Port Polson Players bring murder-mystery to stage

The Port Polson Players have teamed up with KwaTaqNuk Resort to stage “My Fatal Valentine,” an old-fashioned dinner theater murder mystery, Feb. 9-11. 

Since Polson’s 1938 log Theatre on the Lake gets winterized every year, the show will be performed at KwaTaqNuk and features a cast of 25 Mission Valley performers and celebrities.

The play, written by Eileen Moushey, is set in 1997 and has five very different authors vying for Heartthrob Books’ Loveknot Award for Best Romance Novel of the Year, along with a hefty cash prize. Each has his or her own deep, dark secret that culminates in a murder that conveniently occurs just before intermission.

Patrons will be encouraged to cast their vote for the perpetrator. During dessert, the facts are laid out, ballots are counted and the villain is disclosed.

Victoria Michel and Zeke Keeler, marketing directors for the resort, have been working closely with Players producers Neal and Karen Lewing.

“This seemed like such a fun project to warm up our winter with a great dinner and show combination,” Michel said. “We want KwaTaqNuk to be known as a destination for these kinds of special events.”

“We have the perfect cast for this funny, quirky production,” said show director Karen Lewing. “If you’ve never attended a murder-mystery dinner-theatre event, you’ll enjoy a very clever script that is full of humor, intrigue, and plenty of mystery.”

The show continues the Players’ 49th season of community theatre.

KwaTaqNuk's doors open at 5:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 9 and 10, with dinner served promptly at 6:15 p.m. and show time is 6:30 p.m. On Sunday, Feb. 11, doors open at 10 a.m., with brunch served at 10:30 and show time at 11 a.m. 

Tickets are $45 for dinner or brunch, including the show. A show-only ticket may be purchased for $15, which includes dessert and the show.

Reservations must be made by calling KwaTaqNuk at 406-883-3636. Producers encourage booking early for this popular event.