Pictured is the cast of Mystery Theatre Unlimited’s dinner theatre show “McDeath” or “Nothing Much About Doo-Doo” scheduled for 6:30 pm Friday, April 10 at River City in Wheeling. From left, they are Butch Maxwell as the out-of-place former rock star David Boney, Pete Fernbaugh as the hapless Shakespearean scholar, Edmund Burymore, Karissa Martin as the in-over-her head musical theatre diva, Loretta LaDiva, Sean Decker as the miscast standup comic, Harvey Brashman, and Joel Nau as stage manager Allen Woodley, turned reluctant actor. (Submitted photo)

WELLSVILLE – Mystery Theatre Unlimited will present its musical-comedy murder mystery production, “McDeath” or “Nothing Much About Doo-Doo”at 7 p.m. Friday, May 29 at The Rebekah, located on the second floor of Slacks Antique Mall, 464 Main St.

The show is a “no holes Bard” presentation of “Fakespeakeare,” because the comedy group has crafted a satire of William Shakespeare. Mystery Theatre founder Butch Maxwell noted, “If you don’t know much or anything about Shakespeare – this show is for you. The characters trying to do the play know nothing about Shakespeare, either. Along the way, we make fun of everything associated with the theatre and much more. Plus, you have the fun of trying to solve a murder mystery.”

In the show, respected Shakespeare historian Edmund Burymore (played by Pete Fernbaugh) has discovered a play that he believes to be the first show ever written by the Bard. With the help of the Royal Crown Shakespeare Company, he stages the first performance of the show in over 400 years. But the production is fraught with backstage accidents, so Burymore brings in less accomplished actors as replacements, including famous musical comedy star Dame Delilah LaDiva (played by Karissa Martin), standup comic Harvey Brashman (played by Sean Decker), and former glam rock star David Boney (played by Butch Maxwell.) He even enlists to the cast his nebbish stage manager Allen Woodley (played by Joel Nau.) The result is a comically skewed rendering of supposedly great literature.

According to Burymore, much of the Bard’s later work is represented in a cruder form in this early play. For instance, one of Shakespeare’s most famous lines for “Romeo and Juliet” first appeared in “Nothing Much About Doo-Doo,” but in a slightly different form: “But soft, what scent through yonder wind doth break?” Another example: “To be or what?”

Mystery theatre performances, which take place in a meeting or dining room with actors moving about and among the tables, include audience interaction and the opportunity to solve a murder mystery. For this performance, guests are welcome to bring their own beverages. Audience members are encouraged to gather clues, talk to the characters and even question the survivors after the murder has occurred. Selected audience members will play small parts during the show.

For reservations, call 330-314-8335.

For information, visit www.MysteryTheatreUnlimited.com.