This Halloween season The Yukon Arts Centre (YAC) will present Butt Kapinksi at The Old Fire Hall, an interactive comedic murder mystery set in the style of a classic film noir movie.

The show’s creator and star, Deanna Fleysher, slips into the gritty shoes of private eye Butt Kapinski as he endeavors to solve a murder with only a single street lamp to guide his way.  

YAC’s artistic director Eric Epstein first caught wind of Deanna Fleysher after hearing about her work with the internationally acclaimed show Red Bastard, which she co-wrote and directed.

“I heard a number of things about Butt Kapinski and I got to go to Vancouver and see it for myself,” Epstein says. “I don’t want give away too much but it was one of the funniest shows I’ve ever seen. It was so much fun to dive into this world.”

Deanna Fleysher is up to the task bringing Butt and his seedy underworld to life. Graduating with honours from Amherst College in Massachusetts, a native of New York now residing in Los Angeles, she spends her time teaching, writing, directing and performing. She considers herself a comedy artist specializing in physical theatre and improv.

Fleysher created her Kapinski character nine years ago.

“Butt came to me on a street corner in New York City,” she says. “I’ve done different shows over the years with the character: a show with other comedians, a street show, and now this show. No matter what, Butt has always been Butt.”

Who, exactly, is this salty private eye?

“Butt Kapinski is a dashing, dangerously whip-smart private detective hell bent on unearthing the seedy side of Whitehorse, and hopefully going to a Halloween party,” she says. “Butt Kapinski is a big idiot, trying to make a film noir, without a camera or actors or scenery or any of the usual movie-making devices. I am wearing a portable streetlamp, which serves as the only light in the show, and the ‘camera.’ The light allows me to move around the room, cast interesting shadows, make cinematic moments, use light and dark like a classic film noir.”

The show is for mature audiences and Fleysher points out it’s not for the easily offended.

Though the show is interactive and unpredictable no one should be worried about being put on the spot.

“All audiences are different, so every show is different,” she says. “Butt Kapinski doesn’t make fun of anyone; it’s a safe space for all, provided everyone loves film noir or pretends to very convincingly. It’s cool when audiences are a good mix of ages, sexes, races, creeds – but I take whatever comes. It’s always a fun ride.”

For those who would like to come a bit early to mingle, Ramshackle theatre will be running a bar to start the evening.

Butt Kapinski runs at The Old Fire Hall from Oct 28-31. Eric Epstein encourages all to dress up in their favourite film noir character.

For more information go to www.YukonArtsCentre.com

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