Out of Sight…Out of Murder - theHumm January 2020
Out of Sight…Out of Murder - theHumm January 2020
By — Heddy Sorour
Perth’s Studio Theatre is determined to help you beat the post-holiday blahs with their production of Out of Sight… Out of Murder by Fred Carmichael — a comedy-thriller that’s bound to entertain. “It’s a comedy with no Trumpian overtones,” chuckles director Grey Masson.
This play has it all: blackouts, lightning, a haunted mansion, a bewildered author, and all the dicey characters of an Agatha Christie thriller… any one of whom could be a killer. The difference? The characters are appearing one by one and arguing about their allotted roles with their author!
They include: Cogburn the quintessential butler (Martin Treffers), Addie the pregnant maid (Annie West), the combative spinster (Roberta Peets), a young hero (Charles Henderson), the lovely ingénue Kay (Natalie Grey), and of course the ever-sophisticated, intelligent and caustic woman of a certain age Lydia (Juli Heney) and her crooked millionaire husband Jordan Dillingham (Ken Wiles). There is one more very real character, the long-suffering and very down-to-earth housekeeper Mina, portrayed by Joanna McAuley-Treffers. “I love playing Mina — she’s very sturdy, simple, honest and I love all her expressions,” explains McAuley-Treffers.
The plot follows Peter Knight, a once-successful author, who has been sent by his publisher to a remote mansion in Vermont where another author has died under mysterious circumstances. It’s been a few years since Knight’s had a successful book, and the macabre setting has been chosen to jump-start his imagination. An electrical storm, the sinister atmosphere and a receptive mind create the perfect conditions for Knight’s characters to materialize around him. “I’m surprised by how quickly Peter is accepting of the madness around him,” says Lucas Tennant, who portrays Peter.
Together, these highly opinionated characters inadvertently help our struggling author cement a plot, as one after another succumbs to a diabolical killer’s machinations. All Peter has to do is stay alive!
“Peter is a man who is very much in his own element, but finds himself a fish out of water — even though it’s a situation of his own creation,” explains Masson. Masson’s production, set in the 1980s before cell phones and computers (and in the days of big shoulders, big hair and big make-up) promises to delight the senses and the intellect. “It’s great fun — because of the imaginary characters, we get to ramp up the costumes — think Dallas, think Dynasty,” says Grace Main, assistant costumer.
Wit, comedy, romance and suspense all blend together to keep the audience on the edge of their seats.
Performances are scheduled for January 16, 17, 18, 23, 24 and 25 at 7:30pm as well as on January 19 and 26 at 2pm. Tickets are $24 and can be purchased at Tickets Please, 11 Gore Street E., 485–6434, at ticketsplease.ca or at the door.
Links for this article at Perth Studio Theatre,
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