The Mercury Players are staging Deathtrap by Ira Levin starting Oct. 18.
Jennifer Cleough directs this production.
It’s all about brilliant playwright, Sydney Bruhl (Keith Simmonds), who hasn’t written a huge success in 18 years.
To make Sidney’s slump all the more painful, Clifford Anderson (Alex Walker), a student of one of Sidney’s writing seminars, has recently sent his mentor a copy of his first attempt at playwrighting for Sidney’s review and advice.
The play, Deathtrap, is a five character, two act thriller so perfect in its construction that, as Sidney says, “A gifted director couldn’t even hurt it.”
Using his penchant for plot, and out of his desperate desire to once again be the toast of Broadway, Sidney, along with his wife Myra (Angie Brockhurst), cook up an almost unthinkable scheme: They’ll lure the would-be playwright to the Bruhl home, kill him, and market the sure-fire script as Sidney’s own.
But shortly after Clifford arrives, it’s clear that things are not what they seem. Indeed, even Helga Ten Dorp, (Phaedra Fairwell) a nosey psychic from next door, and Porter Milgram (Jim Cleough), Sidney’s observant attorney, can only speculate where the line between truth and deception lies.
Show dates and times are as follows: Oct 18-20 at 7:30 p.m.; Oct 21 at 2 p.m.; Oct 25-27 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct 28 at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and students, available at Ten Old Books and First Chiropractic in Duncan or online at eventbrite.
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I’ve learned that JW-Jones is playing the Osborne Bay Pub on Saturday, Oct. 27 at 8 p.m.
The veteran Maple Blues Award-winning Canadian bluesman continues to evolve, keeping one foot in the terra firma of the traditional blues while he continues to challenge and raise his standards through his recordings and the 130 dates on average yearly that he clocks in on the road.
A real highlight is the inclusion of the JW-Jones showstopper: the 17- song medley that rifles through snippets of classic guitar riffs.
“It’s been a staple of our live show for years,” says Jones.
Guests Lazy Mike and Carson Mallon will also join the event.
Tickets are $25 each.
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Those imaginative folks at The HUB in Cowichan Station hope they have the recipe for a successful community gathering and fundraiser.
In a message blown my way among the falling leaves, I’ve discovered that on Sunday, Oct. 14 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at their location at 2375 Koksilah Rd., they’ve got something different on the menu.
Susan Down, CVAC president, says, “It’s at lunch and it’s family-friendly, so it is easy to fit into your day. You eat organic soup, listen to music and get to take home your bowl knowing you are supporting two important community groups!”
The Clay Hub Collective’s members, many of them professional potters, have created 200 ceramic bowls to choose from. The soup is created with produce from Tatlo Road Farm, Red Spade Farm, McNab Farm, Ol’ McDonald Farm, Manna Farm, Boots ‘n’ Roots, Cedar Valley Poultry Farm and others.
All proceeds go to support The HUB community centre and the Cowichan Valley Arts Council’s programs for youth and adults. Tickets are available from Clay Hub Collective members or online at www.cowichanvalleyartscouncil.ca
Adult entry is $25, children, $10, and families (two adults and two children), $50.
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According to Rien Vesseur, the Mercury Players are doing “a cold read” of the play version of Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, in preparation for putting it on in March.
“This is not an audition, anyone is welcome, but it is a good opportunity for potential actors to check out the play and for the director to see who those potential actors could be. Scripts will be provided. It happens Wednesday, Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. in the basement of the Mercury Theatre.
Here’s the story: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is a murder mystery novel like no other. The detective, and narrator, is Christopher Boone. Christopher is 15 and has a form of autism. He knows a ton about math but very little about human beings. He loves lists, patterns and the truth. He hates the colours yellow and brown and being touched. He has never gone further than the end of the road on his own, but when he finds a neighbour’s dog murdered he sets out on a terrifying journey which will turn his whole world upside down.
Sounds most intriguing. Check it out.
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I didn’t have to dig for this fascinating information, and neither will you.
On Thursday, Oct.18, from 12-1 p.m. at the Mesachie Room in the Island Savings Centre, you can learn how a local archaelogical site is providing new teaching tools.
You can hear Cowichan Tribes’ Dianne Hinkley talk about the discovery of the ancient village of Ye’yumnuts near Somenos Creek since the initial uncovering of the site in 1992. Now the Commemorating Ye’yumnuts project is giving students and teachers a special opportunity to learn about the history and importance of this place.
The resources are being created in partnership with the University of Victoria’s department of anthropology, with assistance from the Cowichan Valley School District.
Admission is by donation. If you need more information, call 250-746-1633.
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And finally, this: The Vancouver island Regional Library is presenting the Drag Queen Story Hour: a kid-friendly event featuring songs, stories, and photos with Queen Love, on Tuesday, Oct. 23 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Cowichan branch in the Island Savings Centre.
