SLEUTH: Mystery by Anthony Shaffer. Directed by Mark Anderson Phillips. Center REPertory Company, 1601 Civic Drive in downtown Walnut Creek.: Lesher Center for the Arts, Civic Drive at Locust, Walnut Creek.925-943-7469 orwww.centerrep.org
March 28 -April 26, 2014
SLEUTH another winner at CenterRep in Walnut Creek [rating:4] (4/5 stars)
Be advised that the cast members after their well deserved thunderous applause at the curtain call pleaded with the audience not to give away the totally surprise ending but do tell your friends about how much you enjoyed the show. OK, fair enough especially since all is not what appears to be, including the program.
What we do know, and all that you will learn from this reviewer, is that it all begins when an egotistical, successful, both professionally and financially, mystery writer Andrew Wyke (Kit Wilder) inviting his wife’s lover Milo Tindle (Thomas Gorrebeeck) to his country home in Wiltshire, England. His home is a palatial mansion (Michael Locher’s stunning five stars set is worth the price of admission) furnished with paraphernalia reflecting his obsession with playing games. Kit Wilder gives a magnificent portrayal of Wyke’s supercilious, devious, arrogant, privileged yet personable nature necessary to make the plot line plausible.
Enter handsome, charming, sexy Milo, the son of an Italian immigrant, with only public school education and not very financially secure. Andrew on the surface does not seem to mind his wife’s dalliance since he has a mistress but there is a hint of jealousy about Milo’s good looks and virility.
l-r Kit Wilder as Andrew, Thomas Gorrebeeck as Milo
Since Milo will need money to keep his paramour in the manner she is accustom to living with Andrew, maybe Milo would not be adverse to play a game that would supply Milo with money but require a theft of her jewels. OK. Milo is ‘game” and allows Andrew to set up the game that will appear like a robbery by a man dressed as a clown. (Don’t ask!) The interaction between Milo and Andrew gets weirder and weirder and director Mark Anderson Phillips moves his characters around as if playing a chess game. One might conjecture that the upsetting of the chess board earlier in the act may be symbolic of what is to happen. The first act curtain is a stunning killer with the set in total disarray.
When the curtain rises (actually the lights come up, there is no curtain) the set is again immaculate and all the toys are back in place. The peaceful ambiance is upset when inspector Doppler arrives announcing that Milo Tindle has disappeared and there is information that the last place he visited was Andrew’s mansion. Surprise after clue after clue is discovered and the previous unflappable Andrew is at his wits end.
As the second act continues, there is twist and turns along with the surprises that will leave you befuddled but Anthony Shaffer’s brilliant writing wraps up the evening with all the loose ends tied up.
Running time 1 hour 45 minutes with an intermission.
SLEUTH: By Anthony Shaffer. Directed by Mark Anderson Phillips.
Cast: Philip Farrar, Inspector Doppler; Harold K. Newman, Detective Sargeant Tarrant; Roger Purnell, Police Constable Higgs; Thomas Gorrebeeck, Milo Tindle; Kit Wilder, Andrew Wyke.
Production staff: Scenic Designer, Michael Locher; Lighting Designer, Kurt Landisman; Costume Designer, Maggie Whitaker; Sound Designer, Theodore Hulsker; Stage Manager, Kathleen J. Parsons; Props Master, Shaun Carroll; Wigs, Judy Disbrow; Fight Director, Kit Wilder.
Kedar K. Adour, MD
