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"Murder at the Byeways"
March 2006
Deep River Legion
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Article featuring Dan and Jane Vachon
(published in the North Renfrew Times, 2006 Feb. 8)
After seeing last April's "West Wylie Story" by the Deep River Players, musician Dan Vachon was so impressed that he told writer/director Phyllis Heeney to give him a call when she was ready to do her next show.
He never expected to get that call a few months later.
In fact most of the "West Wylie" cast and crew were taken a bit by surprise when Phyllis announced that a sequel was in the works.
Now, less than a year after its predecessor, "Murder at the Byeways" (a "murder-mystery musical-comedy" dinner theatre) is being presented on March 3, 5, 8-11 at the Deep River Legion, complete with a four-course meal and bar.
Thanks to Dan Vachon's generous offer, this time around the show features a number of original compositions.
For Dan it's a chance to hear other people singing his material for the first time, an experience he describes as "surreal".
"The leads are really making the songs their own," he observes, "which is always the way a song sounds its best."
Dan is no stranger to the local music scene. A native of the area, the AECL employee has been performing on local stages most of his life - including, ironically, his first professional gig at the Byeways itself, 29 years ago ("the day Elvis died", Dan notes).
The Byeways Hotel, Point Alexander's legendary and historic watering hole that burned down in May 2000, is the setting of the Players' new murder mystery - recreated with some poetic licence (including the beloved Champlain mural) for the show.
"Those walls knew an awful lot about my shenanigans over the years," Dan concedes.
It's fitting that the signature refrain from the show, "If these walls could talk the whole place could burn down", blends with a personal touch the glorious past and portended demise of that venerable establishment.
It's one of several catchy numbers Dan has written, from a touching love ballad (between newlyweds Reginald and Dolores) to a cynical blues number on the foibles of marriage (by vixen Natasha).
Helping Dan with the lyrics was his wife, Jane.
"That's been a pleasant surprise because it wasn't planned at all," Dan explains, "I got behind the eight ball a bit and went crying to her for ideas."
"Next thing I knew we were writing and it just kept coming."
Jane sees it a bit differently: "I saw an opportunity to put words in Dan's mouth and I took it."
"Music comes naturally to Dan," she adds, "I'm not musical in the least. For me it was a matter of coming up with verses and adjusting them to fit the rhythm."
So what's it like being a married song-writing team?
"Well, when we've written something particularly mushy we look deeply into each other's eyes," answers Dan, "and share a really good belly laugh!"
They did make an interesting discovery this past Christmas: "We can't wrap Christmas gifts together, but we can write music together."
As the show heads into its final weeks of rehearsals, Dan looks forward to performing in the show's "Byeways house band" along with a number of other familiar musicians: Art Gresham, Malcolm Griffiths, Rob Birney, and Dan Schryer.
"That's a very talented ensemble," Dan notes, "People will not be disappointed with the show."
Tickets for "Murder at the Byeways" are available for $28 (including the show and meal) at LoonsNest in Deep River and Country Meats in Chalk River.
Seating is limited and early booking is recommended.
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