Bickford Theatre at the Morris Museum Has a Hit with Whodunit RAVENSCROFT

Ravenscroft, an English drawing room murder mystery and a comedy, opened at the Bickford Theatre at the Morris Museum on Friday, January 27, to enthusiastic audiences and approving critics.

Running through Sunday, February 12, the co-production of the Morris Museum and Drew University features the steady hand of Bickford Theatre Producing Artistic Director Eric Hafen.

The puzzler begins simply enough. On a snowy night, Inspector Ruffing is called to a remote house to investigate the headlong plunge of Patrick Roarke down the main staircase. Five alluring and dangerous women hold all the cards and all the answers: Marcy, the beautiful Viennese governess; Mrs. Ravenscroft, the flirtatious lady of the manor; Gillian, her charming and ditsy daughter; Mrs. French, the formidable and passionate cook, and Dolly, a terrified maid. Ghosts on the staircase and skeletons in the closet intensify this psychological comic thriller with a twist. The suspense and laughter build to an uproariously chaotic conclusion.

Leading the cast of English oddballs is Inspector Ruffing played by Clark Carmichael of Montclairwhose credits range from Broadway to television; Molly Garner of Bloomfield plays the hilariously wacky Mrs. Ravenscroft; Katrina Klein of Mendham takes the role of Marcy; and Gloria Lamoureux of Succasunna plays Mrs. French. The production includes Drew University students Erin Farrah of Fayetteville, Arkansas as the often confused daughter Gillian and Jessica Sroczynski of Bayonne as the often hysterical Dolly.

"BroadwayWorld accurately describes Ravenscroft as 'written at the three-way intersection of Monty Python, Agatha Christie and Downton Abby'," says Director Eric Hafen. "We are pleased to bring this always popular show to the Bickford Theatre."

Ravenscroft is a delightfully unreliable murder mystery that will keep you guessing to the end. Who pushed Patrick Roarke down the stairs? You can be sure of two things: It wasn't Colonial Mustard with a Candlestick. And you'll be glad you didn't miss the fun!

Tickets for Ravenscroft are $45 for the General Public; $40 for Seniors; $38 for Museum Members; and $20 for Students (18 & under or with valid college ID). Group rates are available.

Tickets may be purchased online at morrismuseum.org, by phone at (973) 971-3706, or in person at the Bickford Theatre Box Office. The Morris Museum's Bickford Theatre is located at 6 Normandy Heights Road inMorristown, NJ, and offers free parking and full accessibility. Box office hours for phone sales are Monday through Friday, 10:00am to 5:00pm. Walk-up hours are Tuesday through Friday, 11:00am to 5:00pm.

The Bickford Theatre is a professional theater that produces and presents year-round entertainment, including a Main Stage Series, two Children's Theatre series, a Jazz Showcase Series, and other concerts. The theatre is an Equity Producing Theatre member of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance, a not-for-profit organization of 30 professional theaters throughout the state, and works in conjunction with Actors' Equity Association (AEA) and the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC). From its beginnings in 1994 to the present, tens of thousands of theater-goers from across the tri-state area have enjoyed the Bickford Theatre's many entertaining and diversified offerings in theatre, music and dance.

Founded in 1913, the Morris Museum is an award-winning, community-based arts and cultural institution which serves the public through high-caliber exhibitions in the arts, sciences and humanities. The Museum also offers educational programs, family events, and is home to the Bickford Theatre and its wide range of performing arts offerings. Continuously serving the public since 1913, the Morris Museum has been designated a Major Arts Institution and has received the New Jersey State Council on the Arts' Citation of Excellence, among other awards. The first museum in New Jersey to be accredited, the Morris Museum was re-accredited in 2013 by the American Alliance of Museums.

The Morris Museum is a Blue Star Museum, offering free admission to active duty military personnel and their families, from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

The Museum is located at 6 Normandy Heights Road (at the corner of Columbia Turnpike) in Morristown, NJ, and is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 11:00am to 5:00pm and Sunday, 12:00 to 5:00pm. In addition, the Museum is open evenings from 5:00 to 8:00pm on the second and third Thursday of the month. Admission to the Museum is $10 for adults and $7 for children, students and senior citizens. Admission is always free for Museum members. For more information, call (973) 971-3700, or visit www.morrismuseum.org.

Pictured: Clark Carmichael steps between Gloria Lamoureux and Jessica Sroczynski in Ravenscroft which is now playing at the Bickford Theatre at the Morris Museum; photo by Warren Westura.