Thorndale Dinner Theatre prepares two-act play, A Murder of Scarecrows

The cast of Thorndale Dinner Theatre’s A Murder of Scarecrows rehearses in the basement of St. George’s Anglican Church. Nancy Abra photo

By Nancy Abra

For many years, the Thorndale Dinner Theatre has been an integral part of the community’s winter calendar. Hundreds of area residents and beyond have enjoyed this annual event and the 2026 Thorndale Dinner Theatre promises to be an entertaining experience from the delicious roast beef dinner by local organizations to the humorous performance on stage.

The Thorndale Dinner Theatre starts on Saturday, Feb. 21, with Dorchester United Church catering the dinner, and continues on Sunday, Feb. 22, with a brunch by the Thorndale Lions; Friday, Feb. 27, with catering by the homecraft division of the Thorndale Fair; and Saturday, Feb. 28, catered by Thorndale United Church. Dinners will feature roast beef and all the trimmings including salad, dessert, coffee or tea, taxes and tips, plus a two-act play, A Murder of Scarecrows, to follow. On the evening of Wednesday, Feb. 25, there will be a performance of the play only.

A Murder of Scarecrows by playwright Pat Cook is a light comedy thriller centered around protagonists Gerald and Cristine Dandridge’s Halloween party at their newly purchased fixer-upper country house. This house also comes with a haunted scarecrow legend. With mysterious noises and odd sightings, the legend starts to feel a little too real and the party guests get increasingly spooked and uneasy.

A Murder of Scarecrows blends comedy with mild suspense as the misunderstandings pile up and the truth behind the scarecrow is finally exposed. It’s not clear who will have the most fun, the audience watching the players’ antics as they unfold or these local talented actors jousting with each other onstage.

Making her debut on the Thorndale stage is Jennaya Chou, 19, from Thorndale.

“I’ve always wanted to do a stage play but have only had the opportunity to participate in musicals until my mom saw the advertisement for auditions last fall for the Thorndale Dinner Theatre. It sounded like a fun, family-friendly play, so I thought, ‘Why not?’ and I was so thrilled I got the role of Officer MacElroy!”

Chou said she has been in two musicals including The Sound of Music, but playing a prominent character in A Murder of Scarecrows has been a more intense experience.

“I am quite enjoying it, and everyone has been so welcoming and encouraging,” Chou said. “Even though I know the entire play, there are always moments, whether it’s a line delivery or an expression from a fellow cast member, that surprises me and makes me laugh during rehearsals. But seriously, if I was in the audience watching A Murder of Scarecrows, I wouldn’t accept a dare to not laugh during it; not with this cast, at any rate.”

Tickets for the Thorndale Dinner Theatre are available online at www.ticketowl.io/thorndalefallfair or in person (cash or cheque only) at Thorndale Hardware.