Lauren R. Marshall, Salina senior at the University of Kansas, portrays Miss Tweed in the Kansas Mystery Theatre production of “Something's Afoot, ” now playing at KU. In character as the eccentric sleuth, Marshall investigates new KU Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Richard Lariviere.
A musical spoof of the “who-dunnit” mystery genre, Something’s Afoot takes a satirical poke at Agatha Christie’s murder mysteries as well as at many musical styles of past years.
Ten people, all stereotypical British characters, have been summoned to an isolated English country estate on an island in the middle of a lake, somewhere in the English Lake District. The setting is the estate of Lord Dudley Rancour, the unseen host who turns up dead within the play’s first five minutes.
In typical and humorous fashion, a (very) sudden raging thunderstorm knocks out the bridge and therefore all communication with the outside world, leaving the survivors to fend for themselves. As they try to discover which one of them is the murderer, they are picked off by varied and interesting means, and left to panic while bursting out into song every few minutes.
Suspenseful in its own way, Something’s Afoot has a ridiculously funny plot and over-the-top characters. Although a parody, the plot is well woven and features both lively music and an engaging atmosphere.
Unless noted, all performances are at 7:30 p.m. in the Crafton-Preyer Theatre
* 5:00 p.m.
Character | Cast Member |
| Hope Langdon | Laura Fleming |
| Lady Grace Manly-Prowe | Alicia Gian |
| Colonel Gillweather | Lawrence Henderson |
| Flint, the Caretaker | Justin Knudsen |
| Geoffrey | Eric LaPointe |
| Nigel Rancor | Patrick Lewallen |
| Miss Tweed | Lauren R. Marshall |
| Clive, the Butler | Jeremy Riggs |
| Lettie, the Maid | Courtney Schweitzer |
| Dr. Grayburn | Carter Royce Waite |
Something’s Afoot
