THE SECRET OF CHIMNEYS by Carol Kaufman Segal

            

The group Rep is presenting Agatha Christie’s play, The Secret of Chimneys. The novel was originally written in 1926 and was adapted by Christie into a stage play in 1931.  Long forgotten due to her daughter’s request not to make known that it existed, a copy was discovered later in Canada where it had its world premiere in 2003.

            

The mystery takes place in the council chamber at Chimneys, a country estate South of London in 1947(set design by Chris Winfield).  You will find a number of characters visiting and arriving at the estate, which often makes it difficult to understand who some of the characters are and why they are involved.  However, there is a mystery about the manor that remains to be seen as the play progresses and all of the “guests” become involved.

            

Lord Catarham (Lloyd Pedersen) is, seemingly, the host of a gathering of people that includes an heir to the throne of Herzoslovakia (Doug Haverty), an attractive young woman, Virginia Revel (Stasha Surdyke), and eventually a young man, Anthony Cade (Lee Grober) who has come to look into the secret of the manor.   Suddenly, a gunshot is heard and Anthony Cade and Virginia Revel, together, find the dead body of the royal member of the gathering.   

           

Superintendent Battle (Daniel Lench) of Scotland Yard arrives on the scene and each and every guest is questioned.  As the mystery of the murder evolves, Anthony Cade becomes a suspect, but the plot of stolen diamonds, secret oil concessions, exiled royalty, and murder has yet to be solved by Scotland Yard’s Superintendent Battle.  By play’s end, you will be totally surprised!

            

All of the actors bring reality to their roles. Since the play is set in London, the actors take on British accents which they do extremely well. Other members of the cast not mentioned heretofore are Todd Andrew Ball, Michele Bernath, Dave Buzzotta, Bruce Nehlsen, Michele Schultz, and Gabrielle Sigrist, all under the perceptive direction of veteran Director Jules Aaron.  If you enjoy mysteries, you can’t help but be intrigued by this play.

              

The Secret of Chimneys plays Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM, Sundays at 2 PM, through May 5, at the Lonny Chapman Theatre, 10900 Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood.  Tickets are available online at www.thegrouprep.com, or by phone at (818) 783-5990.