Mystery/comedy live production opens Friday in Rogers City
by Richard Lamb–Advance Editor
Set in 1936 in the Connecticut mansion of a famous actor, the play “The Game’s Afoot, or Holmes for the Holidays” is a comedy opening Friday at the Rogers City Theater. Directed by Karl W. Heidemann, the Rogers City Community Theatre group’s mystery/comedy presentation centers around a party thrown by a famous actor who has played Sherlock Holmes for so long, he is starting to think he is the famous fictional sleuth.
William Gillette (portrayed by Ed Perrault) lives in a mansion with his mother Martha Gillette (portrayed by Elaine Heidemann) who is a retired actress. He invites his friends and fellow actors to a Christmas party to solve a mystery, but things start to go terribly wrong. Those invited to the party include Felix and Madge Geisel (played by Mike Marx and Denise Perrault); Aggie Wheeler, (played by Val Schalk) who is a young actress who was recently widowed and is a now a new bride; and Simon Bright (played by Zack Weber) who is Aggie’s new husband.
The guests are surprised by the appearance of hated theater critic Daria Chase (played by Donna Klein). What follows is a series of disasters and ensuing comedy bringing local police detective Inspector Goring (as played by Jodi Collins) to investigate the crimes.
“There is lots of physical comedy and lightning things. There is so much happening. You have got gunshots, strangulation, people getting hit on the head, stabbed in the back, thunder and lightning and we have got a séance with ghosts knocking on tables. I would rate it PG-13 as there is some swearing in there,” Heidemann said.
The play was written by Ken Ludwig, who wrote “Lend Me a Tenor,” presented by the local group in 2012. The play won the Edgar A
“He is such a wonderful author and so prolific. He has written so many wonderful things,” director Heidemann said. “He is a master of comedy but this is his first foray into the mystery genera, but he has not lost his touch for comedy. In fact it is more of a comedy than a mystery.”
Other crewmembers include Karen Maher as assistant director and stage manager, Bill Halsey on sound and Julie Riddle operating the lights. Karl W. Heidemann designed the sets and Lawrence Anderson created custom furniture.
Show times are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Jan. 29-31 and Feb. 5-7.