Living History Theater reborn as Community Players, but 'Murder at Sixth and Ferry' continues tradition of mystery

A distinct sense of deja vu came over me as I watched the opening scene of "Murder at Sixth and Ferry."

It was a year ago that I joined the cast during a rehearsal to prep for an article on the play's opening.

But after 16 years at the top of the Flinn Building in downtown Albany, Flinn's Living History Theater was forced to close days before the show was scheduled to open.

Although it did not mark the final performance in the historic building, "Murder at Sixth and Ferry" will make history at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Morningstar Grange, 38794 Morningstar Road, in Millersburg, when it opens as the inaugural performance for Flinn's Community Players.

Additional performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.

Since the theater's closure last year, the board has been searching for a location that would meet its needs.

The Grange was the perfect opportunity because it gave the players a place to "play" and also attracts people to the establishment.

"The Grange wanted to reach out to the community since we're not so much with the farmers anymore," said Sandy Decker, chairwoman for the grange's women's activities and rental chairwoman. "This is a way to get people out to the grange."

Although the partnership mutually benefits each group, it is the audience who will reap the rewards.

When you walk into the Grange hall, you are not just walking into a building or another theater. The wooden floors and boxed frame common to structures in the late 19th and early 20th centuries serve as an extension to the historic nature of the murder mystery.

"Murder at Sixth and Ferry" is set in 1885 Albany and is based on a murder that occurred on Nov. 4 that year at the corner of Sixth Avenue and Ferry Street.

It is believed that Mattie Allison led her lover, Charles Campbell, to the street corner, where Capt. Wirt Saunders was waiting in the dark. Neighbors heard two shots fired in rapid succession. Saunders swore he only fired his gun one time at Campbell's leg. Campbell took two bullets, one of which hit him in the spine and killed him.

The play follows the grand jury indictment of Saunders through the perspective of Albany citizens and the local newspapers.

The research for this play, written by Ellen West Lilja, contains the exact wording from editorials from the Corvallis Gazette, Albany Herald and Albany Bulletin.

Adding to the strength of this inaugural production, directed by Carole Leder and Nancy Homan, is the fact that many of the regular performers have returned.

Among them is Loren Dunn, who co-directed last year's canceled show with Vern Burg'e. Dunn is portraying Sheriff Carlton.

He originally took on the role when the play first opened at the Living History Theater in 2005.

This year's performance is "thankfully familiar," he said.

"I didn't have a whole lot of work to do when I was trying to memorize the part," he said. "So it was fairly easy. I knew the character and whatnot."

Although he knows the man he portrays through several years of experience, this year he plans some costume changes that will make Carlton more of a "straightforward sheriff from 1885."

Other cast members include:

Terry Jones as Capt. Saunders; Lance Dunn as Charles Campbell and the Herald editor; Susan Jones as Mattie Allison; George Hunt as S.E. Young; Arlin Roler as Fred Nutting and the voice of the judge; Carol Leder as Mrs. Cowan; Debby Gill as Mrs. Nutting; June Beuchting as Mrs. Mason; Nancy Homan as the Bulletin editor; Cody Jones as Bud Johnson and the voice of district attorney; George Hunt as the Marion County district attorney and the priest; Satch Gill as Jamison; Sara Young as child one; Amanda Anderson as child two; Heather Parker as child three; and Thomas Stone as Rod Tripp.

CHECK IT OUT

WHAT: "Murder at Sixth and Ferry," a play by Ellen West Lilja.

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.

WHERE: Morningstar Grange, 38794 Morningstar Road N.E., Millersburg.

TICKETS: $10 (dessert included). Tickets can be purchased at Past Time antiques in Albany and by reservation at 704-8563. Doors open 45 minutes before show time.