Playhouse presents Sherlock-esque murder mystery

Though Halloween month is coming to an end, the Whidbey Playhouse is always in the mood for some mystery and dead bodies.

The Playhouse invites community members to guess whodunit at its upcoming show, “The Game’s Afoot,” a murder mystery comedy that might be right in the Sherlock Holmes fans’ alley.

The play was originally written by Ken Ludwig and tells the not-so-real story of a real actor and playwright, William Gillette, who is best known for playing the mastermind detective Sherlock Holmes on Broadway and in a silent film.

In Ludwig’s story, set in 1936, Gillette invites a group of fellow actors to his luxurious castle in Connecticut to celebrate the Christmas season. After surviving an attempted murder and witnessing another death, the actor unleashes his inner Sherlock to find the culprit and protect those dear to him.

Cast members, such as Lisa Judd, said the play is a fun watch because it’s hard to guess who did it until the very end. Judd plays Martha Gillette, an elderly actress and William Gillette’s protective mother.

Denise Paulk said it’s the kind of show that some might want to see a second time to understand fully what’s going on.

Though it’s her first time on the Playhouse’s stage, Paulk plays a convincing Daria Chase, an abrasive and nosy theater critic who doesn’t like to be messed with but loves to mess with others.

The castle’s 24 rooms, secret passageways, hidden rooms and wide collection of knives provided the ideal setting for a murder mystery and inspired the Playhouse’s set, which features a rotating hidden bar inspired by the real castle’s real trick bar.

According to Director Stan Thomas, the bar’s structure weighs 300 pounds and is 5 feet wide, requiring two people to rotate it from behind the scenes. As the story unfolds, this quirky room serves as an effective comedy device.

Some elements of the Art Deco style, which was most popular in the 1930s, can be found on the stage, such as the stained glass windows and geometric lines that blend with the medieval-inspired architecture, as well as the doors inspired by the door lock-puzzles that Gillette designed himself over a century ago.

Though the play captures Gillette’s eccentric interests, Ben Honeycutt discovered that his character was much different than the joyful man Ludwig wrote. In fact, he found out that Gillette was instead “stoic and unemotional.” Yet he believes he would like it.

The play takes the stage Nov. 1-24, starting at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and at 2:30 p.m. on Sundays.

For more information, visit whidbeyplayhouse.com.

Aggie Walker and William Gillette (played by Marianne Campos and Ben Honeycutt) act a scene in Gillette’s Sherlock Holmes play. (Photo by Luisa Loi)

Theater Critic Daria Chase (Denise Paulk) annoys Madge Geisel (Ellie Alexander) after making a surprise appearance at William Gillette’s party. (Photo by Luisa Loi)

Inspector Goring (Lori Stahl) pays a visit to William Gillette’s castle to investigate a mysterious murder. (Photo by Luisa Loi)

The cast of “The Game’s Afoot” reacts to a letter. At left, Ben Honeycutt, Lisa Judd, Steve DeHaven, Ellie Alexander. Sitting, Riley Stowell and Marianne Campos. (Photo by Luisa Loi)