A strange message appears in the personal column of the Chipping Cleghorn Gazette: “A murder is announced and it will take place on Friday, October the thirteenth, at Little Paddocks – at six-thirty PM. Friends please accept this, the only intimation.”
So it is that a group of friends nervously wait by the clock to see if it is a practical joke or if someone will in fact be murdered when suddenly the lights go out. Soon Agatha Christie’s famed spinster sleuth, Miss Marple, is on the case to figure out the motive behind the murder.
Vision Theatre Productions is presenting its sixth annual murder mystery in support of the Centre Wellington Food Bank. All of the plays to date have been written by the woman dubbed “The Queen of Crime” and they have grown in popularity over the years. Vision has added an extra day this year to accommodate the demand for tickets.
A Murder Is Announced is a story of concealed identity, money, jealousy, love and murder. The play features the nosey and inquisitive amateur sleuth Miss Marple, who quickly finds herself among the list of suspects in this twisting tale.
The money raised from the production since its beginning in 2005 has gone to the Centre Wellington Food Bank. To date, more than $10,000 has been donated. March is a critical time for the food bank as that is when the shelves are often at their barest. Audience members are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item for the food bank.
This year, Vision Theatre Productions welcomes Simon Leibovitz as director. He has more than 30 years of directing experience having directed or acted in several of Agatha Christie’s plays.
A Murder Is Announced runs at the Fergus Grand Theatre March 23 to March 26 at 8pm and March 27 at 2pm. Tickets are available at the box office by calling 519-787-1981 or online at www.fergusgrandtheatre.ca.
