Bloomington Playwrights Project presents comedic murder mystery ‘Artifice’

Death and laughter don’t always go hand in hand, unless you’re talking about playwright Anne Flanagan’s award winning play “Artifice,” which continues to play this weekend at the Bloomington Playwrights Project.

“I’m attracted to this play because it’s a funny play, people love to laugh,” director Tom
Evans said.

Evans didn’t choose to direct this play, but he was hired to direct whatever play won the Reva Shiner award, a competition put on by the BPP.

The winner, Anne Flanagan, received a full-scale production of her comedy and a cash award. This year there were 225 submissions.

The play consists of a small cast of eight, which makes the play easier to direct and easier to produce, Evans said.

The actors in the production have a variety of ages. Some are from the Bloomington area or attend IU, while others are from New York.

The BPP is a professional theater company in Bloomington. It also has a partnership with the IU Department of Theatre and Drama. BPP often recruits students to work with them in all aspects of theater, acting and design, Evans said.

“It’s a great opportunity for students to audition,” Evans said. “Our next play ‘Kissing Frogs’ is done with all IU students.”

The theater company also invites students from the theater design department to work with it.

The lighting design for the play “Artifice” for example, was done by junior and theater major Patrick French.

“The work I’m doing with IU isn’t always that intensive,” French said. “This is a more creative outlet. I can design a whole show. It’s a good step up in terms of complexity and what you can do.”

The BPP is also very involved with the local Bloomington art scene.

What attracts so many people from Bloomington to work at the BPP is working in an intimate setting. There is a feeling of community, and many friendships are formed, BPP member Sam McKay said.

With a newly renovated lobby, the BPP gives other artists an opportunity to shine as well.

In the lobby there are works from local painters and fine arts artists. 

This collaboration with other artists in the Bloomington area is a part of the success of the BPP in Bloomington, McKay said. However the main event for the following week is the play “Artifice.”

The play is a murder mystery comedy. Evans described it as a door farce with a bit of Agatha Christie murder mystery.

The play deals with a woman, Maggie La Rue, who is an art dealer married to an artist, Payne Showers.

As is the case with most artists, Payne gets his big break when he is dead. And this is when the fun begins. The play unravels as Maggie tries to sell  her supposed late husband’s paintings to avoid bankruptcy and a mob hit.

“It’s been two months we’ve been working on this show, and I still laugh,” Stage Manager Travis Staley said. “I love the fact that people can come to a show and just laugh.”

‘ARTIFICE’ by Anne Flanagan
WHEN 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday
WHERE Bloomington Playwrights Project, 107 W. Ninth St.
ADMISSION $18 for the general public, $15 for students and seniors and $5 for student rush tickets available at the door five minutes before showtime
MORE INFO Director Tom Evans described “Artifice” as a door farce with a bit of Agatha Christie murder mystery.