If you missed Vintage Stock Theatre’s 2025 murder mystery production of “Murder is a Shore Thing” at the Cumber-land Heritage Village Museum in August, you have two more chances to experience the play this month.
The first will take place at the Cumber-land Maple Hall in Cumberland Village on Saturday, Oct. 25 in support of the Cumberland Lions Club and the second will take place the following day at Orléans United Church.
The production is set in the summer of 1921 near the tail end of prohibition in Canada and Cumberland is still a dry county.
The socialite couple of Maximillian and Seraphina Van BankRoll are holding a fundraiser for the planned expansion of the Maple Marina.
Among the invited guests are Eliza Keendigger, an amateur archaeologist who is a volunteer at the local school, morality officer Bernice By TheBook, guest speaker Professor A.D. Banker and his assistant Penelope Davenport. There are also two uninvited guests, bootlegger Jasper “The Boot” Blackwood and torch singer Anita Dollard who were both left stranded at the local train station.
Professor Banker is supposed to make a presentation on Howard Carter’s expedition to Egypt and his discovery of King Tut’s tomb, but a chance discovery by Eliza Keendigger has him greatly distracted.
All of which leads to the tragic murder of one of the protagonists, which is when the amateur sleuthing begins. Think of it as a real life game of Clue. The job of the audience members is to figure out who committed the crime and what their motive is.
The play is directed by Orléans’ own Sarah Kirton who also plays Anita Dollard. Among the other cast members are former East End Theatre principle player Peter Frayne, who plays Professor Bunker and VST veterans Francis Kenny, who plays Maximillian Van Bankroll, and Marni Hunt Stephens who plays Bernice By TheBook.
The cast is rounded out by Shannon Saturno who plays Eliza Keendigger, Claude Filion who plays Jasper “The Boot”, Sophia Sudnikowicz who plays Penelope Davenport and Laura Grunder who plays Seraphina Van Bankroll.
Tickets for the Cumberland Lions production cost $65 per person and include a sit-down meal catered by Peter’s Kitchen. Doors open at 4:15 p.m. and the show starts at 5 p.m. All proceeds will go to benefit the Orléans-Cumberland Community Resource Centre.
Tickets must be purchased in advance at e-clubhouse.org/sites/cumberland_on/.
Tickets for the Orléans United Church production on Oct. 26 cost $20, however, there is no meal involved.
The show will start at 3 p.m. and proceeds from the play will go to help cover the costs of repairing the church’s broken watermain.
Tickets can either be purchased in advance by e-mailing oucdonations@rogers.com, or at the door.
CUMBERLAND FARMERS’ MARKET from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the R.J. Kennedy Arena in Cumberland Village with a variety of local farmers and vendors ready to showcase their freshest produce, handmade goods, and unique finds! FREE ADMISSION
CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT hosted by the Stray Dog Brewing Company, from 12-5 p.m. Registration at 11:30 a.m. $10 person. The Stray Dog Brewing Company is located at 501 Lacolle Way in the Taylor Creek Business Park.
TRIVIA NIGHT from 7:30 p.m. every Monday night at the Royal Oak Pub Orléans. Free to play. Prizes for the winning team! The Royal Oak Pub is located at 1981 St. Joseph Blvd. near Jeanne d’Arc. For more info visit 
