Mystery Theatre Unlimited Serves ‘Cafe Rescue’

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WHEELING - Mystery Theatre Unlimited will launch its 31st season of interactive musical comedy murder mysteries with the world premiere of "Cafe Rescue" today, Friday, Sept. 11, at River City Restaurant, 14th and Main streets, Wheeling.

The new production follows the staff of the struggling Corner Cafe as hard-charging restaurant consultant John Tougher arrives with bold ideas, blunt criticism and a plan to turn the business around.

In "Cafe Rescue," Barb Dwyer, the Corner Cafe’s owner, brings in Tougher to save the struggling business. Tougher orders a sweeping rebrand and puts the staff through a high-pressure test during dinner service. Tensions rise as a feared food critic arrives -- until someone winds up with considerably more serious problems than bad reviews and declining business.

Written in Mystery Theatre Unlimited’s signature style, "Cafe Rescue" combines an original comic murder mystery with musical parodies and audience interaction, as guests question the suspects and attempt to solve the crime.

The cast features Sean Decker as Carby Burnzotto, Butch Maxwell as Ricky Lipsovich, Pete Fernbaugh as Ah-Choo, Micah Underwood as Betsy Crocker and Dustin Heavilin as John Tougher.

"Cafe Rescue" is Mystery Theatre Unlimited’s 70th unique production, excluding revivals, and begins a 31st season consisting entirely of new shows.

"After 30 years and 69 original shows, the challenge is finding something we haven’t made fun of yet," said Maxwell, who co-founded Mystery Theatre Unlimited. "A struggling restaurant, a consultant with bold ideas, a staff under pressure and a feared critic arriving for dinner seemed like a good start. Put all of those strong personalities in one room and then add a murder."

Maxwell said presenting four new shows is also a way to keep the experience fresh for longtime audiences.

"We have people who have been coming to these shows for years, and I don’t want them to feel as though they’ve already seen what we’re going to do," he said. "Thirty-one seasons in, we’re still trying new things. This year that includes a show we’re actually telling backward. Apparently we’ve reached the point where writing a normal murder mystery isn’t difficult enough."

Following "Cafe Rescue," the season continues with the holiday comedy "Good Grief, It’s Christmas!" followed by January’s locked-room mystery "The Case of the Black Velvet Notebook" and in the spring, "Dead Reckoning," a murder mystery told in reverse chronological order.

"Cafe Rescue" will be performed on several dates and locations through October and November.

Additional information about "Cafe Rescue," Mystery Theatre Unlimited and its 31st season is available at MysteryTheatreUnlimited.com and through Mystery Theatre Unlimited on Facebook.