All aboard the Monkey Express

Apr. 25—GROVE CITY — Mayhem and monkey business take center stage this weekend as Outta Theatre presents an old-fashioned murder-mystery.

"It's pretty hilarious," said Lizzy Montgomery, 14, assistant backstage manager.

"Murder on the Monkey Express" is set for 7 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Tower Presbyterian Church, 248 S. Broad St., Grove City.

The play was written by Angie Settlemire, founder and director of the Grove City-based children's theater group.

Settlemire first penned the play in 2016, and it was performed once; the kids really wanted to do a murder-mystery.

She's since reworked it multiple times, and COVID-19 puts things on hold at one point, so she is excited to share the story and the children's talents. The play is appropriate for all ages.

"They're amazing. I love this cast," she said one afternoon as the group gathered at its rehearsal space on South Broad Street.

Herbie Hampton, played by Damian Kerr, sets out on vacation, but things go awry along the way as he encounters a colorful cast of characters.

Settlemire loves Agatha Christie; the play was inspired in part by the author's "Murder on the Orient Express."

She worked a few nods to Christie and Sherlock Holmes into the script plus a lot of physical comedy and some props, and the set has been kept simple.

Dominic Kerr, 13, who plays one of the old men, Bertram, even worked a limp into his character's scenes.

"I'm trying to make teenagers look like old men," Settlemire said of how the makeup has been a bit challenging.

His brother Damian, 10, is also the narrator, and Damian said he hopes that the audience laughs and has a good time.

Abigail McKoy, who plays Dr. Ashworth the zoologist, has been with Outta Theatre since 2014, when she was eight years old.

She was part of "Murder on the Monkey Express" the first time around, playing four roles. Her new character has her exercising "acting muscles" she's never used before.

"I think the audience will love the unexpected role, and the complete craziness of the character," Abigail said.

Quinnlan Ranker, 12, who plays Moniko the celebrity monkey and Maverick the cruise ship entertainer, said he has enjoyed making new friends in Outta Theatre, which has taught him how to project his voice better.

Jonathan Swaim, 16, plays Max the flight attendant and he wrote the music for transitions between scenes. His brother Andrew, 15, plays the other old man, Bernard.

The audience can expect a few surprises, said Catherine Montgomery, 11, the mystery reader and Monkowski the monkey.

"You have to come and find out. It's a mystery," she said when asked about her role.

Many of the Outta Theatre members are homeschooled students who also take lessons with Settlemire; she teaches piano, voice and acting and audition coaching.

Settlemire, whose background includes training in mime and physical theater, started the group in 2012 and picked the name as a reference to "thinking outside of the box."

She truly enjoys being part of each student's life and watching them change and grow.

"Acting is a really powerful tool to help build confidence," she said.

Other cast members are Elizabeth Amon as Sheriff Jessie Jane Johnson; Megan Campbell, Barb the Australian chef; Auden Dick, Wade Watson, attorney; Olivia Irwin, Vicki Vitrolla the salesperson; Bethany Kochis, Brittany the cheerleader; Sydney Miller, Violet Valentine the movie star; Anna Montgomery, Bernadette the French chef; Julia Montgomery, Agatha and Moniko's personal assistant; Nathan Montgomery, Vance Vanes the meteorologist; Ellen Small, Greta Gibbons; Enli Snyder, Brianna the cheerleader; Freya Stock, Adaline; Magnus Stock, monkey and drill Sgt. Jones; and Elise Verbois, train conductor.

Tickets for "Murder on the Monkey Express" are $8 for adults, and free for ages five and under. They can be purchased at the door or online at outtatheatre.com or mome.bpt.me