and the offbeat humour that results from their antics. In essence, it’s a send-up of the classic, cozy murder mystery that takes place in the big country house during a storm. We’ve tried to keep it light and enjoyable for our traditional family audiences.

“Included in the bizarre lineup of characters are an aging Hollywood movie actress and her pet director, with whom she shares more than a business arrangement; a village psychic, who is convinced she has the power to see into the unknown and solve the murders; a displaced countess from a small principality in Europe; a hysterical young woman, who has just been released from a mental institution; and, of course, a brilliant professor of criminal psychology who must, at all costs, solve the mystery.  

“The setting is the hamlet of Mumsy on the eve of Hurricane Hazel. It roared through the Barrie area on a Friday evening in October 1954 leaving a wide swath of destruction in its wake. The play takes a few liberties with that event, and, as the evening progresses, the wacky situations multiply.
“Our goal is to bring the traditional family audience back into the theatre,” says Newby.

“There is no coarse language or horrific scene in this production; the emphasis is on just having fun.”

Reserved tickets are $14. At the door $18.

For tickets or more information, call 735-0697.