Help! I think My Characters Are Trying to Kill Me--A Hilariously Bring the House Down, Feel-good Time

I have walked past its door quite a few times on my treks through the French Quarter just a few steps from Market Street. On those occasions, I would unmistakably hear the waves of laughter emanating out its entrance as the sound spilled onto the sidewalk of Church Street. As I curiously looked in, I saw a very intimate space with a mock stage, bar seating, booths along the walls, cocktail tables spread throughout, whodunit games hanging near the entrance, and pictures of well-known theatrical sleuths lining the walls. I finally decided it was time for me--and this is a fitting word to use in this situation--to investigate.

The name of this small Mom and Pop establishment is the Black Fedora Comedy Mystery Theatre. The owners are Darryl and Sherry Wade, entrepreneurs from Atlanta who spent two decades producing live entertainment for corporate audiences. After working more than a decade in the Lowcountry with other talented and funny people, many of whom have performed in the area's community theaters, they established the Black Fedora Theatre with a mission to share the theatrical spirit of humor, playfulness, and joy with their paying patrons. Help! I Think My Characters Are Trying To Kill Me was the name of the show we attended at 8 pm, which opened for the first time that evening. The first showing was at 5 pm.

We were greeted at the door and escorted to our table by one of the evening's performers who explained in detail what we were about to experience, shown a game card where we would compete with the other guests in identifying the sleuths hanging on the walls, and given an explanation as to what was available in the way of food and drinks--appetizers, homemade desserts, beer, wine, teas, and sodas. Another one of the performers handed out printed sheets containing dialogue to eager volunteers in the audience.

The premise: A playwright(Chad Estel) with severe writer's block must finish a murder mystery script with the audience already seated before him, else face the wrath of the Director. As he writes, his characters, Igor(John Brian), Della Demarco(Maddie Casto), the Zombies, and the Evil Queen(Suzanne Robinson Muoio), come to life to solve the crime, but the playwright soon begins to suspect that his own creations are out to kill him...as they begin to fear it is he who is out for them.

Then, the show began, and the laughs were non-stop. Most of the time, audience volunteers were on queue, but some were not, but that aspect of informality only added to the hilarity as the actors prompted for a response. All the performers knew their lines well and skillfully engaged the audience volunteers. The character I volunteered to read was the Mad Doc, and I got coaxed into being one of the Zombies. I had a blast interacting with Igor, the character who we thought stole the show, but I am not saying the other performers did not because they were all superb in their own way.

The shows are approximately two hours long, with no foul language or anything crude. The ticket is $27.00 and is well worth the price. There are other shows offered throughout the week, but Help! I think My Characters Are Trying to Kill Me is one show you do not want to miss. It was a hilariously bring the house down, feel-good time.

164 Church Street, Charleston, SC, 843-937-6453

Purchase tickets.

Ashley River Park Update--Pictures and Video

Ashley River Park off of Bacon's Bridge Road on the Ashley River was supposed to open late summer, but it is obvious that did not happen. On my previous picture updating excursion, August 25, it was beginning to look like Jurassic Park. Even though slow progress was being made on the buildings, the newly constructed activity area had become overgrown with tall weeds, there was no grass as of yet, and the roads were not completely paved.

The park's designs include an interactive play fountain meant to look like a map of the Ashley River, two dog parks, open lawn areas, playground and picnic areas, and an event space which holds a pavilion and tiered lawn by a large pond with fishing piers and boardwalks.

On my most recent visit, November 18, a huge change had taken place with the roads and landscaping. It is beginning to look like the Ashley River Park the county envisioned. Opening now is set for 2022. Enjoy the updated pictures and video.

Ashley River Park—Due to Open Late Summer…Pictures and Video of Progress

Do you desire to escape the Covid 19 Pandemic blues for the great outdoors? Don't we all. A good enticement for satisfying that urge is presently underway just a stone's throw from Bacon's Bridge Road. The $13 million Dorchester County Parks and Recreation Department's Ashley River Park will be an 85-acre activity oasis for Summerville residents of all ages on completion.

The County purchased the 3/4 mile riverfront property for $1.45 million in 2012 from a housing developer who went bankrupt. Thank goodness the housing development never took place. Although many sacred Summerville pines faced the ax in the clearing of the land, this is by far better use of the pristine, upper Ashley River ecosystem. The activity park will include riverside trails, a fishing pond, picnic shelters, a playground, a splash pad, dog parks, a ropes course, and a climbing wall. There will also be an event lawn and pavilion for events, such as concerts, festivals, weddings, reunions, and more. A kayak launch already exists at the Howard Bridgman River Access at Bacon's Bridge.

Due to the recent rains, my trek into the park project, to say the least, was a muddy one, but well worth the effort to provide Summerville residents with an update. On the day I visited, the construction crew made final preparations to lay the cement for the large splash pad, just one of the park's major features. When completed, a replica of the Ashley River surrounded by multi-colored concrete will snake through the splash pad and topped with blue tile. Fountains mounted on the splash pad will spray water. Many of the shelters and buildings were in various construction phases, as were the parking lot, the playground equipment, the dog parks, and the fishing pond boardwalks.

At present, it is a developing recreational island of projects surrounded by South Carolina muck. When finally finished, it will be a water and green space where families will be able to soak in the amenities and beauty along South Carolina's Black Pearl At The Heart of It All. It's scheduled to open in late summer. There will be an entrance fee to cover operational costs that at present have not been determined. Enjoy the pictures and video.

The Ashley River Park is one of five Dorchester County Park Projects. Rosebrock Park is already open with 70 acres of riverbank trails. The Walnut Hill park will feature 128 acres of wetlands and bottomland 2 miles upstream from the Ashley River Park. Summerville's Bend on the Ashley will consist of 38 acres adjacent to town-owned Herbert H. Jessen Boat Landing. Finally, a marsh park on 80 acres of the old Kings Grant Golf Course a mile downstream from Herbert H. Jessen Boat Landing is in the works. It will be managed by the city of North Charleston and include a walking trail and paddle craft launch.