A Sherlock Holmes mystery, a new locally written comedy and a World War I drama open this week in three Salt Lake-area theaters.
- DUEL is a new play being mounted by a new theater company. The contemporary comedy was written and directed by Karrie Ann Ogilvie, who will also be in the cast.The Impromptu Theatre Company production, opening Thursday, Nov. 2, at Aardvark's Cabaret, 249 W. 400 South, will continue Thursdays-Saturdays at 8 p.m. through Nov. 18.
The comedy involves a triangle - Nicole Devereaux and Jack Caron, who are planning to be married in about two weeks, and Tony Mercer, Nicole's former fiance, who suddenly surfaces with hopes of picking up the old romance where it left off. (Nicole and Tony's earlier engagement had been broken off because Tony's mother had threatened to disinherit him.) The "Duel" comes up when Tony arrives just as Jack and Nicole are about to elope.
The cast includes Anneliese M. Gepkens, John Brown and Roger E. Williams in the three leading roles of Nicole, Jack and Tony, with Rob Woolsey, Nancy E. Parker, Eve Stringham, Cyndi Brown and Ogilvie in other roles.
Tickets are $6 in advance or $7.50 at the door. For reservations, call 533-0927. Light refreshments are available in Aardvark's cafe, with full dinner on selected evenings (call for information).
The theater is located on the second floor of Aardvark's, an historic home which has been renovated into a fund-raising complex for the Helpline and Community Services Development project.
Impromptu Theatre Company, founded earlier this year, is dedicated to the development "of talents in all aspects of the theater."
- THE CRUCIFER OF BLOOD, the late Paul Giovanni's reworking of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Sign of the Four," brings legendary detective Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson and several familiar Doyle characters to life on the Lees Main Stage of Pioneer Memorial Theatre.
The Pioneer Theatre Company production, directed by John Going, has a cast that includes Jim Jansen, Max Robinson and PTC's usual mix of both New York professionals and local actors. The latter include Mearle Marsh, Sam Stewart, David Valenza, Jason Ball, Rick Frederick and Javier Cordoba.
The period drama, involving a mysterious blood pact, stolen treasure and the usual Holmesian sleuthing adventures, will open Wednesday, Nov. 1, at PMT, 300 S. 1340 East (Broadway at University) on the University of Utah campus.
Performances will be Mondays-Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m. and both 2 and 8 p.m. on Saturdays through Nov. 18.
Single tickets range from $11 to $29, with discounts for groups of 20 or more. Free parking is available. For reservations, call the PTC box office at 581-6961.
There will be a post-performance discussion on Thursday, Nov. 16.
- LADYHOUSE BLUES, Kevin Morrison's memory play about the women of one family who are awaiting the return of the men from World War I, will play for four performances Thursday-Sunday, Nov. 2-5, in the Jewett Center for the Performing Arts at Westminster College.
The cast of the Westminster Players production, directed by Tamara Compton, includes Cheyenne Correia, Stephanie deJohn, Jessica Hayden, Katharine Healy and Holly Magriplis.
Performances, all free of charge, will be Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 7 p.m. The performing arts complex is located at 1250 E. 1700 South, on the lower section of Westminster's campus.