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Art of Murder by Joe DiPietro opens at Shoestring Theatre in Lake Helen at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 3. Directed by Andrea Finkle, the show features a fantastic cast: Adam and Larissa Roberts as a pair of artists in a somewhat dysfunctional relationship; Ava Kelley as Kate, their Irish maid; and Deshawn Warr, a newcomer to Shoestring, as the art dealer who makes them all money.
Art of Murder is full of twists, turns and surprises.
The centerpiece of the show and of the set is an isolation tank constructed by Bob Sollien and Rick Yates. Adam Roberts, as Jack Brooks, escapes from the everyday world around him into the tank that blasts “Que Sera, Sera” every time it is opened.
The set also features artwork by the cast and by Alex Finkle, recent DeLand High graduate and the director’s daughter.
The show is expertly stage-managed by Nancy Ballesteros and Cindy Dusenberry, with additional help from Nancy’s daughter, Nadia.
The blood-red walls of the set hint at the dark doings of the characters. From first to last, you will be on the edge of your seat figuring out who wants to kill whom and how they will accomplish it.
The audience needs to pay special attention to the relationships in the play, because the characters are constantly switching allegiances and only one of them knows how the evening is really going to end.
From beginning to end, this show is a roller coaster, and you might even want to see it again to pick up on the clues you missed the first time!
This play marks Andrea Finkle’s directorial debut at Shoestring; however, she has appeared in several of Shoestring’s productions as an actor, including Blithe Spirit, Dearly Departed, Second Samuel and Enchanted April, to name a few.
Art of Murder runs for two weekends, Jan. 3-6 and 10-13.
Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, with Sunday matinees at 2:30 p.m.
Tickets cost $18 for adults, $15 for senior citizens, and $10 for students and children. There is a special $3 discount each Thursday.
Tickets can be purchased online at www. shoestringtheatre.net, or by calling the Shoestring box office at 386-228-3777. Group rates are available for groups of 12 or more people.
