Above: Director Cindy Killavey (far right) with the cast of “Ghostly Witness,” which will be staged at the Valley Inn May 12-14. Sitting from left are Niall Tarrell, James Killavey, Ron Marsh and Kathy Bendl. Standing from left are Trish Culver, Richard Schmidt, Doug Smith, Tanya Kieron, Denise Betz, Valley Inn owner Joe Occhi and Ms. Killavey. Not pictured are Gloria Schmidt, Maria Schmidt and John Brennan.

PORTSMOUTH — Two years ago, when the Portsmouth Community Theater (PCT) was gearing up to stage “The Ghostly Witness,” a play about the mysterious death of local resident Rebecca Cornell in 1673, Doug Smith of the Portsmouth 375th Committee said it would make for a great dinner theater piece at the Valley Inn.

The West Main Road restaurant, a favorite hangout for locals, is located on the very spot where Ms. Cornell’s home once stood. It was there, on Feb. 8, 1673, that the 73-year-old widow was found burned to death near her bedroom fireplace.

Suspicion turned to her 46-year-old son, Thomas Cornell Jr., who had a tempestuous relationship with his mother, and he was brought to trial.

If you don’t know the outcome, we won’t give it away. But what made the trial notable was that it relied partly on spectral evidence, where witnesses recounted dreams of ghosts who pointed to his alleged guilt — hence the play’s title.

The script was written by its director, Cindy Killavey, and Gloria and Richard Schmidt, who simplified the original trial transcript so it would be accessible to a modern audience. “Killed Strangely: The Death of Rebecca Cornell,” a 2009 book by Elaine Forman Crane, also served as a guide.

In 2013, the play was staged at the Aquidneck Island Christian Academy, but PCT has revived it as a dinner theater performance and will be bringing it to the Valley Inn on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, May 12, 13 and 14.

“Cindy is having quite a time adapting how we move,” said Ms. Schmidt. “Without a stage and with lots of tables around with people dining, it should be pretty interesting.”

As an added bonus, the Valley Inn’s own Joe Occhi — also a basketball coach at Portsmouth High School — will be among the cast members. He’ll play John Briggs, who testified about seeing the “ghostly witness.”

For more information or to make reservations, call 401/847-9871.