A circus clown and a regional actor have combined their talents to perform in the Mystery Cafe and serve as co-owners of Strange Haven Productions.
"I'm always living on a shoe string (budget)," Christopher Haven Jones said. "Each decision I make is very important. It could make or break us."
Jones is in his second year with the cafe. The Indianapolis-native graduated in musical theatre from the University of Arizona and has appeared in local and regional theaters.
"I was an actor, and I was burned out about four years ago with auditioning and the dealing with the rat race," he said. "A friend of mine asked me to fill in a role at the Mystery Cafe. I came back for two more shows and struck up a deal with Joe. I told him I would lend my expertise for a year and then be a co-owner."
They spent several months seeing how it would work out.
Jones can still remember his first show with the cafe. His biggest mystery was trying to figure out how to remember his lines in a mermaid costume.
"My very first show I never got the script until about 40 hours before the show," he said. "I had never done this before. When I arrived, I was told I was going to be in a mermaid costume, and I flipped. This was really hard for me because I figure out the moves and then remember the lines, and a mermaid doesn't move, so I forgot my lines"
People who know Jones have different views about his career selection.
"My mother wished I had a more traditional lifestyle," he said. "My friends in the industry are mildly impressed. I talked with my professors this week, and they aren't really surprised by this."
The other half of Strange Haven productions, Joseph Strange, comes from a different background. He's performed as a clown for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Garden Brothers Circus of Canada and the Circus Fusco of New England. He attended Purdue University and the Ringling Bros. Clown College.
Strange is full of jokes and wisecracks. He's constantly mingling and making the guests laugh.
Aline Payne, the author of several plays performed by the cafe, enjoys Strange's nature.
"He's my favorite because he wears a little red nose," Payne said. "There aren't too many people who do that. I think it's very interesting."
Jones and Strange spend months preparing for each show and 16 hours each day getting materials together and constructing costumes. They also attend 20 hours of rehearsals weekly. Those are broken into six two-hour rehearsals and two four-hour rehearsals, with a full dress rehearsal on the last two days of practice.
"Me and Joe can do a little bit of a lot of things," Jones said. "That's why we work so good together."
Jones said the worst part of his job is when it's 4 a.m. and press releases are due, costumes need to be stitched and actors haven't learned their lines.
"It's all hard work putting together a show like this," he said. "It's hard trying to get a grip on everything that needs to be done."
He also says working at home is hard to do. At home, he doesn't have to dress and go to the office.
"There are lots of distractions, snacks and the TV," he said.
In spite of all this, he still enjoys going to work.
"It's very easy to get up and face the day," he said. "In the morning I'll have a list of things I want to do, and ask me at the end of the day, and I'll have a completely different list."
This style of dining began in Boston 12 years ago. Since then, performances have occured in 30 cities across the United States for more than a million people. The Cafe is America's original murder-mystery dinner theatre. The Indianapolis cafe has been entertaining guests for 10 years.
"It was a lot of fun," guest Jennifer Dixon said. "I've never done anything like this before. I don't get out much, but I'm so glad that I came tonight. It was a totally different experience."
Traditionally there are seven to 10 members in the cast. Some have performed with the cafe as long as ten years. Jones said most cast members are found by word of mouth. And The guests have a hard time figuring out who is a cast member and who is a guest.
The performers must undergo auditions. During the initial audition, they read a short monologue. At the call back they're asked to read various scenes.
In a few hours guests are served dinner, mingle with other guests, witness and solve a murder. The driving force behind the cafe is audience participation. Each performance is different because the audience is so directly involved with the outcome.
According to the cafe's Web site "the magic lies in the interaction and unbridled creativity which occur in a room full of people who began the evening as strangers, but go home as friends."
The Historic Hannah House
3801 Madison Ave.
Indianapolis, Indiana
317-787-8486
317-881-9136
www.hannahmansion.com
Mystery Cafe
E-mail or call for a seat info@themysterycafeindy.com
317-684-0668
Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
www.mysterycafeindy.com
Tickets: $38 (except for December shows)
-Includes dinner, show and all applicable taxes.
-Bar drinks and soft drinks are extra and are tallied on a separate bar bill.
You can pick up tickets by calling the box office at 317-684-0668
Check the Web site for coupons
What to wear: Dress is casual, but nice.
About the show:
The Blunder family has gathered to celebrate Helluva's 70th birthday. She has decided to divide the lands of her monarchy, Blunderland. The evening's events are centered around a gournet meal and hunt for criminals, clues and the treasure of Blunderland. As guests arrive they'll be given name tags and a temporary identity including instructions on what they have to accomplish during the evening. Two facilitators will help guide the guests through the evening's events and assist in making sure everyone performs their tasks and find the necessary clues.
The show is performed in several locations. The Milano Inn, 231 South College Avenue and the Hannah House, 3801 Madison Avenue in Indianapolis host the performance regularly. To make reservations call the box office to hear about the other venues or book the entertainment only and you can arrange catering at the location of your choice.
An actor bio:
Joshua C. Ramsey
He is a newcomer to the Mystery Cafe. He has appeared in several Indianapolis shows including Alex in Saving Grace at the Scottish Right Theatre, Nicholas in The Lady's Not for Burning at the Wheeler Arts Center and Biff in Death of a Salesman at the Indianapolis Civic Theatre.
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