Heartland Festival comes alive with ‘Wake me When I’m Dead’
PLATTEVILLE – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville Heartland Festival premier of ‘Wake me When I’m Dead’ was welcomed with a packed house and rave reviews of this interactive comedy and dinner theater. On Friday, June 13 – appropriate for a piece which ends with musings on the nature of luck – both the dinner and the theater served up hilarious Irish fare.
In keeping with the interactive nature of the murder mystery, Dubuque resident Loras Watters, celebrating his 43rd wedding anniversary with wife Karen, served as the audience’s clue “scribe,” writing down the clues in the story as they were revealed for all to see. Watters and most of his party of six were first-time Heartland Festival goers, drawn to the story by their Irish ancestry and sense of fun.
“We love to get together and have fun, so this seemed like the perfect outing for us. We’re having a great time, interacting with the characters and figuring out the mystery,” said Karen.
The story revolves around the wake of Seamus O’Brien, who had recently come into quite a bit of money, now missing, before his unexpected death. In attendance are a number of people who are ostensibly there to mourn and honor O’Brien, though they seem more intent on finding the missing money.
Ardo and Kathy Junk, related to the Watters, were also in attendance and also celebrating awedding anniversary, their 38th.
“The acoustics are great and the room is more intimate, so we really feel like we’re part of the story,” said Kathy.
“I liked the way the actors visited with the audience beforehand to get the fun rolling,” said Ardo.
Michelle Watters, a 1992 master’s degree alumna of UWP, raved about the dining, particularly the first course, Irish soda bread.
“It was delicious, and so different for us,” she explained.
Others also raved about the dining fare, which was served as courses between acts and cued through the story line. In addition to the Irish soda bread, the meal featured carrot soup, salad, a chicken entrée and dessert.
“The carrot soup was delicious and so interesting – I wasn’t familiar with it before tonight,” said Frank Evans of Platteville.
Marcia Griskavich of Madison, attending with her sisters Laurie Palzkill of Mt. Horeb and Janelle Carroll of Lancaster, all first time Heartland Festival attendees, said that they were seeking ways to support the arts and find local entertainment.
“This has been a wonderful experience, trying to figure out the clues and interacting with the characters – and they’re feeding us! What more could you ask for?” said Griskavich.
Before the final act, and after a few plot twists are introduced, the audience is asked to weigh in on the verdict. Who had the most to gain by killing the owner of the mystery money? The dueling brides-to-be, Bridget O’Donohue and Mary Margaret O’Malley?The ever-munching brother, Sean?The mild-mannered, if hatchet-wielding Timothy O’Rielly? Or could it be the mysterious cousin Frankie O’Liveri, whom no one had ever met before the wake? No one will confess, especially to the Catholic priest, Father Patrick O’Rourke, who is the only one who knows where the money is hidden. Even the audience is suspect!
“It was a wonderful audience participation show and the actors did a tremendous job. It was easy to understand the actors, even through the Irish brogues, which they all performed very well. The food was unique and wonderfully prepared and served. It was a great night all around,” said Lisa Zabel of Fennimore, attending with a large group from Fennimore and Lancaster.
The cast features Bill Haskins of Platteville; Ryan Bartscher of Byron, Ill.; Jay Cullen from Dublin Ohio; Marcy Russell of Platteville; Brigid Kelley of Dubuque, Iowa; Michael Rangel of LaCrosse; and Jason Slattery of Cleveland, Ohio. The show is directed by Vivienne Elborne of San Antonio, Texas, who is returning to the Heartland Festival for her fifth season.
Remaining performances for “Wake Me When I’m Dead” will be held on June 22 and 29; July 6,19 and 27; and Aug. 2 at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices, including dining, are $25 for adults and $17 for children and UWP students with I.D.
Anyone interested in learning more about this or other Heartland Festival shows may call the University Box Office at (608) 342-1298 or visit the Heartland website at http://www.uwplatt.edu/arts/heartland. The University Box Office is open Monday through Friday 9am-5pm and is located on the ground floor of the newly renovated Ullsvik Hall at the intersection of Hickory and Main streets. The CFA Box Office location opens 1.5 hours before scheduled performances. Tickets are also available online 24/7 at http://tickets.uwplatt.edu.
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In keeping with the interactive nature of the murder mystery, Dubuque resident Loras Watters, celebrating his 43rd wedding anniversary with wife Karen, served as the audience’s clue “scribe,” writing down the clues in the story as they were revealed for all to see. Watters and most of his party of six were first-time Heartland Festival goers, drawn to the story by their Irish ancestry and sense of fun.
“We love to get together and have fun, so this seemed like the perfect outing for us. We’re having a great time, interacting with the characters and figuring out the mystery,” said Karen.
The story revolves around the wake of Seamus O’Brien, who had recently come into quite a bit of money, now missing, before his unexpected death. In attendance are a number of people who are ostensibly there to mourn and honor O’Brien, though they seem more intent on finding the missing money.
Ardo and Kathy Junk, related to the Watters, were also in attendance and also celebrating awedding anniversary, their 38th.
“The acoustics are great and the room is more intimate, so we really feel like we’re part of the story,” said Kathy.
“I liked the way the actors visited with the audience beforehand to get the fun rolling,” said Ardo.
Michelle Watters, a 1992 master’s degree alumna of UWP, raved about the dining, particularly the first course, Irish soda bread.
“It was delicious, and so different for us,” she explained.
Others also raved about the dining fare, which was served as courses between acts and cued through the story line. In addition to the Irish soda bread, the meal featured carrot soup, salad, a chicken entrée and dessert.
“The carrot soup was delicious and so interesting – I wasn’t familiar with it before tonight,” said Frank Evans of Platteville.
Marcia Griskavich of Madison, attending with her sisters Laurie Palzkill of Mt. Horeb and Janelle Carroll of Lancaster, all first time Heartland Festival attendees, said that they were seeking ways to support the arts and find local entertainment.
“This has been a wonderful experience, trying to figure out the clues and interacting with the characters – and they’re feeding us! What more could you ask for?” said Griskavich.
Before the final act, and after a few plot twists are introduced, the audience is asked to weigh in on the verdict. Who had the most to gain by killing the owner of the mystery money? The dueling brides-to-be, Bridget O’Donohue and Mary Margaret O’Malley?The ever-munching brother, Sean?The mild-mannered, if hatchet-wielding Timothy O’Rielly? Or could it be the mysterious cousin Frankie O’Liveri, whom no one had ever met before the wake? No one will confess, especially to the Catholic priest, Father Patrick O’Rourke, who is the only one who knows where the money is hidden. Even the audience is suspect!
“It was a wonderful audience participation show and the actors did a tremendous job. It was easy to understand the actors, even through the Irish brogues, which they all performed very well. The food was unique and wonderfully prepared and served. It was a great night all around,” said Lisa Zabel of Fennimore, attending with a large group from Fennimore and Lancaster.
The cast features Bill Haskins of Platteville; Ryan Bartscher of Byron, Ill.; Jay Cullen from Dublin Ohio; Marcy Russell of Platteville; Brigid Kelley of Dubuque, Iowa; Michael Rangel of LaCrosse; and Jason Slattery of Cleveland, Ohio. The show is directed by Vivienne Elborne of San Antonio, Texas, who is returning to the Heartland Festival for her fifth season.
Remaining performances for “Wake Me When I’m Dead” will be held on June 22 and 29; July 6,19 and 27; and Aug. 2 at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices, including dining, are $25 for adults and $17 for children and UWP students with I.D.
Anyone interested in learning more about this or other Heartland Festival shows may call the University Box Office at (608) 342-1298 or visit the Heartland website at http://www.uwplatt.edu/arts/heartland. The University Box Office is open Monday through Friday 9am-5pm and is located on the ground floor of the newly renovated Ullsvik Hall at the intersection of Hickory and Main streets. The CFA Box Office location opens 1.5 hours before scheduled performances. Tickets are also available online 24/7 at http://tickets.uwplatt.edu.
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