Et Tu, Steinbeck, Mystery and a Meal
Garrett Jones, Staff Reporter

On weekends, going to dinner and then seeing a movie is a social norm.  However, dinner and a show at the same time could be hard to find.  Et Tu, Steinbeck, a dinner theater production presented by Ariel Theatrical, Inc. in Salinas, Calif. might just be the solution.
            Steinbeck is a murder-mystery written by Jim Albanese, a columnist for the Salinas Californian.
            “This is the second play I’ve written for Ariel,” Albanese said.
            Et Tu, Steinbeck was written a year ago, but was not put into production until this year do to the Ariel Theatrical facility refurbishing.  The play is a follow-up to Albanese’s 2005 play, Dining to Death with Steinbeck.
            “[John] Steinbeck is so much a part of Salinas that you can’t ignore him,” said Albanese about what influences his writing.
            Albanese, a journalist for 38 years, heads the Californian’s history column, in which all but three of the characters of his play have been mentioned.  The three that are not mentioned in his columns are simply fictional characters created expressly for the play.
            Et Tu, Steinbeck is a quasi-interactive play; performers in the play interact with patrons during the meal portions of the evening, helping either to serve plates of food, or engage patrons in conversation while staying in character.
            CSU Monterey Bay alumni, Lysa and Dan Filcek were in attendance at the play.  Lysa, a Human Communications (HCOM) graduate, thought it was “delightful and light-hearted”.  Her husband, Dan, a student in the Masters of Instruction in Science and Technology (MIST) Program at CSUMB, said that he was “interested in studying up on the characters and their backgrounds.”
            Performances began Nov. 2 and 3, and will also be running the weekend of Nov. 9 and 10.  Tickets are $50 and there are a limited number of seats.  Tickets can be reserved by calling the Ariel Theatrical, Inc. at (831) 775-0976.  Ariel Theatrical is located at the Wilson Children’s Theatre at 320 Main Street in Salinas, Calif.  Their website is www.arieltheatrical.org.
            If the play does not whet your appetite, the food on the menu might.