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<!--StartFragment-->
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-family:Palatino;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">THE
GAME’S AFOOT delights at CPH<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino;mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman""><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino;mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman"">Roy Berko<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino;mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman""><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino;mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman"">Member, American Theatre Critics Association<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino;mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman""><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Palatino;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">LORAIN COUNTY
TIMES--WESTLAKER TIMES--LAKEWOOD NEWS TIMES--OLMSTED-FAIRVIEW TIMES<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman""><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">--COOLCLEVELAND.COM—<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman""><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:
none;text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:
Palatino;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold;mso-bidi-font-style:
italic">How often does a theatre extend the run of a show before it even
opens?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Well, since pre-sales were
so strong, the Cleveland Play House has added a week of stagings for their
world premiere of Ken Ludwig’s THE GAME’S AFOOT (or Holmes For the
Holidays).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:
none;text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:
Palatino;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold;mso-bidi-font-style:
italic">It appears that the doomsayers, who said that the move to downtown
would bring about the demise of CPH, were very wrong!<span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>So far, the opening season has been an artistic and financial
success, and the company’s next show, TEN CHIMNEYS, will inaugurate a new
theatre, The Second Stage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It will
the first CPH show that has ever been presented in the round.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:
none;text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:
Palatino;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold;mso-bidi-font-style:
italic">Ludwig is a well known playwright whose musical, CRAZY FOR YOU, ran
over four years on Broadway and in London.<span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>In addition, he wrote the oft produced LEND ME A TENOR.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He’s also the scribe of MOON OVER
BUFFALO, TWENTIETH CENTURY and THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:
none;text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:
Palatino;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold;mso-bidi-font-style:
italic">Ludwig’s THE GAME’S AFOOT is billed as a comedy thriller in which we
meet famed stage actor William Gillette at his Connecticut home, recovering
from an attempt on his life during the curtain call of his renowned play,
SHERLOCK HOLMES.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Several weeks
later he invites the members of the cast and a reporter/critic who is doing a
story about him, to spend the holidays in the elaborate home occupied by
Gillette and his mother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The
castle-like structure is filled with electronic gadgets and hidden rooms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It’s a perfect place for an Agatha
Christie-type mystery. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:
none;text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:
Palatino;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold;mso-bidi-font-style:
italic">Of course there is a murder and the fun real begins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:
none;text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:
Palatino;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold;mso-bidi-font-style:
italic">More farce than comedy, there are enough early hints of “who did it” so
that the revelation of the killer isn’t a great mystery, but the fun is so
sharply developed through prat falls, exaggerated situations, and over done
shticks, that the whole darn thing works well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:
none;text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:
Palatino;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold;mso-bidi-font-style:
italic">William Hooker Gillette was, in fact, a famous actor in the late
nineteenth and early twentieth centuries who is best remembered for his
enactments of Sherlock Holmes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He
was a proponent of grand stage designs and added many special sound and
lighting effects into his productions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>His wearing of a deerstalker cap and the smoking of a large curved pipe,
became the visual pattern for all who were to play Holmes in other plays,
movies and on television.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>A
life-long resident of Connecticut, he actually built a grand castle-like home
in that state that is still open for tours.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:
none;text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:
Palatino;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold;mso-bidi-font-style:
italic">CPH’s production, under the direction of Aaron Posner, is a
delight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:
none;text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:
Palatino;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold;mso-bidi-font-style:
italic">The cast is wonderful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The
well-paced timing keys the laughs. Daniel Conway’s set is so impressive that
spontaneous applause broke out when it was first revealed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Thom Weaver’s lighting effects,
especially the falling snow and quick blackouts, and James Swonger’s sound effects,
all added to the wonderment, though one might wonder, besides trying to create
a spooky effect, why there was booming thunder during a snow storm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But, that matters little.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This is a farce more concerned with
affect then effect.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:
none;text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:
Palatino;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold;mso-bidi-font-style:
italic">Donald Sage Mackay is Holmes. His tall, lanky physique, pointed nose,
and Holmesian attitude are all spot on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>Patricia Kilgarriff is a hoot as his curmudgeon mother, who almost kills
their dog in her attempt to punish Daria Chase (Erika Rolfsrud) the bad, bad
lady theatre critic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:
none;text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:
Palatino;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold;mso-bidi-font-style:
italic">(Why is it that at present there are two shows running in the area
which damn theatre critics…this production and Ensemble’s AT NICHOLAS?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We are kind hearted people who even
give positive reviews to plays that damn us!)<span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:
none;text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:
Palatino;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold;mso-bidi-font-style:
italic">Back to the cast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Rolfsrud
makes for a great villain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>She
even got some complimentary boos during the curtain call.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It’s amazing she isn’t all black and
blue from the slamming down and around that happens to her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:
none;text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:
Palatino;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold;mso-bidi-font-style:
italic">Sarah Day is delightful as mannish Inspector, Harriet Gorin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>She’s Miss Marple (The Agatha Christie
character) and Jessica Fletcher (MURDER, SHE WROTE) all rolled into one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:
none;text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:
Palatino;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold;mso-bidi-font-style:
italic">Rob McClure is boyish ingénue-right as Simon Bright.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Though she physically fits the role of
the blonde innocent, Aggie Wheeler, Mattie Hawkinson’s high pitched voice
becomes grating after a while.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:
none;text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:
Palatino;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold;mso-bidi-font-style:
italic">Lise Bruneau (Madge Geisel) and Eric Hissom (Felix Geisel) are fine as
a bickering couple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:
none;text-autospace:none"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Palatino;mso-bidi-font-family:
Arial">Capsule judgement: THE GAME’S AFOOT is a perfect holiday treat that will
delight audiences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It’s a go-see
fun evening of theatre.</span></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;
font-family:Palatino;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold;
mso-bidi-font-style:italic"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;text-transform:uppercase">the game’s afoot</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Palatino;mso-bidi-font-family:
Arial"> </span><span style="font-family:Palatino">plays through December 24 at
the Allen Theatre, the new home of the Cleveland Play House.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>For tickets call 216-795-7000 or go to
clevelandplayhouse.com.<span style="color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--></span></div><div> </div><div><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#8000FF">Roy Berko's blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews, as well as his consulting and publications information, can be found at http://royberko.info. His reviews can also be found on www.coolcleveland.com and www.NeOHIOpal, while special features appear at http://artsamerica.org.<br></font></i></div></div></body></html>