Markham Stouffville Review, November 2023

2 MARKHAM STOUFFVILLE REVIEW COMMUNITY NOVEMBER 2023
MLT delivers a great mix of mystery and comedy
BY JEFF JONES
Markham Little Theatre returns to the
Flato Markham Theatre stage for the first
time this season with The Game’s Afoot.
Equal parts murder mystery and comedy,
the play, written by award-winning playwright
Ken Ludwig, runs from November
15 to 18th.
“There is nothing like a good murder
mystery,” says show director Kerry Harman.
“We have period costumes, a fabulous
set with hidden goodies, lighting, sound and
weapons. We think you’ll love it.”
The play features a fictionalized version
of legendary American stage actor,
William Gillette. Gillette became a star
on Broadway in the late 1800s after he
persuaded Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to let
him adapt Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes for
the stage. Gillette then took the fortune he
earned and built a castle in Connecticut
that was apparently full of devices from
Sherlock Holmes stories like rotating walls,
two-way mirrors and secret passages.
In The Games Afoot, a retired Gillette
has invited former castmates and a surprise
guest to this same castle for the Christmas
holiday. The guests banter in quotes from
favourite plays as secret behind-the-scenes
drama is revealed, as you might imagine
from a room full of ageing and nostalgic actors,
until a murder turns the party to chaos.
“This show has it all,” says stage manager
Sarah MacDonald. “It’s a spoof and the
cast and crew are having a wonderful time
bringing it to life.”
The cast of The Game’s Afoot.
The cast is a mix of MLT mainstays
and folks new to the company. Gillette is
played by Imre Szabo with his guests being
portrayed by an ensemble that features
John Fetherston, Noah Bicknell, Michèle
Browne, Shelagh Carlini, Nicky Marsh, and
Katarina Matthiessen. The cast is rounded
out by Catherine Hughes as the inspector
who tries to make sense of the whole thing.
“Rehearsals are going very well,” says
Harman. We spent the first few weeks
working on characters; now we’re onto the
action. Just come prepared to laugh and
enjoy.”
The play is full of twists and turns,
thrills, and more than a little farce. Perhaps
the largest challenge for the creative team,
however, is the setting of a castle in the
1930s.
“Clothing and set design are key,” says
Harmon. “This is a big show to produce,
and we want it to reflect the ostentatious
glory of Gillette’s mansion. The set will
feature some Art Deco pieces, and the team
is already sourcing props.”
In addition to Harman and MacDonald,
the production team features Phil Mitchell
and Keith Pybus (with help from René
Vriends) collaborating on set design; Maria
Cerone designing costumes; an ambitious
sound design by Annie Clark; lighting design
by John Sellens; and Carl Gambacort
and Steve Birtles on props.
“The show will be big and beautiful,”
says Harman.
“We have a lot of fun with plays like
this one,” adds MacDonald. “Sound effects,
beautiful costumes, lighting effects, a great
set, and fantastic actors – it’s going to be an
exciting show.”
With 55 years of shows under
Markham Little Theatre’s collective belt,
these seem like predictions you can trust.
Founded in 1967, with its first production
performed at the local High School,
MLT is a volunteer army of Theatre creators
almost unmatched in Ontario. The group
has seen Markham through half a century
of changes and remained a constant.
Today, with a headquarters at the Markham
Museum and as regular tenants of the Flato
Markham Theatre, they continue to set the
standard for local arts in Markham.
“This play will bring you the best of
MLT,” says Harman. “What a fantastic way
to spend an evening.”
The Game’s Afoot will be presented at
Flato Markham Theatre from November 15
to 18.
All shows begin at 8 p.m., except the
18th at 2 p.m., with ticket prices starting at
$25.
Visit markhamtheatre.ca for more
information
Lest we forget
Remembrance Day
PAUL CALANDRA, MPP
Markham-Stouffville
Suite 400, 37 Sandiford Dr. Stouffville, ON L4A 3Z2
(905) 642 2588 • paul.calandra@pc.ola.org