ATC's show,The Game's Afoot by Ken Ludwig @WMCA

Assiniboine Theatre Company, a local adult community theatre group, is performing a theatrical comedy by Ken Ludwig, “The Game’s Afoot” at the WMCA Nov.13-15,7:30 PM.  bringing mystery and puzzle and laughter to Brandon.  Tickets to the show are available for purchase at www.wmca.ca. 

The plot is set in the Gillette mansion in the Christmas season 1936. Actor, William Gillette who plays Sherlock Holmes, has invited his group of theatre friends.  It is an unusually modern mansion with many new gadgets for the time.  Everyone seems like they are innocent and all are suspects.

A wonderful group of actors will bring characters to life.  Spoiler alert!  Someone might die!  Maybe.  The roster includes James Warnez who brought us the deeply jealous Salieri character in “Amadeus” and the Scottish hitman in “Unnecessary Farce” and Joey Simms who performed as the grown grandson in ATC’s dinner theatre production of “Over the River and Through the Woods”.  The character William Gillette-act-a-like of Sherlock Holmes- will be played by John Gunston.  Others involved onstage are Sarah Hay, Briar Thorn, Emilie Blaikie -Cox, Carol McInnis, and Shannon Salterelli.

As part of the production team, Andrew Mok  is directing the play, inspired from his work with 7Ages Theatre, formerly of Brandon. “I first learned of this play when I got involved during the pandemic,” says Mok. “It was such a funny, wacky play that I hoped to bring this story to life here in Brandon, and I’m delighted this is becoming a reality.” Assistant director is Lynn Andrews who has directed several dinner theatre plays for ATC.  Mary Wardle and Christine Penner are the co=producers, bringing all the show’s elements together.

Set designer, Bob Penner brings forward a beautiful colourful mansion with some interesting secrets while Kelsey Simpson has sourced elegant costumes for the actors, showing the famous actors in their finest. 

ATC has brought several highly polished shows over the 11 years of its existence, such as “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”, “Amadeus” and last year’s comedy, “Unnecessary Farce”.  As of fall of 2021 they have included a dinner theatre at the Ukrainian Reading Association Hall that has been a big hit with Brandon audiences.

Brockie Donovan Cremation and Funeral Services has hired ATC for their fundraising event, “Gossip in the Graveyard” and this year Weiming Zhao has created a painting of the event.  Th e painting will be sold through silent auction at the play and will be on display at the WMCA throughout the play’s run.  The proceeds from the silent auction will help to cover costs of renovations at the WMCA.

Ken Ludwig is known for his farcelike comedy where people are not who you think they are and misunderstandings lead to hilarious laughs.  His most known play, “Lend Me a Tenor”’ was also made into a musical and received seven major awards, including three Tony Awards and four Drama Desk Awards.