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.
ORLEANS FARMERS’ MARKET with over 50 local vendors from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the parking lot at the Ray Friel Recreation Centre on Tenth Line Road.
KARAOKE NIGHT from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Stray Dog Brewing Company, 501 Lacolle way in the Taylor Creek Business Park.. Come as you are, sing what you love, and have a blast. Take your talent out of the shower or car, and bring it to our stage. Every voice belongs here. Judgement free.
GREATER ORLEANS GARAGE SALE from 8 a.m. across all Orléans. Download interactive map showing participating locations at 
GIVEAWAY WEEKEND – Treasure hunters, get ready! Giveaway Weekend is back in Ottawa. Place your gently used, unwanted items at the curb and let someone else give them a second life. Then, explore what your neighbours have put out because their trash may be your treasure!
