By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current
Geneseo’s Richmond Hill Players continue their 2024 season with the classic mystery “Laura,” by Vera Caspary & George Sklar, based on Caspary’s novel. The show will be presented Thursdays through Sundays, May 30 – June 9, at the Barn Theatre in Richmond Hill, Geneseo.
John Donald O’Shea, Moline, directs the show.
When Laura Hunt is shot-gunned to death at the door of her upscale New York apartment, Detective Mark McPherson is assigned to investigate the case. In the process, he meets the three men in her life, peruses her personal effects and letters, and falls in love with Laura, or, at least, with her portrait which hangs above her mantel. Then, when Laura appears at the door of her apartment, McPherson realizes the victim has obviously been mistakenly identified.
So, who was the woman killed at the apartment door? What was she doing there ? And who killed her?
Suspicion falls on Laura’s friend and mentor Waldo Lydecker, on her fiancé Shelby Carpenter, on Danny Dorgan, a brilliant young pianist and friend of Laura, on Danny’s mother, who believes Laura is a corrupting influence on Danny, or perhaps, even upon Laura herself.
The cast features Dana Skiles, Perry Farley, Tricia Fox, and Jonathan Friedhoff, all of Geneseo; Tom Akers, Cambridge; Alexandra Champagne, Colona; Eric Friedman, East Moline; and Jim Strauss, Davenport.
The staff includes stage manager Mike Skiles, Geneseo, and Patrick Kelley, Kewanee; assistant stage manager Jim Strauss; set builder Jim Skiles, Colona; costumer Suzanne Rakestraw; light and sound designer Jennifer Kingry, both of Geneseo; and light and sound operator Mimi Switzer, Lyndon.
On Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, the doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the show beginning at 7:30 p.m. Sunday shows are 3 p.m. matinees with the doors opening at 2 p.m.
Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling the Richmond Hill box office at 309-944-2244 or by visiting the website at rhplayers.com.
Late seating is not permitted; no one will be admitted to the theater after the show has started.
Admission to all performances is $12.
An audio description performance will be held Friday, June 2. Richmond Hill also offers Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs), which can be requested at the time reservations are made.
Tom Akers, left, Cambridge; and Eric Friedman, East Moline, rehearse a scene from “Laura,” which opens May 30. Contributed Photo
Tricia Fox and Dana Skiles, both of Geneseo, are photographed in a scene from “Laura.” Contributed Photo
Dana Skiles, left, and Alexandra Champagne, Colona, are among the cast members of the Richmond Hill Players production of “Laura,” which opens May 30, at the Barn Theatre. Contributed Photo