The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Geauga Lyric Theater Guild’s ‘The Game’s Afoot’ is spooky fun
Production of Ludwig comedy starts slowly, but then the laughs cascade
Murder, mystery and intrigue.
Geauga Lyric Theater Guild brings you the kooky and spooky “The Game’s Afoot,” on the stage of the Geauga Theater in Chardon. It’s just what the doctor ordered.
It’s not quite Halloween — although try telling that to major retailers — and the show is set in Christmastime in 1930s New England, but this ominous comedy is the perfect way to gear up for skeleton season.
The first 25 or so minutes of the show are a little stale and may not have you convinced fun does indeed lie ahead, but it’s worth the slow boil for the hilarious hijinks that ensue.
The script may be to blame for the early lull, or maybe the actors are using the opening dialogue as a warm-up. However, when things finally take off, they rarely slow down.
This production of Ken Ludwig’s 2012 play is directed by Patty Osredkar. Although it’s mysterious and murderish, above all else it’s a comedy.
How are the jokes received? They kill (pun quite intended).
The funniest member of the cast is, by far, Grace Butcher, who plays the innocent and elderly Martha Gillette. Butcher simply slays her lines and leaves the audience in fits of laughter. She’s a natural comic, and her scenes are easily the smoothest and most-adored moments of the show.
Martha is the mother of William Gillette (Michael J. Rogan), an actor who fancies himself a real-life Sherlock Holmes.
Rogan captures the bold and boisterous aspects of William’s spirit.
He’s endlessly loud and proud.
His character is a selfabsorbed show-biz personality who’s intent on discovering who is after him following his being shot on stage during his performance as Sherlock Holmes.
William’s actor pals are curious — and frightened — as well following the incident. So, naturally, William throws a house party to both celebrate Christmas and to solve an attempted murder.
What unfolds is nonstop nonsense.
The talented cast takes on one outrageous antic after another.
Hannah Maxwell and Max Seymour play a charming couple, Aggie Wheeler and Simon Bright. Both actors appear timid in their roles early on. Thankfully, though, each shakes off the stiffness to deliver what ends up being quite a spirited, energetic performance.
Caroline Mansfield plays Daria Chase, a ruthless writer who will stop at nothing for dirt to add into her newspaper column. No one likes a gossip, but everyone can like the performance of Mansfield. She is over-the-top, and it’s necessary for her character, although it feels a bit overdone at times. Nevertheless, Mansfield is loveable and pulls off some impressive stunts.
The set is strong but simple. It’s not as grand as the story suggests this home is, but it gets the job done.
The wardrobe is executed beautifully by costume designer Mayim Hamblen. The cast looks head-to-toe authentic to the story’s time period and the characters’ wealth status.
Geauga Theater recently received all new lighting, and the GLTG folks wasted no time putting it to use. This show is very heavy on lighting effects (for the eerie moments), and, thanks to the fabulous equipment and lighting designer Brad Allen, it all totally pays off.
This show is simply a treat, with a handful of tricks.