Wyoming County Players entertain at Church of the Epiphany

GLENBURN TWP. — Along with food, people also had a mystery to solve on their plate. On Feb, 16, the Wyoming County Players came to the Church of the Epiphany to entertain church members and guests with a murder mystery dinner. The church’s fellowship hall was decorated with a ship’s helm and a Jolly Roger flag for it was a pirate story the Wyoming County Players performed called “All Harms on Deck,” written by directors Ron and Kim Whipple.

Ron was the serious Captain No Beard and his wife Kim played the fun-loving firstmate Smie, who loved to sing, dance, and tell jokes. The rest of the Wyoming County Players acted as the zany crew of the ship, including Danielle Hanna as Betty Booty Builder and the Anate cousins played by Dean Perone, Ariana Billiot and Nelson Wood. Reverend Lou Divis, pastor of Church of the Epiphany, also got a part playing the ever-silent prisoner whose tongue was cut out by Captain No Beard.

“I had fun,” said Divis. “I’m glad I didn’t have any lines.”

When Smie gets killed in the middle of the play, it’s up to the audience to figure out the murdere. Was it Heloose Anate? Touloose or Screwloose Anate? Maybe the prisoner or Captain No Beard? That’s what the audience had to find out. Each table was given a packet with crossword puzzles, word searches and identifying ships. The answers led up to them solving the mystery.

Kathy Poepperling, of Waverly, received a lot of help from her daughters Sadie and Moira and niece Gracie Panzino, of Pittston. They were the ones who got it right.

“They helped me with everything,” she said. “I would’ve never got it without them. They knew who it was halfway through.”

This is the third time the Wyoming County Players have performed the murder mystery “All Harms on Deck.” The first time was at a benefit for a scholarship program at Moose Hall in Tunkhannock and the second was at St. Peter’s Church (also in Tunkhannock), where Divis is also a pastor.

“It’s fun,” said Ron Whipple. “We have a fun group to work with.”

“I like creating stories,” added Kim. “This is an outlet for us to do it.”

The Wyoming County Players also perform in their new Starlite Playhouse, which they finished building during Christmas 2018. There, they did their first show called “Christmas Schooner.”

Nelson Wood, who played Screwloose in “All Harms on Deck,” recently joined the Wyoming County Players this past November, having been an actor for the Dearly Departed Players for 15 years. He became one of the Wyoming County Players when his friend asked him to join.

“I thought it was a lot of fun,” he said. “The Whipples are a fun group.”

Kim Whipple (dressed as a pirate), one of the directors of the Wyoming County Players, pulls Judy Wademan, of Scranton, from the audience to dance to a pirate shanty with her.

https://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_20190216_182956-1-1.jpg.optimal.jpgKim Whipple (dressed as a pirate), one of the directors of the Wyoming County Players, pulls Judy Wademan, of Scranton, from the audience to dance to a pirate shanty with her. Ben Freda | For Abington Journal

Ron Whipple, left, as Captain No Beard steers the ship with his crew and prisoner. From left, first row, are Danielle Hanna as Betty Booty Builder and Reverend Lou Divis, pastor of Church of the Epiphany, as a silent prisoner, and Nelson Wood as Screwloose. Second row, Dean Perone as Touloose and Ariana Billiot as Heloose.

https://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_20190216_183817-1.jpg.optimal.jpgRon Whipple, left, as Captain No Beard steers the ship with his crew and prisoner. From left, first row, are Danielle Hanna as Betty Booty Builder and Reverend Lou Divis, pastor of Church of the Epiphany, as a silent prisoner, and Nelson Wood as Screwloose. Second row, Dean Perone as Touloose and Ariana Billiot as Heloose. Ben Freda | For Abington Journal

Wyoming County Players director Ron Whipple (dressed as Captain No Beard) poses with Angie Garzarella, left, of Scranton.

https://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_20190216_190840-1.jpg.optimal.jpgWyoming County Players director Ron Whipple (dressed as Captain No Beard) poses with Angie Garzarella, left, of Scranton. Ben Freda | For Abington Journal

Kathy Poepperling, of Waverly, gets help from her daughters, from left, Sadie and Moira Poepperling and her niece Gracie Pizano, of Pittston, with solving puzzles and word searches to figure out who done it.

https://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_20190216_191416-1.jpg.optimal.jpgKathy Poepperling, of Waverly, gets help from her daughters, from left, Sadie and Moira Poepperling and her niece Gracie Pizano, of Pittston, with solving puzzles and word searches to figure out who done it. Ben Freda | For Abington Journal

Ron Whipple as Captain No Beard reads the will of the deceased firstmate Smie as Betty Booty Builder, played by Danielle Hanna, and the prisoner, played by Reverend Lou Divis, look on.

https://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_20190216_192041-1.jpg.optimal.jpgRon Whipple as Captain No Beard reads the will of the deceased firstmate Smie as Betty Booty Builder, played by Danielle Hanna, and the prisoner, played by Reverend Lou Divis, look on. Ben Freda | For Abington Journal

Cast members of the murder mystery ‘All Harms on Deck’ are, from left, first row, Ariana Billiot of Heloose and Danielle Hanna as Betty Booty Builder. Second row, Nelson Wood as Screwloose, Kim Whipple as Smie, Ron Whipple as Captain No Beard, Dean Perone as Touloose, and Reverend Lou Divis as the prisoner.

https://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_20190216_192354-1-1-1.jpg.optimal.jpgCast members of the murder mystery ‘All Harms on Deck’ are, from left, first row, Ariana Billiot of Heloose and Danielle Hanna as Betty Booty Builder. Second row, Nelson Wood as Screwloose, Kim Whipple as Smie, Ron Whipple as Captain No Beard, Dean Perone as Touloose, and Reverend Lou Divis as the prisoner. Ben Freda | For Abington Journal