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Ham it up
by Lisa Gauthier Jul 2, 2003

Theater Review | Thru Aug. 19

Who knew that audience participation and silliness could be so much fun? Usually terrified by theater that involves audience interaction, I insisted my actor boyfriend — who’s always happy to take a spotlight — come with me to the Milano Inn for my first experience with the Mystery Café, which is currently offering Alabama Jones and the Trailer Park of Doom.

Dannon Crews and Melissa (Mo) Solarzano-Urbina in the Mystery Café’s ‘Alabama Jones and the Trailer Park of Doom’

Upon being seated in the upstairs banquet area, my fears were put to rest. With your place setting (a four-course meal is served during breaks in the proceedings) are a clue sheet and a part that you are meant to play. For this show, the only speaking I was drafted into was a rousing rendition of a hail-the-flying-saucers song to the tune of “She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Mountain,” which was performed en masse by the audience. Solo parts are on a volunteer basis, so even the shy can enjoy the show and not take that dreaded tumble into the limelight. Alabama Jones and the Trailer Park of Doom is about a waitress in a small Alabama town by the name of Jewel and her ex-lover, Alabama Jones (yes, a working knowledge of the Indiana Jones series helps). “Bamy,” an Elvis authority, is looking for a “treasure,” a very special velvet painting of The King. Jewel knows of its whereabouts, and so they set off for the local junk heap. As the show unfolds, each member of the audience keeps track of “suspects” on their clues heet. Write legibly, because these will be collected and prizes awarded at the end of the show. The plot itself is an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink assortment of bizarre occurrences (such as Bubba worshippers) and jibes at the trailer-dwelling society (a two-story trailer is likened to a box of crackers — think about it). Enacted with the help of mime — as there are no sets, no stage — the show forces you to use your imagination, as much as it forces the cast to get creative. Indianapolis gad-about Dannon Crews (he pops up in the strangest places …) as Bamy and Melissa (Mo) Solarzano-Urbina (a Broad Ripple High School Theatre Magnet student) as Jewel do outstanding work. The guests at the show I attended didn’t do so badly either, though they ran the gamut from hesitant to all-out hams. Each time an audience member says a line, copious applause is encouraged — this is a very friendly, affirming atmosphere, and everyone here is out to just have a good time. This would be a great date experience for the fun-loving couple. Alabama Jones and the Trailer Park of Doom runs every Saturday and third Friday of the month through Aug. 19. Tickets, which include dinner, are $40. Call 684-0668 for reservations, which are required; www.themysterycafeindy.com.

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