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Unraveling Motive, Opportunity & Means

May 7, 2024

Solving the Hickory Dickory Dock Inn Murder: Tin Building Theatre opens murder mystery “The Clock Struck One” last Saturday; reschedules for Mother's Day finale

CLIFTON – A vintage mantel piece clock strikes six as the curtain opens to the reception area of the Hickory Dickory Dock Inn. The strained relationship between two puffer coated women with overnight bags close by is evident from their conversation. When they try to find someone to register them for the night, they discover a body in the adjoining office.

The Bosque Arts Center’s Tin Building Theatre cast performed their opening night Craig Sodaro’s lighthearted murder mystery “The Clock Struck One” to an appreciative audience of friends, family and supporters Saturday, May 4. Some guests traveled from afar, like Montana, Houston, San Antonio, and Cut and Shoot – yes, there really is a small Texas town east of Conroe called that.

In the play, estranged sisters Connie Girard and Regan Tasker traveled through an early fall snow storm to reunite, and maybe reconcile. But before that can happen, the other visitors trapped at the inn because of the snow, all with ulterior motives to be there, and all seemingly having motive to speed the demise of the illusory inn’s host Hank Mason. The motley crew try to solve the mystery of his death as they await law enforcement’s arrival; even eliciting help of the spirits through a séance.

They have to navigate lies and deception, motive, opportunity and past histories of everyone involved. Three performances remain of the thoroughly enjoyable two-act murder mystery with some meaty character roles and a plot with twists and turns around every corner.

The remaining performances are a regular performance on Friday May 10 starting at 7:30 p.m. and a dinner theatre on Saturday, May 11 starting at 6:30 p.m. Because of flooding after heavy rains causing road closures, the Sunday, May 4 matinee performance was rescheduled for a special Mother’s Day performance on Sunday, May 12 at 2 p.m. Tickets to this highly entertaining play with some of TBT’s veteran actors and some talented newcomers to the stage are on sale now through the Bosque Arts Center website (click on the poster above) or by calling 254-675-3724.

In his welcome, director Don Boysen explained this spring play is a somewhat different genre than the audience might expect from the Tin Building Theatre. “We had such a fun time doing it,” Boysen said. “And I think you’ll enjoy it.”

After the performance, he was pleased with how the opening night performance went, and how well it was received by the audience. “I couldn’t be prouder,” Boysen said. Linda Lowrance assisted Boysen as director, while Stage Manager Troy Fisler assisted by Tomas Trujillo and Skye Baker kept the backstage running smoothly.

After the performance, the actors gathered in the BAC atrium for a wonderful TBT tradition – accepting the congratulations, praise, appreciation and occasional flowers from the audience. There were smiles all around, picture taking and lots of laughter breaking the possible stage nerves the actors might have encountered prior and ruing the performance.

Seasoned veterans to the TBT stage Debbie Rollins as Connie and Joanne Grelle as Regan lit up the stage, playing the largest roles splendidly. But newcomer to the TBT stage Bill Sibley played his stereotypical and exaggerated upper crust, twee-toting Englishman Edgar Hill magnificently. His affected accent, airs and gestures had the viewers chuckling every time. Sibley is no stranger to the stage, beginning his theater career in 1978, and has played in over 100 Central Texas productions.

Everything serves as an inspiration for author Nigel Grimm’s supernatural suspense novels, which stand in juxtaposition of his “scared-of-everything” persona. At one point he’s seen reading the book “Bravery for Dummies.” Michael Richardson successfully brought a nervous and anxious energy to his quirky character.

Grimm can’t help but feel attracted to the lonely, somewhat angry and secretive, pale red head Sarah Dane, played by 17-year-old Jaycie Thornton. Thornton attends Vanguard College Preparatory School in Waco, and has played multiple roles in school productions. She performed admirably and convincingly in her first independent theater production.

Another newcomer to the TBT stage Jan Slade returns to the hot stage spotlights after a 20-year hiatus. A new resident to Clifton, Slade performed several years in the Dallas area, primarily with Rover Dramawerks, a Plano theater company. Slade believably brought a delightful mix of pragmatism and lack of sentimentality to her character, the tough, hard-working victim’s sister and co-owner of the inn, Essie Mason.

TBT regulars Kevin King and Connie Terry skillfully played saccharine-sweet love birds second-hand car salesman Clark and his gushy, loud wife Keeky Curtis. Prior to the show, King had suffered a painful run in with a bull in the pasture, but under the motto “the show must go on,” he braved a badly bruised and sometimes bleeding lip injury to perform his part.

As the play progresses the audience gets to know the characters and their personal quirks, the intrigue builds as clues appear and deception left and right becomes apparent. There are suspicious goings on, there is some budding romance, the clear sibling rivalry; something for everyone.

The play’s title instantly brings the children’s nursery rhyme to mind of the mouse running down the clock as it strikes the hour. But the clock in the Hickory Dickory Dock Inn seems to have a mind of its own, striking hours at random. Or is it random? Some might say spirits guide its untimely chiming. Who in the audience succeeded in solving the mystery themselves, before the surprising culmination of all the evidence, red herrings and clues on stage?