It’s December 1936, and Broadway star William Gillette, admired worldwide for his leading role in the play “Sherlock Holmes,” has invited his fellow Broadway cast members to his Connecticut castle for a weekend of revelry. When one of the guests is stabbed to death, the festivities in the isolated house quickly turn dangerous. As the gentle holiday snow turns into a blizzard, it is up to Gillette, assuming the persona of his beloved Holmes, to track down the killer before the next victim appears in this witty, suspenseful caper.
“The Game’s Afoot” (or “Holmes for the Holidays”) will run Oct. 1-4 at 7:30 p.m. at the Pella Opera House, presented by Central College’s department of theatre. Tickets are $9 for adults, $7 for senior citizens and students, and free for Central students with an ID card. Guests may purchase tickets at the information booth in Central’s Maytag Student Center or by calling 641-628-9000. Tickets will also be available at the door on evenings of performance.
The play is a new comedy and mystery from award-winning playwright Ken Ludwig, best known for “Lend Me a Tenor,” “Moon Over Buffalo” and “Fox on the Fairway.” “The Game’s Afoot” won the 2012 Mystery Writers of America Edgar Allen Poe Awards for best play. This new, hilarious story from a contemporary master of comedy brings mystery, mayhem and adventure to the Pella Opera House stage.
Director Mary Jo Sodd, professor of theatre, said partnering with the opera house is a great way to connect the college with the Pella community—and to introduce new students to the town’s arts lineup. Sodd also said a fun, lighthearted spoof on Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories is a perfect fit for Central’s homecoming celebrations, which begin Oct. 3.
Central’s next theater production will be Pulitzer Prize-winning play “Rabbit Hole” by David Lindsay-Abaire. The show will run Nov. 19-22 in Central’s Kruidenier Center.
