Mystery and pie to support the Franklin Opera House

FRANKLIN — People love pie. They also like entertainment, solving mysteries and supporting a good cause.

These things meld together nicely in the upcoming play, “Murder at the Pie Auction,” presented by the Franklin Opera House in conjunction with the Franklin Footlight Theatre on Friday, March 14, and Saturday, March 15. Due to opera house repairs, the show will take place at the Franklin Elks Lodge, 125 S. Main St.

Advance ticket sales are brisk, which is to be expected, according to Franklin Opera House Executive Director Dan Darling.

Co-director Sue Bitetto said the sales are because people love the Franklin Opera House and want to support it. Repairs to the building, which is located on Central Street downtown, have been ongoing to preserve and revamp the structure, with special emphasis on the Grand Army of the Republic Hall, where the theater is located.

“The city of Franklin owns the building, and they wanted to raise the standards and modernize the space. The building is 125 years old and needs reconfiguring so the theater is all on the main floor. When it reopens, we can bring in more musicals and after-school programs, and increase the staff with a full-time technical director as well as an executive director,” Darling said.

The building was constructed in 1893, for office space and events. A grand opening ceremony was held on Sept. 5, 1893, to the excitement of townspeople who finally had a community gathering place for meetings, town business, plays and concerts.

After 10 years serving as executive director, Darling plans to step back once repairs are completed and the theater comes home to the building. Shows have shifted temporarily to the Franklin Public Library and Elks Lodge.

“My goal for the immediate future is to get the opera house reopened with a new vision for the years ahead,” Darling said.

Franklin Footlight Theatre has put on an annual fundraiser for the Franklin Opera House for over a decade, Bitetto said.

“This year, the show is more of a play versus other types of murder mystery shows we have done,” she said.

“Murder at the Pie Auction” is a lighthearted baking contest turned deadly. After years of trying unsuccessfully to secure the location for the baking contest, the small town of Mynute, Alaska, lands the famous Mother Mabel’s Pie Baking Competition. However, the location is a mistake due to a typo, which mistook Mynute for Minot. This is the first of a series of troubles centered around the contest. One contestant is writing a tell-all book about the seamy side of competitive pie baking. Suddenly, the baking contest judge and a celebrity baker go missing. With pie and a big mystery, “Murder at the Pie Auction” will be a rollicking evening of entertainment. The cast includes 13 performers.

Darling said pie will be auctioned off during the play, with Zeke’s Sweets and What’s in Season Bakery providing the baked goods.

“People look forward to the yearly murder mystery play. It is popular outside of Franklin as well as locally. In the past, a family told us they heard about it and traveled up from Nashua for a show,” said Co-Director Robbie LaFlamme. “Of course, the play is also popular because we serve dessert during the show, which everyone enjoys.”

"Murder At the Pie Auction" by Michael Druce is produced by special arrangement with Pioneer Drama Service, Inc., Denver, Colorado. For more information, visit franklinoperahouse.org or call 603-934-1901.