A Word From Our Director

9-20-2024

The lights have been on late at the ETLPL this month. That’s because it is rehearsal time for our Friend’s annual play fundraiser. This delightful tradition made it’s post-Covid comeback last year, which helped fund the new furniture in our programming space as well as the Experience Pass Which Must Not Be Named. Stop in and I’ll explain what that means.

This is the Friends largest fundraiser and will help support next summer’s reading program as well as the renewal of the Not Named pass. Below is a description from our director, Mary Hubbard Nugent. All I’d like to add is that the hospitality hour will offer a cheese plate for two for sale created by me and Claudia Felske. I can’t wait for the taste testing.

The Friends of the East Troy Lions Public Library in collaboration with Off the Square Players are pleased to present Wine, Cheese and Murder by Michael Druce.  This play is a perfect pairing of comedy and fund raising for the Friends.

                To publicize her new wine, vineyard owner Chardonnay Boudreaux invites wine expert Beau Jolie to host a wine tasting. The tasting immediately turns sour when Beau discovers the wine is contaminated with gasoline. Before anyone can cry sour grapes, Beau drops dead. Police Chief Moscato Paul launches an investigation only to be faced with another murder. Are the two murders and the ruined wine the work of one person or more? Could it be Chardonnay’s sister Brie or their estranged stepbrother Marlowe? Perhaps French cheese master Henri Chablis or longtime manager Madeira Lambrusco had a hand in the crimes. Ripe with suspects and motives, this mystery is looking like a vintage murder.

                The cast includes Judy Atkinson, Don Barshinger, Ruth Tozer, Mark Gontscharow, Joan Hay, Kathy Anderson, Emma Wegner, Jack Weiber, Steve Hay, Jody Pogorzelski, Paul Sleeman, Kelly Romel and Liz Atkinson.  Mary Hubbard Nugent is directing the production; Chuck Dimick is the producer.  Audiences will be familiar with some of the cast members who were featured in the 2023 Friends Fundraiser production of Murder at the Pie Auction, also written by Michael Druce.

                The murder mystery will be performed at the Honey Creek Collective in East Troy on October 11, 12, 13, 18, 19 and 20.  Friday and Saturday performances will be at 7:30 pm and while Sunday’s will be at 2 pm.  Audiences will be able to participate in a live auction during the show featuring wine, cheese, and cheesecake as well as a hospitality hour previous to the performance. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at the East Troy Lions Public Library. 

Reading Now: A Man of Two Faces by Viet Thanh Nguyen, Twilight by Stephanie Meyer (PBS Great America Reads title)

Listening to Now: American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird and Martin J Sherwin