Death By Chocolate

Death by Chocolate

PERFORMANCES
MAY 4, 11, 18 and 25, 2024
Richmond School or Arts
Corner March and West Market Streets, Richmond NSW

About The Show

Members of the newly renovated Meadowbrook Health Resort are dropping like flies, including famed chef Edith Chiles! On the eve of the grand re-opening, this is not the best advertisement! It's up to John Stone, the manager, to find the cause... and the murderer.

Delightfully sarcastic and cynical, Stone finds himself teaming up with Ed Parlor, mystery writer and amateur sleuth, in a wacky race against time. The clues point to a sinister box of chocolates, and the suspects include all the outlandish characters working for the resort. Could it be Lady Riverdale, owner of the resort, and a woman with dark secrets? Or Ralph Deadwood, gym instructor and all around cad? Dick Simmering, the aerobics instructor? Anne, the panic stricken nurse? Or could it be "Sweet Pea" Meadowbrook, the grieving daughter of the recently deceased founder of the resort?

Combining all the elements of classic murder mysteries with scathing satires of the 80's health crazes, technology and fashion.

The Reviews!

Stage Whispers

The Fourth Wall

In The News

Blue Mountains Gazette

Nepean News

Hills to Hawkesbury

Photos: Penny Johnson

The Cast of Characters

The staff and guests of the Meadowbrook Health Resort.
They'll get you healthy.... or die trying!

JOHN STONE - The new manager of the Meadowbrook Health Resort (and how he got there, no one knows). John is s quick-witted and finds almost everything absurd and… he is now on the hunt for a murderer!

LADY RIVERDALE - She is the owner of ‘Lady Riverdale Chocolates’ and the new owner of the ‘Meadowbrook Health Resort’. A bit of an unusual combination but this savvy businesswoman (and lover of all things high society) knows when to tap into her shrewd roots too, especially if someone is murdering her staff and trying to ruin her grand re-opening!

ED PARLOR - Ed is a guest of Lady Riverdale's and at Meadowbrook for more than just the grand re-opening. He is a writer who hopes to be inspired for his next play… a murder mystery. Is he the type of author who really immerses himself in his material (maybe too much) or is he just keen to solve a real-life murder?

MARGARET DANIELS - She is trying to write a feature story on the resort for a leading gossip magazine but is having a bit of trouble getting to those who are “in the know”. Who doesn’t love publicity? Yet, how far will Margaret go to get the scoop and the front page?

RALPH DEADWOOD - Ralph is the gym manager and also an all-around cad. He knows quite a bit about Lady Riverdale's past, very little about managing a gym and seems to be someone who would do whatever it takes to get ahead.

ALFRED MELLOX - Alfred is the Meadowbrook Resort’s butler of many, many years and head of the serving staff. He is not very keen on the change of ownership and still loyal to the previous owner. How far would he go to ensure the grand re-opening is not as successful as everyone hopes?

DICK SIMMERING - Dick is the fit and fabulous aerobics instructor. Sweet and kind and full of enthusiasm, but is he for real or does he have something to hide? Is murder his next new exciting aerobics move?

"SWEET PEA" MEADOWBROOK - Daughter of the late Henry Meadowbrook she seems to be trying to eat herself to death over the trauma of his passing and now the sale of the resort to Lady Riverdale. How far will her grief take her and how many chocolates can one person eat?

DYSLEXIA - Dyslexia is Lady Riverdale’s assistant and long-suffering secretary. Enduring the never-ending needs of her boss and now the recent acquisition of the Meadowbrook Health Resort, is she at the end of her administration tether?

ANNE - Anne is the resort nurse who probably hasn’t made the best career decision. She struggles to provide the medical assistance people need but is always willing to help. Is her sweetness though just a cover for someone who is maybe more diabolical than she appears?

EDITH CHILES - Celebrity Chef and now the new Head Chef at the Meadowbrook Health Resort. She brings her enthusiasm to her new colleagues and looks forward to preparing fabulous food for the guests. Unfortunately (sigh) she won’t be able to dazzle for very long.

HENRY MEADOWBROOK - The founder of the Meadowbrook Health Resort. Let's just say, he's not around for long.

An Amateur Production By Arrangement with ORiGiN™ Theatrical, on behalf of Samuel French Inc. - A Concord Theatricals Company