Cast members in Friday’s “Murder at the Juice Joint” gather in front of the Model A in front of the library, and are, from left, Jacci Brown, Jan Elliott, Nick Roenfeldt, Dwight Coleman, Nichole Welsh, Dirk Weiss, Sue Moore, Rick Elliott, Rob Browning, Melody Newman, Doug Gaswick and Cindy Bahler. Friends of the Library organized the fourth annual production. (Johnson Publications photo)
Library’s murder mystery a hit; cast called ‘fabulous’
Friends of the Library could have sold 15 to 20 more tickets to Friday night’s “Murder at the Juice Joint.”
All 100 tickets for the murder mystery, at which the audience attempted to guess “who dunnit,” were sold several days before the production was staged at the Lied Imperial Public Library.
“It was so well received,” said Library Director Beth Falla.
“The cast was fabulous. It was so funny,” she said.
While they were all “crooks,” Police Chief Cameron, played by Nick Roenfeldt, was the culprit who murdered Juice Joint owner Rosie Marie’s husband.
Besides Roenfeldt, other cast members were Melody Newman, Rosie Marie; Rick Elliott, Notorious Nick Nemetz; Rob Browning, Cy Ramsey; Cindy Bahler, Kitty Cocktail; Dirk Weiss, Southside Sal; Sue Moore, Flora Nemetz-Gadora; Jacci Brown, Molly Moll; Dwight Coleman, Mayor Biggs; Jan Elliott, Cigarette Girl Cindy Butt; Doug Gaswick, Bootlegger Bernie Booze; and Nichole Welsh, Investigator P.J. Pinkerton.
A Model A Ford owned by Stan Cross of Lamar was parked outside the library prior to the play.
In between acts, the audience enjoyed finger foods and refreshments.
Friends of the Library has organized the last four productions. Plans are definite to hold the fifth annual one next year, Falla said.
The group uses proceeds for its projects at the library.