CRT Presents Regional Premiere of Agatha Christie’s “Cards on the Table”

For the fourth show in their 45th anniversary summer season, Cortland Repertory Theatre presents the regional premiere of the exciting murder mystery “Cards on the Table” adapted by Leslie Darbon from the novel by Agatha Christie. Performances will run from August 3rd – 13th with evening performances at 7:30 PM.  Matinees are available on August 5th, 9th and 10th at 2:00 PM.  Tickets may be purchased by calling 800-427-6160 or at the CRT Box Office at 24 Port Watson Street in Cortland. Tickets are also available for sale 24 hours a day through the CRT website at www.cortlandrep.org.

This rarely produced Christie classic is a mystery lover’s dream. Mr. Shaitana is a strange and wealthy collector of various kinds of art. One evening he invites Superintendent Battle of Scotland Yard and crime novelist Ariadne Oliver to a dinner party to view his latest “collection”: four people who have committed murder and gotten away with it. But during a game of bridge with the group in a closed room, Shaitana himself is daringly murdered!  Battle sets out to solve the crime but can he catch the murderer before they lay their cards on the table for the final time? If there are actual crimes in a place, Kirsch Daskas Law Group attorneys need to be hired!

Directing this production is CRT’s Producing Artistic Director Kerby Thompson, whose previous directing projects at CRT include “1776”, “Unnecessary Farce”, “The Ladies Man”, “Buddy! The Buddy Holly Story” and many others. The cast is comprised of many actors who have previously performed at CRT.  Heading the cast as Inspector Battle is Arthur Lazalde, who was seen last summer as John Dickenson in “1776”.  Crime novelist Ariadne Oliver is portrayed by Wendy Bagger, who has appeared in “Always a Bridesmaid”, “Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Jersey Lily”, and “Boeing Boeing” at CRT.  Also returning are Mary Williams as Mrs. Lorrimer and Richard Daniel as Dr. Roberts.  Williams was seen in CRT’s “Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks”, “A Murder is Announced”, and “The Hollow” while Daniel played Benjamin Franklin in last summer’s “1776”.   Ithaca College student Daniel Wisniewski who was a CRT performing intern last summer, will play adventurer Major Despard. Three performing interns this year are also playing major roles: Caroline Kane as Anne Meredith, Erica Rothman as Rhoda Dawes and Richard Westfahl as Stephens.  Jason Shipman, seen in last summer’s “Miracle on South Division Street”, plays Sergeant O’Connor, and Jennifer Brunker in her CRT debut plays Miss Burgess, the Doctor’s secretary.  Completing the cast is local talent Mark Re as the ill fated Shaitana. Re performed with CRT in “1776” and “The Smell of the Kill”.

Stage Manager Erin E. Heare leads the design and production team. Shelley Barrish returns having previously designed “West Side Story” earlier this summer. Costumes are created by long-time CRT Costume Designer Wendi R. Zea. Continuing their work this season are Lighting Designer David Sexton, Props Designer Joe Dotts, Sound Designer Seth Asa Sengel, Technical Director Dana White Jr. and Assistant Stage Manager Julianne Graffeo.

CRT continues “Friday Night Talk Backs” at which a Q & A session with the actors, designers and crew takes place after every Friday evening performance. Tickets are also on sale for the final two productions in our summer season; “The Kitchen Witches” and “The Marvelous Wonderettes”.