Praise Pouring in for DEADBEAT.

Deadbeat, the one-act murder mystery play written and produced by Speed City Sisters in Crime, is getting a high praise from the media and audiences alike.  

The INDIANAPOLIS STAR did a feature article on Deadbeat. It was singled out among the 62 performances at this year's Fringe Fest.  To see the article, CLICK HERE

The play premiered on August 16 as part of 2018 Indy Fringe Fest, and will run through August 26.  

ORDER TICKETS, CLICK HERE,  go to www.indyfringe.org or call 317-292-4429 or 317-292-6910

Here are two reviews from those in the audience for the premiere.  

DEADBEAT!  WHAT AN OPENING!

By Crystal V. Rhodes

After more than a year of preparation, the play Deadbeat, written and produced by Speed City Sisters in Crime, opened Thursday, August 16th.  Directed by Deborah Asante, the premiere was filled with drama, and it wasn’t all on stage.

Deadbeat was scheduled to start at 9:00 p.m.  At 4:30 p.m. stage manager, Barbara Michelle Dabney received a message from Alicia Simms, the very talented actress who plays the character of Celeste in the three person play.  Alicia's words were the last ones that anyone associated with a live theatrical production wants to hear.   The actress was stuck out of state and couldn’t get a flight back to Indy in time for the show.  Deadbeat. has no understudies and it was to made its debut in four in a half hours.  What in the world were they going to do?

Michelle Dabney had the answer.  As the stage manager for Deadbeat she attended every rehearsal for the past six weeks.  She knew every line, every stage cue.  When the lights went up on the Opening Night of Deadbeat, Michelle stepped on stage and transformed into Celeste.  The Theatre Arts Major from Indiana State University nailed it.  She didn’t miss a beat.  Together with veteran actress, Gabrielle Patterson, whose command of her part as Abby was flawless, the sheer force of their combined talents brought Deadbeat to life.  The ladies ruled the stage! 

Alicia has returned to Indy and will resume her role as Celeste for the rest of Deadbeat’s run.  Michelle will return to running the show as stage manager, but Speed City Sisters in Crime owes the young lady a very big thank you for stepping up to save a very special day.

DEADBEAT A SKILLED, NUANCED MYSTERY

by Cheryl Shore

If you like your murder mystery infused with convincing psychological elements, you need to see Deadbeat, directed by Deborah Asante, at the Basile Theater as part of Indy Fringe. I was fortunate to see the premier on August 16. 

Everyone is in the dark at the beginning of the one act play, literally and figuratively. When the first light shines on the stage, we see the body of a man (Matt, the “deadbeat”), and two frantic women (Abigail and Celeste). Each of the two women is convinced the other committed the murder. The dialogue between Abigail and Celeste helps the audience understand the characteristics of the deceased and each woman’s conflicted relationship with him. The voice of the dead man helps develop the possible motive and gives more of the backstory concerning the trio.  

The true character of each woman, and the complex relationship between them, is revealed through their conversation. By the play’s conclusion the audience knows the Who and the Why behind the murder.  

Deadbeat’s actors were skilled in revealing the nuances of characters. Barielle Patterson played Abigail and Zach Hyatt played Matt.  On opening night, Barbara Michell Dabney stepped in and played Celeste without missing a beat. 


This is an intriguing whodunit. Be sure to see it before the final performance on August 26!