Live stage returned recently to the boards at the Strand Theatre when the Shelby County Players launched their 2010-2011 season with an Agatha Christie production.

“And Then There Were None” features an impressive cast and a very professional production,” said audience member Barbara Rogers, during the SCP’s recent four day run at the downtown venue.

The play, directed by Tiffany Wilson with a set designed by Russ Gross, featured a cast of seasoned local talent both on stage and behind.

“I really enjoyed the play,” said Judy Ashton another patron. “ The set was gorgeous and took me back to the Art Deco period. The actors were believable and seemed to be enjoying their parts. I look forward to more Shelby County Players productions.”

Penned by Christie as a novel in 1939 and then adapted for the stage by her in 1943, the play is no stranger to adaption, especially considering its two previous politically incorrect titles.

Designed as a comedy of manners in a genre this Grand Dame of literature made her own, the cast proves so believable I wanted all the characters dead by the end of the first act. It would be rather oxymoronic to single out one actor in this play of snidely repugnant characters; they all were equally up to the task of playing such droll roles.

From the opening dialogue of inane patter and small-talk loaded with innuenedo, personal quirks and mannerisms, the 11-member cast was proficient to point of making one crave murder and more of it.  Gross, who eloquently doubled as a judge, was merely one shining performance in this play about bores, blokes and hypocrites and their eventual demise.

Each and every actor, in fact, so personified their role that I often wondered in the back of my mind, whether or not Christie was parodying herself alongside the vagaries of British society and colonial history.  A few of the accents needed work, but overall, each character was obnoxiously well –acted and deserved their twisted fate.

“I enjoyed all the twists and turns, wondering where and when the next dead body would be found” said audience member Carolyn Statler.

Revolving about guilt and what Sartre called “bad faith,” the plot was itself a moral dilemma that made one wonder about history, politics  and just why corrupt empires die and fade away. To her credit, Christie, rather bluntly show us why:  it’s the people and their foibles, secrets and moral conundrums.

“I chose to direct this play for several reasons,” said Wilson, who also acted in another incarnation of the story 15 years ago. “The biggest reason being that mystery and suspense stories have always interested me… Out of the seven shows I have now directed for the Shelby County Players, five of them have been murder mysteries.”

 Several hundred patrons attended SCP’s recent four-day run at the Strand Theatre and the players are scheduled to return this October with “Inspecting Carol,” a Daniel Sullivan play, directed by Gross. The multi-talented ensemble will also stage” Twelve Dancing Princesses”, a play by Phyllis McCallum, directed by Keeley Payne in December. Next spring the troupe will bring William Inge’s “Picnic” to life for local patrons.

Formed in 1988, the Shelby County Players have staged more than 100 plays featuring purely local talent and this cast and crew typified the hard work, dedication and passion necessary to achieve live theater.  From props to costumes to an eye-catching set, this troupe of amateur thespians and their friends put on a fine performance and should be commended: no pun intended.

We doomed ourselves.  Last week asked everyone to keep their fingers crossed for our AC units in the heat.   The Shelby County Players had excellent attendance on Thursday night.   The AC couldn’t keep up, we thought it was the large crowd.    After cooling the theatre all day on Friday it didn’t take long for the next SCP audience to heat it up again.   We knew something was wrong and we were worried.   Before the show we found that one of our four units had shut down.  We didn’t have time before the performance started, but during intermission a crew headed to the roof with tools and Freon and fixed the unit.

(Warning, tech talk ahead) It turns out that the unit has been sub-standard all cooling season, we just didn’t notice.  It finally was sufficiently low on Freon to kick itself off.   We pre-purchased Freon last year for just this type of emergency.   We put 15# of R-22 in the unit on Friday night.   We finished about the time the second act finished.   It never got uncomfortable in the auditorium, but it certainly was headed that way.   Once the faulty unit was back online, it cooled immediately.   Throughout the day on Saturday we checked and the pressure held steady.   Not wanting to take any chances we again cooled the auditorium down before the audience arrive.  We expected the temperature to rise with all the people present.   Guess what?   With everything working the thermometer didn’t budge a bit.   We were shocked.  That 25% capacity difference made all the difference in the world.   If you were in the audience on Saturday night, we apologize from giving you a chilly evening, but considering what when on, it was a good problem to have.   We had it perfect for Sunday’s performance.

If you missed the production at the Strand, the SCP are performing it again at the Pixy Theatre in Edinburgh Friday and Saturday night.

This weekend we have 3 things.   First is the movie Friday the 13th.   Our web site contributor Steve Talbert said it best when he wrote the preview:

“If “Psycho” is too tame and “Saw” is too graphic, the original “Friday the 13th” might be up your alley — or wooded path, as the case may be. The Strand will show the film at 8 p.m. on Friday. Tickets are $5. Watching the film and enjoying popcorn and candy are great ways to beat the heat — and support the Strand.

Released in 1980, “Friday the 13th” is the granddaddy of teenage slasher films. Filled with suspenseful camera angles and creepy music, this classic features a 22-year-old Kevin Bacon, who gets “killed, ” of course.

Although many horror-lovers have watched the classic on VHS or DVD in their own home, most people born before 1963 have never seen the rated “R” film on the big screen in a movie theater.

Apparently, the film company isn’t making a big deal about the film’s 30th anniversary, so Shelbyville’s Strand is the only place to celebrate this historic occasion.

Watching Friday the 13th on Friday the 13th seems apropos, since the “un-holiday” gets little respect. Although most people who suffer from friggatriskaidekaphobia, which is fear of Friday the 13th, wouldn’t venture out in public on this date, this may be the perfect opportunity to overcome this fear. Friggatriskaidekaphobia is very rare, anyway.

In case you were wondering, paraskavedekatriaphilia is the love of Friday of Friday the 13th. So embrace paraskavedekatriaphilia by treating yourself and your loved one to a classic film in a classic theater! The balcony is open and the floor isn’t sticky.”

One Saturday author Joel Fox will give a lecture at 2:00pm on his new book Lincoln’s Hand.   This event is FREE.    On Saturday night at 7:00pm our friends at the Bears of Blue River Festival will hold their annual Queen Contest.   This event is also FREE.     We hope to see you at one of these events.

Thank you for your support.   It is fun, even if we scurry to the roof to fix the AC in the middle of a performance.   Your encouragement is always appreciated.   We want you to be proud of the Strand and what it means to our community.  After all, who else would put a 23 letter word on their marquee?

If “Psycho” is too tame and “Saw” is too graphic, the original “Friday the 13th” might be up your alley — or wooded path, as the case may be. The Strand will show the film at 8 p.m. on Friday. Tickets are $5. Watching the film and enjoying popcorn and candy are great ways to beat the heat — and support the Strand.

Released in 1980, “Friday the 13th” is the granddaddy of teenage slasher films. Filled with suspenseful camera angles and creepy music, this classic features a 22-year-old Kevin Bacon, who gets “killed, ” of course.

Although many horror-lovers have watched the classic on VHS or DVD in their own home, most people born before 1963 have never seen the the rated “R” film on the big screen in a movie theater.

Apparently, the film company isn’t making a big deal about the film’s 30th anniversary, so Shelbyville’s Strand is the only place to celebrate this historic occasion.

Watching Friday the 13th on Friday the 13th seems apropos, since the “un-holiday” gets little respect. Although most people who suffer from friggatriskaidekaphobia, which is fear of Friday the 13th, wouldn’t venture out in public on this date, this may be the perfect opportunity to overcome this fear. Friggatriskaidekaphobia is very rare, anyway.

In case you were wondering, paraskavedekatriaphilia is the love of Friday of Friday the 13th. So embrace paraskavedekatriaphilia by treating yourself and your loved one to a classic film in a classic theater! The balcony is open and the floor isn’t sticky.

Did everyone get the clues the past two weeks on John Calvert?   If so, you know that Mr. Calvert is a stage magician and a movie star from the Golden Age of Hollywood.   The Strand is hosting a John Calvert Film Festival on Saturday October 16, 2010.   In anticipation of that event four of Mr. Calvert’s films will be shown throughout the next two months at the Strand.

Return of the Durango Kid,  Appointment with Murder, Search for Danger and Devil’s Cargo star Mr. Calvert as “The Falcon”.   These films will be a fun retrospect into the fascinating career of Mr. Calvert.   We will be posting show dates in the coming weeks.   We also want to extend a very Happy Birthday to Mr. Calvert.   On August 5th he celebrated his 99th birthday.  

This event and the films leading up to the event will be something special for our community and State.   We are thrilled that Mr. Calvert selected the Strand Theatre as the venue for this walk back in time.  During the show in October, Mr. Calvert will also perform stage magic, for which he is well know.

The Shelby County Players had a wonderful opening for their play “And Then There Were None.”   It continues this weekend on Friday and Saturday night at 7:30 and a Sunday Matinee at 2:00pm.   This Agatha Christie tale is fun and entertaining.   The Strand is pleased to be one of the venues for the SCP 2010-2011 Season.  Come out and support live theatre in Shelby County!

Is it hot?  Yet another test, on the second hottest day of 2010 the Shelby County Players decided to test the cooling capability of our antique equipment.   They had over 160 patrons with an outside temperature of over 90°.     While the actors kept the patrons in suspense, the Strand kept the audience cool.   We tend to talk about our challenges with the operation of the theatre a bit more that some other things.  One look at our equipment, and it is easy to see we are on borrowed time.   Thank goodness our not so antique volunteer Bob S. has the skill and experience to keep this equipment doing it’s job.   Keep your fingers crossed.

This coming week three events.   On Friday August 13th we will show…Friday the 13th (1980 version).   We thought it was clever too!   This will be a fun event starting at 8:00pm.   You will have plenty of time to get dinner at one of our great Shelby County restaurants, and then come to the Strand for popcorn and the movie.   Popcorn is a great dessert.   We hope to see you there.  

On Saturday August 14th author Joel Fox will visit the Strand to give a lecture on his new book Lincoln’s Hand.   This novel takes place around the stories related to the attempted grave robbing our 16th president.    The event starts at 2:00pm and is FREE. 

On Saturday Night the Bears of Blue River Festival Queen Pageant will start at 7:00 pm.   This event FREE.

Our volunteers are working hard each and every day to make the most of the theatre that has been entrusted to us.   We believe that our community if full of talented, energetic and wonderful people.   The Strand highlights what we have, as a community, to offer.    It is a pleasure for everyone that is connected to the theatre to be a part of such fun project.   Thank you for your support.  Without you we could not do what we do.    Our donations keep coming, yet we never ask.   That is a true testament to the community in which we live.   Thank you.

The Shelby County Players held the debut performance of the 2010-2011 season at the Strand Theatre on Thursday August 5, 2010.

And Then There Were None was performed by the company under the direction of Tiffany Wilson.   The large Thursday night audience was joined by members of the Shelby County arts community for an opening reception.

There are still tickets available for the remaining performances.

Director Tiffany Wilson:

The Shelby County Players hosted a reception for the arts community of Shelby County at the Strand Theatre on Thursday August 5, 2010.    The event brought together artists  working in many different areas.   The event was sponsored by Indiana Downs.     Indiana Downs is a wonderful patron of the arts in Shelby County and helps facilitate the interaction between all the various arts organizations.

The Strand Theatre wishes John Calvert a very happy 99th birthday!

Mr. Calvert will be performing on the Strand stage on Saturday October 16, 2010.  You won’t want to miss this living legend of magic, Hollywood and adventure!

The Shelby County Players will debut their 2010-2011 Season at the Strand Theatre on Thursday August 5, 2010.     The production “And Then There Were None” is directed by Tiffany Wilson.

The performance times are:

• Thursday August 5th   7:30 pm
• Friday August 6th 7:30 pm
• Saturday August 7th 7:30 pm
• Sunday August 8th 2:00 pm

We hope to see you there!