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Murder mystery due in Chagrin
(by Barbara Christian - August 27, 2008)
Murder mystery due in Chagrin
Labor Day is upon us, so can "Murder by the Falls" be far behind? Yes, it's that time again for those lucky enough to score tickets to the annual Chagrin Valley Little Theatre solve-it-yourself mystery benefit set for Sept. 5 and 6.
Once a year, party goers and murder-mystery lovers gather at the River Street theater to watch while murder is committed. Then they work in teams, combining their deductive powers to find out who did the crime.
This year, it's the merchants battling coffeehouse owners and a meddling gossip columnist who are at the center of the action. And the backdrop is a town very much like Chagrin Falls.
We will stop there. Don't want to ruin the fun. Presiding over the on-stage "murder" is longtime and all-the-time CVLT supporter Don Edelman. He wrote and is directing the play titled "Desperate Merchants." And look who's back playing the Columbo-style Inspector Gotcha but CVLT favorite Frank Mularo. Also featured are Cindee Catalano, as reporter Helen Hearsay, along with Jan Jones, as Vera Pretty, the sex-kitten-turned-design-store owner. Bob Fortlage is Joe Merchant, one of the coffeehouse owners, with Amy Pelleg playing his protective daughter Melinda. Another CVLT faithful, Sy Levine, is cast as the other coffeehouse competitor Max Wellman.
Sharon Lloyd is beauty salon proprietor Minnie Curist, Mary Jane Nottage is Gail Grind, with Carol Ernst as dress-shop entrepreneur Ellie Ghant. Chagrin Falls Councilman Dwight Milko plays tough-talking restaurateur Fred Pike. Kris Tesar plays W.C. Mason. Eric Oswald is Charlie Big Brown, the delivery driver. Don Bernardo does a double turn as a police officer and Dusty, a forensic expert. Yours truly plays Gotcha's side kick, Barb.
But that's not all, folks. Real-life locals and village officials Police Chief James Brosius, Fire Chief Frank Zugan and Mayor Tom Brick play themselves or a close facsimiles.
But it's all in good fun, and proceeds from the two-night event support the theater. Heading the hardworking "Murder" committee are Jack Henry and Lisa Kramer, with help from Jean Hood.
It's not too late to get in on the action. For details and ticket reservations, call the box office at (440) 247-8955 between 1 and 6 p.m. Monday though Saturday.
In other local news, did you know that a documentary is being made of the journey the Spillway partners are undertaking?
In case you have been in a sensory-deprivation pod for the past few weeks, the Spillway guys -- Darren Wyville, Bob Darden and Bill Phillips -- are proud new owners of the Ivex property on Cleveland Street and plan to turn the old buildings into a combination of things, including a brewery, restaurant, inn, movie house and more.
And getting it all down on film is Jake Janofsky, known as Pete Jacobs to members of his 1987 Chagrin Falls High School graduating class. Now an LA filmmaker, Jake is joined in the project by little brother Matt Jacobs, a New York City attorney and 1995 Chagrin graduate. They are the sons of Mary Ann and Dr. Irwin Jacobs, of Moreland Hills.
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