Thriller Extraordinaire
The perfect concoction of suspense and mayhem mixed with just the right amount of comic relief, TWN's "I'll Be Back Before Midnight" opens tonight
BY ELIZABETH HUNT CONTRIBUTING WRITER
"It will make you laugh and jump in your seat," quips Erin Raftery, one of the stars of the latest production at the Theatre Workshop of Nantucket. Once again TWN is bringing exciting, professional theatre to the island with their fall production of "I'll Be Back Before Midnight!" The play, billed as a "fun chiller thriller that promises to glue you to the edge of your seat with surprises, conspiracy and a climax that keeps everyone guessing until the final curtain," is bound to excite and entertain.

Written by award-winning Canadian playwright Peter Colley, "Midnight" was named the "most produced Canadian play ever" in the Toronto press. At the Canadian premiere, it created such a sensation that the entire run sold out in two days. Jane Karakula, TWN Artistic Director and Fritz Michel, the play's director, have wanted to produce it for a long time. "I always thought he [Michel] was brilliant and am glad he has chosen to direct it. This show is a pure treat for the audience," says Karakula.

"Midnight" is the story of a young cou- ple, Greg and Jan Sanderson, who retreat to a desolate country house so Jan can recover from a nervous breakdown. Greg, an archeologist, is also there to search for flints in a nearby archeological dig. When Jan hears the stories that demented neighbor George Willowby tells about a murder that took place in the house and a ghost that haunts it, her fragile state is threatened. She becomes tormented by strange noises and night visions. To make matters worse, Greg's manipulative sister Laura shows up. "You don't know who is the bad guy or what is real," agrees the cast.

PHOTOS BY MICHAEL GALVIN/The Independent

Bringing this comedy murder mystery to life is a thrillingly talented cast, of which two, Erin Raftery and John Devaney, are members of Actors Equity.

Kevin Mohler, a year-round Nantucketer, plays the part of Greg Sanderson. He has performed in many local productions: the Short Play Festival and in dinner theatre at the Point Breeze Hotel. Mohler met fellow cast member Erin Raftery during the dinner theatre gig and she recommended him to Michel for this role. When not acting, Mohler runs a small organic landscaping business.

In the role of Jan Sanderson is accomplished New York actress Erin Raftery. During the past five years she has forged an acting career that takes her back and forth from New York City where she lives and acts to Nantucket where she loves to perform whenever she gets the chance. This fall she appears in the History Channel film "Desperate Crossing - The Untold Story of the Mayflower." The film has been nominated for two Emmys.

New York stage actress Sarah Fraunfelder plays the part of Laura Sanderson. She has visited Nantucket for the past fifteen years and has been interested in doing theatre work on the island for a while. In fact, when she and Raftery met a few years ago at the Nantucket Film Festival, she says, "We both thought it would be fantastic to do a play together on Nantucket." As soon as "Midnight" closes Fraunfelder is due back in New York to perform in "The Pied Piper of the Lower East Side" at the Gene Frankel Theatre.

Nantucketers will no doubt recognize John Devaney from his numerous talented theatre performances over the years. This time Devaney delights the audience in the role of hilarious, yet demented farmer George Willowby. Devaney divides his time between New York and Cambridge, as well as Nantucket. Involved in Nantucket theatre for fifteen years he recently starred in the film, "She and He" which has been accepted at the Los Angeles Short Film Festival. Making his directorial debut is Fritz Michel. He and his family have a seventy-five year history of visiting Nantucket where Michel first got his acting start working with Richard Cary. "I jumped at the chance to direct this play on Nantucket," he says. A talented TV, theatre and film actor Michel has had parts in TV on "Alias" and in the movie "Syriana." Although he now makes his home in L.A., Michel says, "I'm having a hoot directing this play and love the opportunity to come back and work in New England."

Rounding out this marvelous cast is the gifted crew of Sandra Galley from Boston who did the lighting; Eric Schultz, TWN technical director, who created the set design and Cheryl Fudge, who took charge of the costumes. Jordana Fleischut is the company's Producing Director.

When: Sept. 12-15, 19-22, 26-29.

Oct. 3-6. Wed.-Sat. at 8:30pm.

Sunday, 9/23 at 3pm.

Where: Methodist Church,

2 Centre St.

Cost: $25. Buy online at

www.theatreworkshop.com

or call 508-228-4305. I