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...they took the art into their own hands ARCHIVES Survivor Island: 2001-2003   Survival Can Be Murder! By Kayley Mendenhall, Chronicle Staff Writer, Photography by Doug Loneman Murder is coming to Survivor Island. Or is it? That is the question audience and cast members alike will attempt to answer during the Vigilante Theatre Company's performance of "Mystery on Survivor Island," by director and playwright Bruce Hurlbut. The latest crew of survivors has entered its final days on the island, located conveniently in the Rocky Mountains of Montana. Yet suddenly, one of the four finalists is missing and foul play is suspected. The host of the show and the remaining three contestants are all suspects in the money-making murder scheme to get a million dollars and a car. The winner takes home the cash, while the losers go home empty handed or possibly not at all. None of the actors or the director were big fans of Survivor, the television show, but they've all started watching it to do research for the play. "I just thought it was a great idea to launch a mystery out of (the Survivor plot)," Hurlbut said. "Anything can happen on an island, and this is a tropical island in Montana." Ninety-nine percent of the population has heard about (Survivor). Audience members are cast as survivors already voted off the island, and are expected to participate in the show. "Each of the suspects has its own tribe there to support them and win points for them through challenges and contests," Hurlbut said. This constant interaction between the audience and the players makes dinner theater both exciting and challenging, and the result is different every time. "Mystery on Survivor Island" has three possible endings depending on audience participation. "Dinner theater has been around in different forms forever," said John Hosking, co-founder of the Vigilante Theatre company. "What's happening is taking place in the room. Everyone has a name tag so we can call them by name during the performance. Lots happens. (The audience) is part of the show, their actions change the course of the show. "Making sure everyone has fun without feeling embarrassed is part of the challenge of a dinner theater performance, said Rhonda Smith, co-founder of the company. "What's important is the audience," she said. "As long as you're not offending them in any way and not making fun at their expense." The company travels throughout the Northwest performing for all kinds of audiences. "We're available to go into any situation," Hosking said. "We play anything from the nicest country clubs to church basements. That's how we've found an audience for what we do." Hosking and Smith began the company 20 years ago because they shared a passion for theater and a disgust for big cities. "We always wanted to do theater but didn't like cities," Smith said. "We started it then, never thinking it would last for 20 years. We thought it if lasts three years it will be great." The company is a non-profit organization that sustains itself through charitable grants and the fees various groups pay to have them perform. In its current repertoire, the company will perform any of four shows depending on what people want. "Murder on the Riviera", "Mystery on Survivor Island", "Who Shot the Sheriff" and "The Ever Intrepid Traveling Clark and Lewis Show."