Do you like to go to the theatre? If so, look no further than Ajax. The St. Francis Centre which is located on Church St. just south of Hwy 2 will be debuting the Ajax Community Theatre’s 10th season this November with The Game’s Afoot (Nov 16-25).

A bit about The Game’s Afoot…

It is December 1936 and Broadway star William Gillette, admired the world over for his leading role in the play Sherlock Holmes, has invited his fellow cast-members to his Connecticut castle for a weekend of revelry. But when one of the guests is stabbed to death, the festivities in this isolated house of tricks and mirrors quickly turn dangerous. Then it’s up to Gillette himself, as he assumes the persona of his beloved Holmes, to track down the killer before the next victim appears. The danger and hilarity are non-stop in this glittering whodunit set during the Christmas holidays.

Cast

Gillette – Craig Martin

Martha – Jackie Del Greco

Felix – Mark Salonius

Madge -Sarah-Liis Salonius

Simon- Dillon Hunter

Aggie – Amber Dawn-Vibert

Daria -Catherine Speiran

Inspector – Rebecca Kingdon

For more information, check out the ACT’s website: https://ajaxcommunitytheatre.com/

A Note from Director Ian Speiran…

My first time performing in a stage show was in university. It was part of a production component for a drama studies course I had taken in my third year. I found it fascinating to watch how all the individual pieces of the production came together from the auditions to the  first read-through, to the blocking of the actors, to working on the individual scenes, to adding the props and costumes and the technical components of lights and sound, and finally to the finished show itself in front a live audience. I was young, we had a fantastic, fun, cast, I loved every minute of it and couldn’t wait for the next chance when we would all be together. I loved going to rehearsal and whenever the director ( our drama professor) got stuck with something, I would always try to offer a suggestion and many times he acted on it. I thought to myself – self, you could do this, you could find a play, have a vision and bring it to life. Well it only took me 33 years to get around to it, but the results are about to unfold before your very eyes this evening. I hope you’ll be impressed.

The Game’s Afoot has been an absolute pleasure to direct. It’s a comedy-mystery and though fictional, it is based around the work of a real-life actor from the 20’s and 30’s named William Gillette who obtained the rights from Arthur Conan Doyle to write plays based on his most famous creation – Sherlock Holmes. This play, though naturalistic, has offered me a great opportunity to get very theatrical, with the lavish, rotating set,  the extravagant costumes, the set decorations, the lighting and sound effects,  and the words the actors emote, including many quotes from Shakespeare. I found myself feeling transported back in time to that first university production, and the feeling I got working with a fantastic, fun cast and crew, and a dynamic rehearsal process. I looked forward going to every rehearsal and what new things we would add or discover that night. Thank-you to everyone involved in this production. You’ve made me feel 21 again without feeling guilty about not studying for an exam because I have a rehearsal to attend or a show to perform!

Ian has been associated with ACT for 7 years as an actor, board member and now director. His previous directing credits include Franken’s Hyde ( which he also co-wrote) with Beech Street Theatre, and All Together Now as ACT’s entry into the 2016 Durham Mini-Fest and later remounted with Beech Street in 2017. Ian’s stage credits with ACT include Fred Sheridan in The Explorator’s Club, Various characters in It’s a Wonderful Life the Radio Play, Max in Dial M for Murder and Spriggs in Theft. Ian has enjoyed helping ACT grow into the dynamic local theatre company it has become and would like to thank the board for giving him this opportunity to direct a show in the regular season.  

 

 

About the Author

Wendy Chiavalon is the Editor-in-Chief of The Local Biz Magazine. She lives in Ajax with her family. She loves watching Pixar movies, salsa dancing, road trips and of course, baking and eating cakes (who wouldn’t)?! In her spare time, she doubles as a cake decorator, baking and decorating cakes and other goodies for special occasions. You can check out some of her work at www.wendyscakeshoppe.com and follow her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/wendyscakeshoppe