Elvis has left Bobcaygeon’s Lakeview Arts Barn — permanently — and its up to the audience to identify the culprit in Globus Theatre’s new summer murder mystery Who Killed the King, which runs for 10 performances from July 24 to August 3.
The comedic whodunit is written and directed by Globus Theatre’s artistic director Sarah Quick, who was inspired by the Collingwood Elvis Festival which, for 25 years until 2019, drew Elvis tribute artists and attendees from around the world.
Quick has mashed up Collingwood and Bobcaygeon to create the fictional town of Colligeon where, on the closing night of its fiercely competitive Elvis festival, the murder of one Elvis impersonator leaves the town all shook up. But unlike a traditional murder mystery, this interactive show asks audience members to turn detective and help solve the murder.
“The summer murder mystery is a real highlight in our calendar of shows,” Quick says in a media release. “It’s such a busy, fun time which sees the theatre bursting with laughter as people eat great food, drink fun cocktails, and socialize.”
Globus Theatre has brought together some of Canada’s best improvisers and performers — Kevin Sepaul, Jennine Profeta, Dave Pearce, Greg Komorowski, Globus Theatre’s own James Barrett, and Kerry Griffin — to act out the premise and engage the audience in solving the mystery.
“I had a great time writing the parts for our team of talented improvisers, imagining which type of Elvis impersonator they could be,” Quick says.
In addition to the dinner murder mystery experience, Globus is offering the family-friendly Downtown Detective Trail running outdoors along Bolton Street in Bobcaygeon, starting from the Globus Theatre box office.
Written by Canadian comedian Chris Gibbs, the Downtown Detective Trail will see youth participants in Globus Theatre’s summer performance camp act out a series of clues that attendees can gather to solve a fascinating mystery.
The Downtown Detective Trail begins at 2 p.m. on Who Killed the King performance dates (except Saturdays) and runs for around 45 minutes. Free with a purchase of a ticket to Who Killed the King, tours are otherwise $10 for adults or $5 for children. To sign up for a tour, visit globustheatre.com/2024-downtown-detective-trail.
As for Who Killed the King, seating in the Lakeview Arts Barn is set up cabaret-style (eight people per table) with audience members enjoying dinner while the performance takes place all around the dining room.
Dinner and the show begins at 6:30 p.m. from Wednesday, July 24th to Saturday, July 27th and again from Tuesday, July 30th to Saturday, August 3rd, with a 12:30 p.m. lunch and show on Saturday, July 27th. Doors open at 6 p.m. for evening performances and at noon for the matinee performance.
Tickets are $100 plus tax and fees and be ordered online at globustheatre.com/current-season/2024/whokilledtheking or by calling the box office at 705-738-2037 (toll free at 1-800-304-7897).
