The Island Players’ second play of the season is a murder mystery comedy directed by Preston Boyd. It also is part of the annual Island-wide artsHOP event showcasing the arts of Anna Maria Island.
“The Game’s Afoot,” by Ken Ludwig, is set on Broadway in December 1936. Mark Woodland plays William Gillette, known for being the first actor to play Sherlock Holmes. Gillette invites fellow actors to his castle and after all parties arrive, a guest is stabbed to death. The play mixes comedy with suspense as they try to figure out whodunit.
The cast includes veteran favorites Mary Selke as Martha Gillette, Daniel Greene as Felix Geisel, Judy Glynn as Madge Geisel, Heath Jorgenson as Simon Bright, Pamela Hopkins as Aggie Wheeler, Laura Morales as inspector Goring and Robin Rhodes as Daria Chase.
The play starts at 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Sunday matinees start at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 each. The box office is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and tickets are now on sale. On performance nights, the box office opens at 7 p.m. For Sunday matinees, it opens at 1 p.m. Visa, MasterCard or Discover are accepted. For reservations or information, call the box office at 941 778-5755 or go to the website, www.theislandplayers.org.
Auditions for the Island Players next play, “Beyond A Joke,” by Dereck Benfield, will be Nov. 12 at 7:30 p.m. at the theater. The play runs from Jan. 11 through 28, and will be directed by James Thaggard.