Category: Play/Screenplay Publisher: Samuel French, Inc.
ISBN-10: 0573694745
Type: Non-Fiction
Pages: 62
Copyright: November 7, 1994
ISBN-13: 9780573694745
This is a full-length comedy about 4 strangers who arrive at a dive bar called The Paradise Lounge on the same night for the same reason – to kill the singer. Each of the murders is accompanied by a friend, and they have no idea that there are others in the audience with the same plan. One by one, the murderers sneak into the dressing room and rig their murder weapon. At intermission, the singer leaves the stage to change clothes in her dressing room. A scream and a crash is heard, and each of the murderers assumes they have been successful. The police arrive, and the audience is told to remain in the lounge while the staff is interviewed in the office. During this time, each murderer sneaks back into the dressing room to retrieve their weapon, triggering someone else’s weapon in the process. When the police come into the lounge to interview the audience, they now have 4 dead bodies that were not there when they came in, and the remaining accomplices who are not talking! They have to figure out what happened and why these people are now dead!
Professional Reviews
World Premier Theatre Menlo Players Guild
Joe Papaso “Sky’s Line Theatre”
December 22, 1994 World Premier Theatre Menlo Players Guild
“Psycho Night At the Paradise Lounge” by Kitty Burns
The world premier of a new and exciting “off-Broadway” (small, intimate theatre) play, “Psycho Night At the Paradise Lounge” opened December 8 at The Burgess Theatre, done by The Menlo Players Guild. Rania Ho directed and the Mountain View playwright, Kitty Burns, performed in one of the major roles. This is the second of two plays Kitty Burns has had accepted and published by Samuel French, and I predict it will be widely performed and enjoyed. “Psycho Night” is sheer entertainment, a welcome relief from the festering rash of psychological abuse, etc. infecting modern new theatre.
From before Act One, through intermission, at the Paradise Lounge, along with the cast, we are treated to music by “the band” and torchy singer, “Cindy” (Keely McNally) even as we learn of plans to murder her. In Act Two, we and the “police” try to unravel the puzzle in fine murder mystery “who dunnit” or rather “who did what” style. The musically excellent Act One band members join the rest of the Act Two cast in police and other roles. The plot twists and the show is great, spoofy mystery and total entertainment.
Local author, Kitty Burns, carefully paced the plot and even the rate at which we learn the character’s names for high impact, and Burns earned high marks.
The cast of local veteran actors executed well and included Helena Clarkson, Jane Aquiline, Verity Chase, Jarell Chua, Katrine O’Connor, Franklin Harris, John Harris, Steve Mandell, Rich Holman, John Fuezy, Bill C. Jones, Chriss Kressman, Justin Morris, Fred Scott and John Voyles.
Menlo Players pioneered well on this one, and will next be doing “The Illusion” by Pierre Corneille Feb. 17 - March 11, 1995. Info number is (415) 322-3100.
Fun to Perform
Having performed in this play, I can testify that it is very fun to perform, and see. And it makes a good read, too.
