The Game's Afoot at the Encore in Cloquet: Fun Holiday Fare for Theater Goers Here

If you're in the mood for a fun holiday mystery, the answer is simply elementary, Watson: go and enjoy the County Seat Theater's production of The Game's Afoot or Holmes for the Holidays. If you like light-hearted madcap suspense, the County Seat Theater Company is currently performing this Ken Ludwig play at the Encore in Cloquet.

This was my second visit to the Encore, and the experience stirred many fond memories of community theater productions from long ago. My first visit was to see the world premiere of Denise Hinton's Sweet at the end of September. This story of an old boxer was a knockout. What I got out of attending this second play was a deeper appreciation for the role this theater has played in the community, providing a cohesive creative center for a large number of families with connections to the arts.

The creator of this story is Ken Ludwig, an award-winning playwright whose 25 plays and musicals have been performed in over 30 countries around the world. In addition, as an author he's written How To Teach Your Children Shakespeare, which I was not surprised to learn, as the Shakespeare quotes and references in The Game's Afoot were plentiful. (You can read more about Ken Ludwig here, though Ken's bio makes no mention that Ludwig was my designated name in 7th grade German class.)

The set... before turning off our cell phones.

L to R: Sean Biskey, Darien Botilla, Ryan Klawitter and Keith Chapin.

On opening night director Greg J. Anderson welcomed us with enthusiasm, acknowledged sponsors and reminded us to turn off our cell phones. He also noted that they are actively raising funds to expand the facilities, and that Sue Brown Chapin was donating one of her original paintings to this end, which would be raffled off at the end of the year along with two season tickets for next year.

The lights dim, a little music sets the stage and then a whistle blows. "Stop that man!" someone shouts. A large man crosses the set, clearly on the run, then Sherlock Holmes himself, steps in through the door to confront the man now cornered, Moriarity. It's the climax of a play, and as quickly as it began it is over, the stars come forth to take their bows, we hear the applause of the New York Palace Theater crowd, and then a gunshot from somewhere. Holmes is felled and falls.

Elizabeth Klawitter as Daria. Skilled with the (verbal) knife.

So begins The Game's Afoot. The rest of the play takes place two weeks later on Christmas eve 1936 in the home of Broadway star William Gillette (portrayed by County Seat Theater newcomer Ryan Klawitter) who is admired around the globe for his leading role playing Sherlock Holmes. Having recovered somewhat from the shot that pegged him in the arm, he's invited his fellow cast members to his Connecticut castle for a weekend of revelry. By the way that these guests react, you get the impression we are at the spectacular Hearst Castle. (Whether intentional or no, Ryan Klawitter looks enough like Orson Welles to bring Citizen Kane to mind.)

The characters who gather for the Christmas Eve festivities here are all familiar with one another through the theater. Apparently none have been to Gillette's new house in Connecticut, as one exclaims, "This is where God would live if he could afford it."

The last to arrive, though, sends an icy vibe through the others, much like the last character in Hitchcock's Lifeboat amped the tension in that film. (The first ten minutes of the film involve picking up survivors after a ship has been sunk by a German U-Boat. The tenth man picked out of the water happens to be the captain of the German U-Boat.) This last person to arrive at the Gillette home is none other than that famous "stick in the knife and twist it" theater critic Daria Chase (Elizabeth Klawitter), who has a whole basketful of great lines, and the audience was eating them up like buttered popcorn.

Yes, the dialogue is crisp, and the wit is sharp as a tack in this script. And it wasn't long before the cast was riding a wave, having fun playing their respective roles.

Gillette's intention in inviting all these peers together on this night was to learn who it might have been who took a shot at him and why. As the play unfolds, the clues spill from all kinds of unexpected places, and as with any good whodunit everyone becomes a suspect. Even so, no one expected a murder to occur.

The second half of the play is no longer just about what happened to William Gillette. Now we have a murder to solve, and suspects are all around. We know, however, that it was not the butler or other staff because they've been given the night off. When Inspector Goring (Colleen Biskey) arrives we have something akin to a romp on our hands.

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One of the features of the Encore is a hospitality area with wine and treats, and an art gallery curated by artist and former art teacher Kris Nelson. As many as 25 local artists are represented during this show.

I learned from Kris Nelson that the County Seat Theater Company originally started at the Carlton High School when she was young, and Kris was in that first play, "The Odd Couple." The theater troupe did a reprise of the play ten years ago with three of the original players participating. This was when the performances were held at the church in Atkinson.

Today many of the people involved are children of others who were involved back in the day.

All the players deserve recognition. You can read my poison pen version of this review elsewhere. (Not.) Many claps for Keith Chapin (Felix Geisel), Crystal Jordan (Madge Geisel), Darien Botilla (Aggie Wheeler), Sean Biskey (Simon Bright), and Corey Fisher who clearly enjoyed the role of William's mother, Martha Gillette.

"Our audiences have loved the witty and fast-paced dialogue in shows such as 'Moon Over Buffalo' and 'Leading Ladies,'" said County Seat general manager Joel Soukkala. "I have no doubt if you are looking to laugh and be entertained, this show is just what you are looking for."

I would concur.

The Game's Afoot runs Friday, Nov. 30 through Dec. 2 and December 6-9.
For Tickets and information on future shows, visit: www.countyseattheater.com
Reserve your tickets early, as some performances are already sold out.

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If you live in the vicinity of Cloquet, Oldenburg House is hosting its Second Annual Holiday Arts & Crafts Sale this Friday from Noon till 8:00 p.m.  Oldenburg House has been a big supporter of the County Seat Theater... Check out this and other upcoming events OACC.US