This weekend, “Murder Comes to Pilot Point: A Sherlock Holmes Myster,” will debut at the Starbright Center for the Arts.
This comedy-mystery—written by Kailey Rice and Jeff Neyman and directed by Cindy Kennedy— features a cast and crew with a range of ages, acting experience and background.
“I just hope people see this as a place they can come to for a variety of things, including a murder mystery dinner theater about Pilot Point,” Kennedy said. “This is just one of many things that goes on here.”
On the hunt to solve the case is the British detective Sherlock Holmes, played by Jack Daniel Stanley.
One thing he enjoys about this production is its humorous elements and lightheartedness.
“We're still trying to be very iconically Sherlock, so I hope people that want to see that, see it is that,” Stanley said.
Another reason he decided to join this production was to share the stage with his sister, Mari Harrison, in their second production together.
Harrison plays Victoria Van Haunten, a character who craves the limelight.
“For me, this one was fun because I do feel like in real life I'm kind of not like her, I hope, in any way,” Harrison said. “So, it's just been fun because I feel like that’s just what acting is all about—just immersing yourself into whatever the role requires.”
Alongside Holmes to help is Dr. Watson, played by Tonie Auer in her first show.
“I have three grown kids, and so I didn't get to do a lot of stuff for me when I was busy raising kids and working a job,” she said. “So, this was my time to do something for me.”
In her professional career, Auer worked as a journalist for nearly 30 years, and through this role, she gained a new appreciation for community theater.
“It's a fun show,” Auer said. “It'll be different from what the theater normally does.”
Caroline Stewart works for the city of Pilot Point as the city planner, but, like Auer, she decided to step outside her comfort zone to play Rachelle Jones, the stern stage manager, in her first production.
“So for me, place-making is very important, especially when it comes to getting to know the constituents that I represent, so that's the reason why I wanted to audition,” Stewart said. “Plus, I have a little bit of stage fright, so I feel like this can help me boost my confidence a little bit.”
Along with facing her fears, she’s also paving the way.
“I am the first City Hall employee who's ever participated in a Starbright Theater production,” Stewart said. “So, our assistant city manager will be here opening night, the director of community services, so it's a really big deal for them. And I can't wait for them to see everyone come together and really pull this off.”
The curious reporter Anabelle Deluth is played by Silke Hjelmgren, who’s no stranger to the stage.
She auditioned for the reporter because she was drawn to the character’s shy nature and memorable laugh.
“It's a great community of people,” Hjelmgren said. “Almost all of them have been in previous shows with me, and they're all such good people. It's a really good cast to be part of.”
There to narrate and also play a special surprise guest is Aaliyah Sanchez, in her second production with the theater.
“I've done singing my whole life, but I haven't done much acting,” Sanchez said. “So, I feel like it's helping me gain more acting skills for when I am doing musicals so I'm more well-rounded.”
Mak McGlothin plays Junie Clementine, an inquisitive and nosy character, a role she added that shared similar characteristics to herself.
“I just think she's one of the more fun ones,” McGlothin said. “She's one of the more down-toearth. She's not wild like Victoria. She's not all the other things. She's actually normal.”
It’s Parker Roach’s second time in a Starbright production, and she plays Geraldine Paisley, a character who makes sure everyone is in line.
It’s a character that Roach enjoys playing because of the shared similarities.
“My favorite part has been getting to know everyone,” Roach said. “... Coming here, it feels like everyone was made for the role they're in.”
Tasha Abbott’s character, Georgette Carmichael III, is a wealthy, long-established Pilot Point resident who loves supporting the arts.
Abbott has participated in work outside of the theater in Pilot Point, such as the “Bonnie and Clyde” reenactment and “Shakespeare on the Square,” and she has always wanted to perform at the theater.
As a murder mystery enthusiast, she felt it was the perfect time to get involved.
“I have been helping for a long time here, not necessarily at Starbright, but through the Opera House and, like, the Haunted House and different things, and I'm just so impressed with Kailey and Joe for what they have done,” Abbott said.
Camille Posey plays Jamie, a young actress.
It is her first time in a Starbright production, and she decided to join on a whim.
She usually works behind the scenes, but this has inspired her to act in her high school’s productions.
“I never really thought of myself as an actor,” Posey said. “I didn't think of myself as doing this and that. I thought I was just going to stay holed up in the back doing costumes, no recognition, just doing stuff, but I mean, I do like it. I like our cast. Everybody's pretty cool and funny. I think we all picked it up pretty much pretty quickly. I think we are all doing amazing as a group, and I'm really happy. Everything's going to plan.”
Dinner reservations are closed; however, show times and tickets are available online at www.starbrightmpa. com.
