The world of an intrepid teen sleuth is explored in “Nancy Drew: Girl Detective.”
The fun and campy whodunit is a stage production being presented at Chicago Street Theatre in Valparaiso.
Running March 4-13, the family-friendly mystery is based on the series of popular Nancy Drew books, written by Carolyn Keene.
More specifically, the play reflects one particular book in the series titled “The Clue of the Dancing Puppet,” according to director Kari-Anne Innes.
Published in 1962, “Dancing Puppet” provides another round of suspense for River Heights, and serves up the scenario for Innes’ production.
“I would describe it as a melodrama mystery,” Innes said. “It has a lot of comedy in it. The three bad guys are very funny.”
The plotline is designed for those who enjoy yarns about things that go bump in the night.
According to the opera house, a strange puppet has been up to haunting tricks at an estate where an amateur acting group has its theater.
On top of that, there is a story element centering on a secret cache of jewels.
Entering the picture as problem solver is Nancy Drew, a seeker of adventure and solutions who has a long history in American popular culture.
“She’s been around since 1930,” Innes, a Valparaiso resident, said. “I’d say she’s a very independent young woman whose goal is to solve mysteries. She has her own goals and aspirations.”
In other words, Innes believes Nancy is a fictional heroine “ahead of her time” who stood out decades ago because she was such a “strong female protagonist.”
Guiding a cast of about two dozen, Innes faces the challenge of presenting a large-scale story on a modest sized stage.
“There’s a lot of individual scenes,” said Innes, noting the play “takes place in a lot of places with a lot of people.”
Maximizing available space is a key: “We’ve had to be inventive with stage design.”
Entrusted with the lead role of Nancy Drew is 15-year-old Megan Bentley, a sophomore at Valparaiso High School.
“She’s very confident; she knows what she’s doing,” Bentley said of the character she plays. “I’d say she’s a role model.”
Nancy Drew has plenty of fans, so Bentley wants to do her role justice.
“I think the challenge would be to really capture who she is,” the actress said. “I have one of her books now, that I’m reading.”
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Bentley lives in Valparaiso, as does Molly Dashiell, who portrays Bess Marvin, and Brittany Brice, who plays George Fayne.
The first Nancy Drew book was 1930’s “The Secret of the Old Clock,” and involved a secluded cottage and a mysterious clock.
The author was a woman who grew up as a tomboy in Iowa. Her name was Mildred Wirt Benson, although for literary and marketing purposes, her writings were attributed to Carolyn Keene. Benson wrote a substantial number of books in the Nancy Drew series.
Bob Kostanczuk is a freelance writer.
‘Nancy Drew: Girl Detective’
Where: Chicago Street Theatre, 154 W. Chicago St., Valparaiso
When: 7 p.m. March 4-5, 10-12; 2:30 p.m. March 6, 12-13
Tickets: $10, $12 and $25
Information: 219-464-1636, ext. 1; www.chicagostreet.org