Review: The Game's Afoot - use your funny bone to solve this intricate mystery

The Game's Afoot cast all ready to unravel the mystery
with Isabel Zyla, Noah Bruckshen, Katelyn Jones, Nate Thomsen,
Maleah Metz and Steven Vederoff.
Photo courtesy SCC

The Game’s Afoot

or

Holmes for the Holidays

Written by by Ken Ludwig

Directed by Bryar Golden

Stage Management by Elise Ozel

Set and Lighting Design by Richard Schaefer

Shoreline Community College Theater

December 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 2016

Review by Doug Gochanour

The background story here is based upon a real person, who lived back in the 1936 time frame. William Gillette was a Broadway actor, known worldwide for his performances in the role of Sherlock Holmes. Gillette had obtained permission from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to write, direct and star in his own original Broadway play, Sherlock Holmes.

Gillette’s wealth grew over his play’s 20-year run, allowing him to build a large castle style home in Connecticut. Writer Ken Ludwig took the historical Gillette and created a hysterical version of Gillette for this play, The Game’s Afoot.

Richard Schaefer’s set design is very attractive and practical as it shows the castle’s character. The home displays features, which one might expect to find in a murder mystery – like secret passages, weapons readily available for mischief, and many rooms to confuse potential victims.

The fictional Gillette decides to throw a party at this Connecticut castle home, inviting his whodunit fellow actors to join him there for a weekend of Christmas Holiday partying. Steven Vederoff as Gillette, finds his guests arriving with their personal life complications and relationships baggage. This all leads to “ahem,” mayhem, mystery and even murder.

Eventually, following many farcical episodes, Gillette assumes the persona of Sherlock Holmes, matching wits with Katelyn Jones as Inspector Goring. There are many twists to challenge their collective powers of deduction.

You will find suspense mixed with laughter, as you use your funny bone to solve this intricate mystery. Put on your deerstalker, or your favorite sleuthing outfit and join the hilarity at Shoreline Community College Theatre. It’s a fun gift for this holiday season.