Published: October 11, 2006 05:56 pm      

Dinner Theatre makes its way to Fairmont

FAIRMONT — The area is about to get a taste of something different.

It’s an event a local theater repertory group and banquet hall hope community members will sink their teeth into.

Comedic Mystery Dinner Theatre will serve up its first performance on Oct. 27 and 28 at Christopher’s Banquet & Conference Center in Fairmont. The theater company will perform “Masquerade Charade,” written by Patricia Pagán of Fairmont.

It’s not only offering theater, but a full evening of food, music, costumes and socializing all with a “who dunnit” to solve.

Pagán, artistic director of the Dinner Theatre, started Parable Events LLC six months ago and says this kind of theater has been missing from this area. People enjoy it because of the unique experience.

“I think it’s the interactive theater (people enjoy),” Pagán said. “... People really do like to interact with the actors and become part of it.”

Tracy Young, manager at Christopher’s, says this is an exciting venture for the business, and she hopes the community will respond.

“It’s a fun evening,” Young said. “It’s something that you’re not going to be doing ever other weekend. You are going to go out, be dressed up if you choose, and have your meal and your show all in one place. And just sit back, meet new people, enjoy yourself and hopefully go away wanting more.”

The show is the weekend before Halloween, so people are welcome to wear costumes, plus the theme is a masquerade. The story is about a rich man who wants to tear down a mansion to build luxury condominiums and a murder occurs, which the audience has to figure out.

In addition to the set dinner theater dates, the show can be also purchased for private showings.

Pagán is taking her vision even further with planning to open Parables Events Cafe in downtown Fairmont, so they can have theatrical and musical events on weekend nights.

She thinks that this will add to the future of Fairmont.

“I think with the new plans for the revitalization of downtown, they want to be more art centered,” Pagán said. “I’ve been in meetings recently talking about how Fairmont doesn’t have the big shopping areas. Yet we’re between the three counties. We are like the heartbeat and the hub, and I think we are going to be known for art. I really do believe that this is just the beginning of something much bigger.”

Kimberly Linn of Fairmont, who plays Clara in the play, said it’s clean entertainment that almost anyone can enjoy.

“It’s going to give people a place to go. It’s going to be an alternative to the normal party lifestyle,” Linn said.

Lionel Bourne, who plays Clara’s husband Rufus, sees this benefiting a broad audience.

“There’s never been, that I know of, anything like this in this area,” he said. “It’s something new and exciting. We have something to offer the people in the area that hasn’t been here before, and it’s not just for this area but it’s for Morgantown, Fairmont, all the surrounding areas.”

The doors open at 6:15 p.m. and prompt 7 p.m. starts are scheduled for the Oct. 27-28 shows. The evening should wrap up around 10 p.m. Tickets are $38.95 plus tax, including performance, full meal, gratuities, beverages, dessert and after-show musical entertainment. For a limited time, buy one ticket get one half price. Advance tickets are recommended.

For tickets or information, call 534-3333 or go to ParablesEvents.com

E-mail Jennifer Roush at jroush@timeswv.com.