Bedfordtimesregister.com - Ghostly mystery at local theater

Every theatre has its ghost stories and Chagrin Valley Little Theatre is no different. Over the years, the resident spirit has been handy in making lost props reappear, repairing costumes, un-sticking paint cans, and generally helping out in unexpected and mysterious ways.

But in CVLT's 25th annual Murder by the Falls event, taking place on Sept. 10 and 11, things have suddenly changed; light bulbs are breaking, doors are being locked, buckets are upturned, makeup and shoes are being ruined... clearly the ghost suddenly wants to get everyone's attention.

Chagrin Valley Little Theatre's audience-participation mystery fund raiser kicks off the Theatre's 81st consecutive season. The evening begins with a pre-show hors d'oeuvre reception with beer/wine cash bar, followed by Act I, in which a mystery is unveiled. During intermission, the audience searches Chagrin Falls Village for clues hidden in store windows and interviews live actors on the street. A catered dessert follows where audience members, in teams of eight, make their accusations on paper. The evening completes with the revealing of the criminal's identity in Act II and prizes being awarded to the winning team.

Money raised from the event helps with operating expenses as the theatre kicks off its new season.

This year's show, "Who Ya Gonna Call?" is the third original script by brother/sister team Andrew and Greta Rothman. The playwrights experimentally deviate from the traditional format this time around, with the audience being challenged not just to reveal the criminal but also what crime they committed, by deciphering messages that the various ghost hunters receive from the theatre's haunting habitant.

Where the show does follow tradition is in its use of CVLT regulars alongside local notables. This year's cast features acclaimed author Les Roberts ("King of the Holly Hop," "Pepper Pike," "The Cleveland Connection") along with cameos by several area officials. Cleveland television favorite Jan Jones will appear as the flamboyant medium "Madame Chanél LeFou."

Andrew Rothman and Michelle Kaiser lead the proceedings once more as the wise-cracking Inspector Gotcha and Detective Ketchum, with Jon Gellott as a "John Edward"-type psychic, Adam Young and Don Bernardo as a "Ghostbusting team," and Amy Pelleg as a "Ghost Whisperer." Along for the ride are Paula Pike as the Theatre's resentful House Manager, Hannah Beaumont as the beleaguered Scenic Designer, Brandon Hood as the skittish Treasurer, Frank Mularo as the cranky facilities manager, Pat Mazzarino as reporter "Scoop Gutenberg," and Steve Pike as "Officer Bookem." Greta Rothman will direct the production.

Tickets for Murder by the Falls: "Who Ya Gonna Call?" are $50 per person, with $25 of that cost as a tax-deductible donation to Chagrin Valley Little Theatre. Tickets are available by phone at 440-247-8955, Monday through Saturday from 1 to 6 p.m. Complete details on CVLT's 81st Season are available online at www.CVLT.org.

The theater is at 40 River Street in historic Chagrin Falls Village.