From left -- Christine Carter, Kathy Ohlhaber and Wilson Paine in Reston Community Players’ production of “Rehearsal for Murder.” Photos by Traci J. Brooks Studios/Courtesy of Reston Community Players
When and Where
Reston Community Players presents "Rehearsal for Murder" at Reston CenterStage, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Hunters Woods Village Center, Reston. Performances: Jan. 16-31. Friday & Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Jan. 25 at 2 p.m. Tickets: $17-$20. Call: 703-476-4500 or visit: www.restonplayers.o…
"Be ready for a suspenseful murder mystery," said cast member Wilson Paine (Reston) describing the Reston Community Players next show, "Rehearsal for Murder." Mystery, love and being led in the wrong direction are central to what happens in this story about the search for the truth.
"Audiences will be caught totally unaware when the culprit is finally revealed," said Jessie Roberts (Great Falls), director of "Rehearsal for Murder." "If you like mysteries, detective stories and a good love story, join us."
This thriller is based upon the 1982 film featuring Robert Preston and Lynn Redgrave written by Richard Levinson and William Link who wrote hit television shows as "Columbo" and "Murder She Wrote."
"Rehearsal" is set in a theater. It is about a playwright who invites actors, a producer, and a director for a reading of his newest play. Interestingly, these are the same people who were together for the playwright’s previous play when the leading lady and the playwright's fiancée died of an apparent suicide. Or did she? It is for the audience to discover what the "truth" is, as things twist and turn until "who dunnit" is exposed.
In the RCP ensemble, newcomer Kathy Ohlhaber (Reston) plays the key character of the "passionate, soul-mate" fiancée named Monica who dies in a rather untimely manner. Northern Virginia community theater veteran, Ian Brown (Herndon) is playwright Alex and the devoted "head over heels in love" fiancée seeking out the truth about why Monica died.
A fascinating tidbit from Ohlhaber and Brown. To delve more deeply into their characters and motivations, they established social media accounts for their characters to further plunge into their characters' motivations.
Cast members Steven Palkovitz (Vienna) and Christine Carter (Herndon) noted the hard work involved in putting on a successful production. "Everyone puts their hearts and skills into rehearsals. We want to keeps the audience's attention throughout the production," said Palkovitz. For Joan Susan Zeigler (Tysons) "not only does this show have a shocking 'Oh My' twist but it includes romance, laughter, havoc and naturally a murderer or maybe murderers? An evening of entertainment awaits one and all." RCP actor Jay Stein (Vienna) added "Whodunit? You'll have to come see the show to find out. I can almost guarantee that whatever your theory is, it will be wrong."
Shhh, don't tell anyone how it ends after you see "Rehearsal for Murder." Don't spoil it for others.