Hudson Players Club Presents: The Game’s Afoot
By Michael Martini
March 28, 2025
The year is 1936, and a shady plot is a-brew at William Gillette’s rustic Connecticut manor. As he hosts a nefarious slew of guests, a murder most foul brings the manor’s New England charm to a halt.
If the name William Gillette doesn’t ring a bell, perhaps Sherlock Holmes does. Gillette is remembered by the history books for originating the role of Sherlock Holmes on Broadway, and thus shaping much of the collective iconography of the legendary character, right down to Holmes' famous curved pipe. In Ken Ludwig’s comedy The Game’s Afoot, the iconic actor is fictionalized as the host of an ill-fated weekend. Gillette gets a taste of his own medicine as he finds himself at the centre of a murder case complete with twists, turns, and dashes of comic relief. Break out the magnifying glass and join the fun as the Hudson Players Club unveils their laugh-out-loud take on The Game’s Afoot, a Sherlock Holmes-inspired play by internationally celebrated writer Ken Ludwig.
The Cast of The Game’s Afoot in rehearsal.
Behind the scenes, there’s no mystery as to what keeps the Hudson Players Club ticking. For over 75 years, the club has delighted audiences while carving out a space for theatre-lovers to hone their craft and come together as a community. It’s not out of the ordinary for actors to get rehearsal off on the right foot by showing up with freshly-baked cookies, or for members to dig through their mother’s attic for the perfect set of antique gloves to fit their character. Everyone is welcome to try-out, regardless of age, profession, or level of experience, and the result is a fun-loving but hard-working ensemble of all walks of life. Roles and tasks are assigned to seasoned members, as well as newcomers who may possess obvious talent and a flair for the dramatic, but haven’t had the chance to strut their stuff in years. Sets and costumes are homegrown too, with no holds barred in delivering high-quality visual extravaganzas. It’s a big family, and once you’re in, you’re sure to want to take part in the fun again. Everyone gets a taste of how professional theatre works, but ultimately, members are there to exercise their talent and connect with new friends cut from the same cloth, or should we say- from the same trench coat.
That’s right, it’s not all just fun and games when there’s a case to be cracked. Don’t forget- there’s a corpse that’s croaked in Connecticut and it’s up to us to catch the killer. With plenty of experience in the domain of detective dramas, director Heidi Hawkins was a no-brainer choice for the Hudson Players Club to steer the ship. Hawkins, primarily a professional voice actor, has previously directed and starred in murder mysteries and couldn’t be more thrilled to return to the scene of the crime. After completing John Abbott’s professional theatre program, she began working in film, television, commercials, and theatre, although she eventually found her bread and butter in the world of voice acting. As life took hold, she found herself moving across different cities and starting a family. Now returning home, she is jumping back into the Greater Montréal theatre community, and a comedic mystery is right up her dark and mysterious alley. She loves the challenge of getting the tone right in a genre that balances suspense with humour. It doesn’t work to be too dramatic, nor does it work to ham it up to the point that the suspense is lost.
The Cast of The Game’s Afoot in rehearsal.
“You want to make sure every character is unique and has their quirks, without getting too slapstick. You want to reign it in to make it grounded. You go big at first to get everyone comfortable going big, and then you pull it in, rather than trying to extract from starting small.” -Heidi Hawkins
Hawkins and her Watsons are hard at work to keep the audience on the edge of their seats while tickling their funny bones. It’s rare to see comedy at the theatres these days, says Hawkins, and she hopes the play will provide a much needed moment of levity in our troubled times. She was carefully selected by the club to bring The Game’s Afoot to life in all its nuance. Hudson Players Club balances their programming with a blend of drama and comedy, and struck gold when stumbling upon this particular text, a razor-sharp comedy with all the hair-raising suspense of a well-penned drama. Playwright Ken Ludwig is best known for his Broadway comedy Lend Me a Tenor, called "one of the classic comedies of the 20th century" by The Washington Post, and can boast a mantle of awards, including numerous Tonys. Have no fear, quality is here.
From left to right: Tommy Furino - Simon Bright, Genevieve Grenier - Madge Geisel, Christine Priest - Inspector Goring, Robin Glance - Aggie Wheeler, John Sheridan - William Gillette, Diana Gausden - Martha Gillette. Missing Fiona Chandler - Daria Chase, Jean-Frédéric Samson - Felix Geisel
The Game’s Afoot is coming to the Hudson Village Theatre, co-producer of the Hudson Players Club, this April. Clue champions and Agatha Christie fanatics assemble, grab a ticket, and keep your eyes peeled as the eight characters, played by local talents, weave their web of intrigue. And don’t forget: while a devilish night of theatre is surely in store, a trip to Hudson would be amiss without soaking in the beautiful scenery, trying out one of many fabulous nearby restaurants, and relishing in the charm of the Hudson community. The Game’s Afoot runs April 4-13 with 10 showings, including matinées, and is G-rated. The show runs under 2 hours, including intermission, and tickets go for $38. The only question left: whodunit?!
The Game’s Afoot
By Hudson Players’ Club
At Hudson Village Theatre
April 4-13, 2025