ANNA MARIA – The Island Players’ production of Rob Urbinati’s “Death by Design” is an entertaining, comedic, ‘whodunit’ that features witty dialogue and unexpected plot twists dispensed by a talented eight-member cast.
Directed by Island Players veteran Preston Boyd, “Death by Design” opened on March 13 and continues through March 30.
The parlor game-like murder mystery unfolds inside a country manor outside of London, England in 1934. “Death by Design” begins with Bridgit, the outspoken Irish maid, cleaning up a mess left behind made by her employers, Edward Bennett, a snobby, moderately talented but commercially successful playwright, and Sorel Bennett, his self-interested and increasingly discontented wife and leading lady.
Portrayed by Island Players veteran Kristin Mazzitelli, Bridgit possesses an impressive knowledge of poisons, loves reading the scandalous and murderous accounts detailed in “The Tittle-Tattle” gossip paper and yearns to be a crime-solver herself.
Edward is played with great enthusiasm by James Thaggard, who has performed in or directed more than 40 Island Players productions. Sorel is wonderfully portrayed by University of South Florida English teacher Valerie Lipscomb, returning to the Island Players’ stage for the fifth time.
The couple has unexpectedly returned to their country manor for the weekend after getting into another combative argument triggered by Edward’s latest play and Sorel’s latest performance earning less than stellar reviews in the “Daily Mail.”
Before Edward makes his first appearance, Bridgit is joined by Jack, the likeable and promiscuous chauffeur who drives the Bennetts and their guests around in a Bentley motor car. Jack is played by Minnesota native Travis Cornwell, appearing for his first time on the Island Players’ stage.
As Act I unfolds, a series of invited and uninvited guests appear one by one, each bringing their own ambitions, idiosyncrasies, secrets and personal agendas to the gathering.
Bored with Edward’s writing and marital offerings, the attention-deprived and professionally bored Sorel has invited recently-elected parliamentarian Walter Pearce to join her for the weekend. Walter is played by Jack Watts, a community theater veteran making his first Island Players appearance after a long, real-life career in law enforcement.
Walter ran on a platform of morale reform yet desires the company of another man’s wife. He also hides a deep secret and a checkered past of his own and has a disdain for government funding of the arts.
Walter and Sorel’s time alone in the parlor is disrupted by Eric, a frantic young socialist who’s escaped from a mental institution and come to encourage Edward to begin writing plays of greater social significance for England’s downtrodden working class.
Returning to the Island Player’s stage, Jeffrey Steiger’s energetic portrayal of Eric is reminiscent of the frenetic comedy stylings and high-pitched vocal mannerisms used by well-known stand-up comedian and actor Bob Goldthwait. Edward and Eric also share an affinity for Sorel’s theatrical rival, the lovely Gertrude Lawrence.
In real life, Steiger is a director and playwright and serves as artistic director at the FLS Theatre at Florida International University.
Portrayed with great aplomb by longtime performer Ruth Shaulis, the next guest to arrive is Victoria Van Roth, the bohemian, abstract artist, interpretive dancer, musician and martini drinker who shares a secret with Sorel and someone else in the room.
Portrayed by Victoria Raybourn, the last to arrive is Alice, a gun-toting, optically challenged childhood companion of Jack who sets her sights on righting a wrong committed long ago by one of the other guests. Alice’s deafening wails become another source of discontent for Edward, who begs her to lower the volume of her hysterics. Raybourn, a veteran of high school theatrical productions, is appearing on stage for the first time as an adult.
Act I ends with the demise of one of the guests and Act II begins with Bridgit conducting a murder investigation in which everyone is a suspect and some suspect themselves. As the plot thickens, the characters’ selfish pursuits, human frailties and hidden secrets are exposed as the list of potential killers narrows and the tale ultimately reaches its unexpected and theatrically inspirational conclusion.
Tickets for “Death by Design” are $18-$28 and can be purchased online at www.TheIslandPlayers.org. Tickets can be purchased at the theater box office, 10009 Gulf Drive, Monday-Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and an hour before show time. For more information, call 941-778-5755.
Opening May 8 and directed by James Thaggard, Tom Ziegler’s Grace & Glorie will conclude the Island Players’ 76th season.
The “Death by Design” cast, joined by director Preston Boyd and his wife and stage director, Priscilla Boyd. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
The production crew helps bring “Death by Design” to life. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
Victoria, Alice, Sorel and Jack all have reasons to do away with the now-removed victim. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
The hired help and the guests don’t always see eye-to-eye. - Joe Hendricks
Set designer Jan Van Wart and director Preston Boyd in discussion before the March 9 dress rehearsal began. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
"Death by Design" runs through Sunday, March 30. - Island Players | Submitted
