FOA to stage ‘Sleuth’ this week

Friends of the Arts will stage the play Sleuth, written by Anthony Shaffer, at the Dolphin Blackbox Theatre (Marianas High School-T Building) on May 4, 5, and 6, 2012. This is the final production of their current season.

Sleuth takes place in 1960’s England and revolves around the gamesmanship between two men, Andrew Wyke and Milo Tindle. It captures the essential differences between an older, more traditional generation represented by Wyke and the freedoms new to the 1960’s portrayed by Tindle.

Although the title makes this sound like a traditional mystery, it is not. It is a drama where “sleuth” refers more to a living game that Wyke and Tindle devise and play, fooling each other with deceptions, pretenses and false motives in increasing methods of hilarity and one-upsmanship. Wyke wants to continue playing the game endlessly; Tindle wants to finish it once and for all but both men want to win.

This is a play where you will not be sure who is the protagonist or antagonist, for whom you should root because both the traditional and the contemporary have flaws. This enigma is part of the intrigue, mystery and suspense. The show contains elements of mystery, suspense, farce and wordplay. If you like games, thinking, solving puzzles or listening to verbal repartee, then Sleuth is just the kind of show you’d appreciate.

Sleuth was made into a movie twice: once in 1972 with Laurence Olivier as the older Andrew Wyke and Michael Caine as the younger rival, Milo Tindle; and again in 2007 with Michael Caine returning, but as Andrew Wyke and with Jude Law as Milo Tindle. This play received a Tony Award and has been staged all over the world in different theatres.

The Saipan version features Leo Goode as Andrew Wyke and Bernard Rivera as Milo Tindle. FOA is excited to bring this production to the Dolphin Blackbox Theatre, where it also staged The Miracle Worker. The MHS Dolphin Blackbox Theatre has enjoyed a successful first year in operation and provides a unique theatre experience in Saipan.

The time of the show will be 7pm Friday and Saturday nights, May 4 and 5, with a matinee at 3pm Sunday May 6. All shows will be staged in the Dolphin Blackbox Theatre (MHS-T building). Tickets are available at $15 for adults, $12 for FOA members, and $8 for students (including NMC students with an ID card). For more information or to reserve or buy tickets, contact Frank Gibson at flgibson@yahoo.com or at 789-0519. [B][I](FOA)[/I][/B]