“An Old-Fashioned Family Murder,” November 12 through 22

Thursday, November 12, through Sunday, November 22

Richmond Hill Barn Theatre, 600 Robinson Drive, Geneseo IL

Lauded by the George Street Playhouse as a work in which the author's "wit, warmth, and clever storytelling are on full display," playwright Joe DiPietro's comedy An Old-Fashioned Family Murder wraps up the 2026 season at Geneseo's Richmond Hill Barn Theatre, its November 12 through 22 run treating audiences to what Broadway World called “an uproarious new farce" in which "DiPietro pours every possible Film Noir detective cliché into a mixing bowl. The result is delicious."

A murder. A mystery. A mother. It’s a dark and stormy night at the mansion of elderly Colonel Claythorne, and the pompous murder-mystery author Arthur Whittington is holding court with the Colonel’s family: his eldest daughter, Clarice, who is cold and glamorous; Clarice’s attractive fiancé, Jasper; Claythorne’s youngest daughter, Dotty, who is a big fan of Whittington’s; and Mrs. Shirley Peck, an unassuming but keenly observant visiting widow. When Whittington shares the news that the Colonel has modified his will to cut out one of his daughters – though which daughter won’t be revealed until the Colonel’s death – tempers flare. By the time Mrs. Peck’s son, (junior) Detective Paul Peck arrives at the house, there’s been a murder, and everyone is a suspect. With backstabbing, love and Mrs. Peck’s mother-knows-best advice complicating the investigation, it soon becomes clear that nothing – and no one – is what it seems in An Old-Fashioned Murder's spoof of classic murder mysteries of the 1940s.

Directing the Barn Theatre's season-ender is venue favorite Jonathan Grafft, who helmed 2023's Unnecessary Farce and has enjoying roles in such Richmond Hill productions as Misery, The 39 Steps, and Escanaba in da Moonlight. Fellow members of An Old-Fashioned Murder's creative team include stage manager Kady Derbyshire, set builders Mike and Jim Skiles, lighting and sound designer Dana Skiles, and costumer Ann Keeney-Grafft. And with Jesslyn Cohen (Genesius Guild's Antony & Cleopatra) making her Barn Theatre debut, the comedy's six-person ensemble is completed by a quintet of talents with previous Barn Theatre credits: Samuel Carrington (Picasso at the Lapin Agile); Shyan DeVoss (The Tell-Tale Farce); Mike Kelly (The 39 Steps); Jack Sellers (The Nerd); and Jackie Skiles (84 Charing Cross Road).

An Old-Fashioned Family Murder runs at Geneseo's Richmond Hill Barn Theatre November 12 through 22, with performances Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Admission is $12, and more information and tickets are available by calling (309)944-2244 and visiting RHPlayers.com.