Tale combines comedy, love, intrigue, and mystery

Peggy Keyes and Guy Zimmerman perform in this scene ro "A Little Murder."

BOWLING GREEN -- Matthew and his wife Julia make conflicting New Year's resolutions this weekend when Black Swamp Players presents A Little Murder Never Hurt Anybody.

"Matthew's New Year's resolution is to get rid of [Julia]. She says, 'Do you want a divorce?' and he says, 'No, I'm going to kill you,'" said director Leroy Morgan.

Matthew Perry, played by Guy Zimmerman, sees his recently widowed buddy having a great time playing golf and having fun. He concludes the route to happiness is ending his boredom by killing Julia, played by Peggy Keyes.

Matthew tells Julia his plan, which she takes in stride and dodges attempts at her life. In the meantime all her friends are dying mysterious deaths.

"It's one of the more interesting plays I've done in [that] you've got comedy, you've got people falling in love, you've got intrigue, you've got mystery... It all comes together in one neat package with a bow at the end," Morgan said.

Julia is intent on staying alive to see her daughter Bunny Perry, played by Emily Waters, marry the following year to Donald Baxter, played by Anderson Lee. Enter Detective Plotnik, a Sam Spade wannabe played by Jason Wells-Jensen, and a quick-witted Buttram, the butler played by Bill Perry, and the laughs abound.

Morgan suggested this play to the reading committee after ordering the script. " I read it and was laughing out loud. It fit three categories: I want to see it done, I want to be in it, or I want to direct it."

"A Little Murder Never Hurt Anybody" will be performed at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 15 and at 2 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 16 at First United Methodist Church, 1526 E. Wooster St., Bowling Green. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and students. Tickets are available at the door or at Grounds For Thought coffee shop, 174 S. Main St., Bowling Green. Information: blackswampplayers.org.

Holy Land Experience

Visitors become part of the Christmas story journey beginning Wednesday when Westgate Chapel presents the interactive dramatization Bethlehem Experience.

Biblical accounts leading up to the birth of Christ are part of this journey that includes the people, sights, sounds, animals, and trades of the ancient Bethlehem marketplace. The story culminates with the Angel's proclamation to the shepherds that Jesus has been born.

"Bethlehem Experience" will be presented from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 13, and Dec. 14 at Westgate Chapel, 2500 Wilford Dr. Admission is free. Information: 419-841-8077 or www.westgatechapel.org.

Poisonous Plot

Snow White stands in the way of Queen Drunella's plot to steal kingdoms this weekend as the Children's Theatre Workshop presents Dave Barton's The Poisoned Apple.

This spin on the story behind the Brothers Grimm fairy tale shows Snow White as an intelligent, self-assured beauty, inside and out. The queen organizes a peace conference with the intent to beguile the leaders and convince them to turn over their kingdoms to her.

The magic mirror, Seven Dwarfs, a smart-mouthed cat, and a role-switching prince are integral parts of this story adventure.

"The Poisoned Apple" will be performed at 2 and 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in the Lois M. Nelson Theatre at the Collingwood Arts Center, 2417 Collingwood Blvd. Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for seniors and students. Information: 419-244-5061.

Barefoot

MONTPELIER, Ohio -- A newlywed couple finds marriage is not a stroll in the park when the Williams County Community Theater presents Barefoot in the Park at Montpelier Playhouse this weekend.

This romantic comedy is Neil Simon's longest-running Broadway play and won a 1964 Tony Award for Best Director (Mike Nichols). It debuted on Broadway in October, 1963, and closed in June, 1967, after 1,530 performances. Robert Redford, who played husband Paul Bratter, went on to perform the same role in the 1967 film of the same name. Its Broadway revival opened in February, 2006, and closed May, 2006, after 109 performances.

"Barefoot in the Park" will be performed at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 15 at Montpelier Playhouse, 501 S. East Ave., Montpelier, Ohio. Additional performances are at 8 p.m. Dec. 13 and 2:30 p.m. Dec. 16. Tickets are $11 for adults and $10 for seniors. Information: 419-636-6400 or williamscountycommunitytheatre.com.

Send theater items at least two weeks in advance to jnjaim@theblade.com.