The Desert Advocate - Arts & Entertainment

Editor | Links | Contact Us | Home

Classifieds | News | Events

Courtesy photo

A group of baseball misfits comprise the cast of “Murder at Savings & Loan Ballpark (SLoB).” The play examines the murder of Arizona Piggybacks owner Col. Angelo and enlists the audience’s help solving the crime.
(Click picture for full size image)

Piggybacks’ owner murdered, case solved
by Jim Crawford

CAVE CREEK – Satirist and playwright Alexx Stuart takes aim at the national pastime in his current production, “Murder at Savings & Loan Ballpark (S.Lo.B.),” set to make its Cave Creek debut from 5‑8 p.m., March 11, at the Satisfied Frog.

Known for poking fun at the idiosyncracies of the people of Arizona, Stuart turns his attention to the foibles of the struggling Arizona Piggybacks franchise. It seems their owner has been “done in” and it’s up to the audience and Lt. Cloddumbo to solve the crime.

Called a theatricale because of its unique location, the Desert Foothills Theater production promises an evening of hilarity for baseball fans.

The style is totally different from other productions says Diedre Kaye, director and Stuart’s wife.

“It’s interactive,” she says. “The actors mingle in the crowd. Some of it is done on the stage and the rest is done by the actors in the audience. People are engaged. The premise is the audience is attending the winter baseball meetings. Everybody is given a name tag. The names are a spoof of some executive.” Patrons are encouraged to dress as if they are going to attend a ballgame.

Everyone is a suspect. Could it be The Big Eunuch, the star Piggybacks pitcher, Swanny Hack, the team’s manager, or Pete Petunia, former baseball star and noted gambler?

“We’ve been doing this play for three years and have never heard anything from the Diamondbacks,” Kaye says. “The other day I got a call from the front office and the lady said the people in the office were planning to come and see it. We’re tickled someone from the organization has finally noticed.”

“The audience has a lot of fun,” Kaye says. “We’ve done this for country clubs and civic organizations, but this is the first year we’ve done it in public.”

The play is the first dinner theater production Stuart has written.

“I’m a big, big baseball fan from the age of 4,” Stuart says. “I know more about the old baseball players than the ones today. Of all the plays I’ve written, the “Murder at Savings and Loan Ballpark” is my favorite.

“The murder mystery is more about what the people in Arizona are about,” he says. “We talk about Governor Napolitono and Sheriff Joe. I think I always talk about Sheriff Joe. There are a lot of local references.”

Audience participation is a big part of the fun.

“We have a pitching contest. Pete Petunia, who is the Pete Rose character, stands at the plate and dares people to throw one by him. We use a Nerf ball and a bat.

“The team secretary, Miss Tootsie Vivacious, leads a Macarena contest. There are baseball groupies.

“The funny part is the guy who plays Col. Angelo, the team owner, got another job in another play and I have to play the Colonel,” Stuart says. “I like to be behind the scenes. Lt. Cloddumbo also plays the Colonel, so I’m learning the lines for two parts. That’s the joke around our house right now. Me learning lines instead of writing them.”

Kaye and Stuart operate Dark Night Productions and donate their time to the Desert Foothills Theater to aid in its fundraising efforts.

Desert Foothills Theater, a division of the Foothills Community Foundation, is in its 32nd year and has been honored with 62 ariZoni award nominations.

Tickets are $50 per person and include dinner. There is a cash bar on the premises. Seating is limited.

To order tickets, visit desertfoothillstheater.com or call (480) 488‑1981.

The Satisfied Frog is located at 6245 E. Cave Creek Rd. in Cave Creek

Back To Arts & Entertainment