Valley Players present all-female cast in murder mystery-comedy, March 2-19
Feb. 18, 2023 | By Waterbury Roundabout 
Valley Players cast members (left to right) Anna Brundage, Mikki Nucci, Irene Halibozak, and Roberta Harold are not quite sure about accepting more tea from Charlotte Robinson in the mystery-comedy 'Murder by Membership Only,' playing March 2-19 at the Valley Players Theater in Waitsfield. Photo courtesy Bobby Kintz, Photos by Kintz.
The Valley Players present the play “Murder by Membership Only” Thursdays through Sundays, March 2-19, at the Valley Players Theater in Waitsfield.
This murder mystery-comedy with an all-female cast occurs in the fictional exclusive Orczy Club, an “inner sanctum” for women mystery writers in London.
In the story by Thomas Hischak, when the most successful female mystery writer of the day drops dead after dinner, the club members try to solve the case themselves—at the risk of their own lives, since the murderer obviously is one of them.
Those present are the owner of the club, (a big name herself some years ago), two other successful writers, a mysterious but accepted non-writer, a young journalist, a visitor from America who has just had her first mystery novel published, a much-maligned cook, and a long-suffering secretary. Each of these characters has an untold secret causing suspicion to rise among them.
Four of the nine roles have been double cast, so audiences will have the opportunity to see two slightly different interpretations. Playing the plain-spoken and somewhat mischievous paperback writer Hester Tandy is Kohl Comtess (of Montpelier) and Stefanie Seng (of Waterbury). At odds with Hester in temperament and style is Clarice Furgusson, played by Cynthia Seckler and Danielle Dukette (both of North Fayston). The current grand dame of the mystery writing world, Octavia Sturges, is played by Roberta Harold (of Montpelier), and her secretary with a secret, Lydia Beaton, is played by Marci Robinson (of Warren) and Mikki Nucci (of Waitsfield).
Valley Players cast members (left to right) Kohl Comtess, Danielle Dukette, Irene Halibozak, Joanne Puente, and Marci Robinson are concerned about what was in Roberta Harold's tea in the play 'Murder by Membership Only,' on stage in Waitsfield March 2-19. Photo courtesy Bobby Kintz, Photos by Kintz.
Playing the young, newly published writer from America is Irene (Reenie) Halibozek (of Essex Junction) in her first on-stage role for the Valley Players. Halibozek is usually found in the lighting booth and in addition to her main role has also designed the show’s lighting.
Providing astute observation of the group is Mrs. Plimpton (no first name given), played by Marie Schmukal (of Warren) and Carrie Phillips (of Waterbury). Portraying May Cobbs, a young photojournalist out to get an exclusive story on Mrs. Sturges, is Anna Brundage (of Waterbury). Charlotte Robinson (of Warren) plays the temperamental cook, Mrs. Balser.
Rounding out the cast as the warm and convivial Madame LeCoq, owner of the club, is Joanne Puente (of Worcester). Joanne is usually backstage acting as stage manager for many Valley Players productions, but this time lends her talent in front of the curtain.
“I am so pleased to offer these intriguing roles to an all-female cast,” said director Ruth Ann Pattee. “The Valley Players always has more talented ladies that we can cast turn up for auditions for almost everything we produce, so it made sense to me to feature women this time around.”
Show times will be Thursdays (with a special lower ticket price), Fridays, and Saturdays at 7 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m., March 2-19. Tickets: $10 Thursdays; $14 Sundays; $18 Fridays/Saturdays. Purchase in advance online at valleyplayers.com, or by phone at 802-583-1674. The theater is located on Main Street (Vermont Route 100) in Waitsfield.