Youth theater play a bell-ringer

Supporters of Laguna Playhouse Youth Theatre were treated to a night of 1920s-era mystery dinner theater Friday and Saturday at the Neighborhood Congregational Church in Laguna Beach.

The show, titled “He Rang the Bell” “” a play within a play with music and dancing “” was performed by members of the youth theater troupe. Tom Shelton, who wrote the show, music and lyrics, played piano accompaniment. Donna Inglima, the Playhouse’s youth theatre director, directed the players with Kelly Herman.

The young performers wowed the guests with their singing, dancing and acting skills, while attendees “” many dressed “to the nines” in flapper-era finery “” enjoyed a sumptuous dinner between acts.

The show featured multiple murders, and guests were asked to help solve the mystery of “who dunnit.” The tongue-in-cheek farce involved a diva actress (Desiree Augratin, played by Matt Stoner), a scheming understudy (April May June, played by Karina Parker), an ambitious wardrobe assistant (Thelma Veldhuisen, played by Syd Ames), a manic producer couple (Ken and Marjorie Worthington, played by Cody Spiegel and Ashley Nelson), a nervous playwright (Ira Crumbein, played by Cooper Smith), a finicky critic (Anthony Badger, played by Jordan Sandfer), and a morose director (Dick March or Dischka Markovsky, played by Kevin Short).

At the height of the action, several of the women attendees were called from their seats and “arrested” by a vice officer. They were handcuffed together and led away.

It was the second year the Youth Theatre had staged a fundraising performance.