'Murder on Orient Express' opens Oct. 3
PUTNAM — Autumn is upon us, a chilly, darker time of year that brings us pumpkin spice everything and perhaps a little mystery in the air. It also brings the traditional murder mystery to the Theatre of Northeastern Connecticut at the Bradley Playhouse, which is presenting Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express.
This must-be- seen production opens on Oct. 3 and runs for three weekends.
Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18 and at 2 p.m. Oct. 5, 12, 19.
Tickets are $260 for adults; $23 for seniors, students, veterans and first responders (including fees).
Reservations may be made with a major credit card online at www.thebradleyplayhouse.org or by calling 860-928-7887. Tickets may be purchased at the theater box office, either before the performance, or at the door if available. Purchasing your tickets ahead of time is always a good idea.
The TNECT production of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express is co-directed by Kathleen Atwood and Scott A. Guerin.
Preston Arnold appears as super sleuth Hercule Poirot who is assisted by Monsieur Bouc, a train company director, played by Jim Douglas, and Michel the conductor, played by Nick Hemeon. The murder victim, Samuel Ratchett, is portrayed by Mark Smolak. The passengers, who are all suspects, include LaDelle P. Arnold (Helen Hubbard), Jack Ferdman (Colonel Arbuthnot), Drew Goins (Hector MacQueen), Sheila Harrington-Hughes (Princess Dragomiroff), Julianne McGourty (Countess Andrenyi), Amy Stoelzel (Greta Ohlsson), and Rachel Terceira (Mary Debenham).
Just after midnight, a snowdrift stops the Orient Express in its tracks.
The luxurious train is surprisingly full for the time of the year, but by the morning it is one passenger fewer. An American tycoon lies dead in his compartment, stabbed eight times, his door locked from the inside. Isolated and with a killer in their midst, the passengers rely on detective Hercule Poirot to identify the murderer – in case he or she decides to strike again.
Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express is based on her 1934 novel which was adapted for the stage by Ken Ludwig. The play premiered in 2017.
It is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com
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captions, from top:
Preston Arnold (Hercule Poirot)
Julianne McGourty (Countess Andrenyi) and Mark Smolak (Samuel Ratchett)
Amy Stoelzel (Greta Ohlsson) Photos by Lindsay Lehmann
DKH golf tourney winners
PUTNAM — The winners of the 41st Annual Day Kimball Hospital Centreville Bank Golf Classic were: 1st Place: Roger Noll, Sean Vigue, Scott Vose, and Pat Kozelka – Score 53; 2nd Place: REMAX Bell Park Realty team (Brendan Meehan, Mike Meehan, Mike Jezierski, and Nick Kobel) – Score 54; 3rd Place: Sayers/Compass IT team (Kyle Hicks, Geoff Yeagley, CJ Hurd, and Jeff Masse) – Score 57. Closest to the Pin; Hole #4 – Nick Kobel, 9’8”; Hole #9 – Evan Parsons, 6.5”; Hole #11 – Don St. Onge, 5’11”; Hole #15 – Larry Darling, 4’6”.
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Bridge paving likely will have to wait
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — The Danco Drive Bridge is not likely to be paved until the spring, according to Town Administrator Elaine Sistare.
The asphalt plants generally close in October/November so the paving will have to wait until spring. The project lost about two months at the beginning of this year’s construction season waiting for some prep work to be done.
Sistare is confident Eversource will be able to return and reconnect the gas line by the end of September/early October.
Those lines were disconnected to allow for the rebuilding of the bridge. The lines need to be reconnected before the winter season, though.
Three years ago the town hired engineers to inspect the bridge and found it in serious need to rebuilding. Engineers did the inspection because the bridge was 19 feet, 6 inches long. The state had changed it rules and any bridge shorter than 20 feet had to be inspected by the town. The state was no longer inspecting any bridge shorter than 20 feet.
Sistare said the new bridge is 20 feet 6 inches long and will go back on the state’s “rolls.”
Last year, she said the approximate cost for the bridge replacement is $2.6 million. Fifty percent of it is handled by the state and the other 50 percent is covered by the town. The grant was approved a couple years ago and the town had been adding to the capital projects budget to cover the town’s half.
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Forms are up for the wall on one side of the Danco bridge. The pipes will be safely sandwiched between two layers. Linda Lemmon photo.
2nd fall festival a success
The Pomfret Recreation Department hosted its second annual Fall Festival Sept. 13 and it was a huge success. With clear skies and beautiful weather, the event brought the community together for a day full of activities, entertainment, and family fun, according to Pomfret Recreation Director Carrie Wolfe.
The festival kicked off with the “Harvest Hustle”—a 5K trail run for adults and a half-mile fun run for children by the Pomfret Community School PTO. The 5K course took participants through the scenic trails created and maintained by Quiet Corner NEMBA, while the children’s course looped around the baseball field. The National Anthem was performed by James Sposato, setting a patriotic tone for the start of the race.
Among the 5K participants were two particularly inspiring runners: Jeannine Fox (82) and her partner Richard DeCourey (86), who are traveling across the U.S. to participate in 5K races. They were also the event’s oldest participants.
Top race finishers included: Top Male Runner: Brian Werstler; Top Female Runner: Rebecca Byler; Top Boy Runner: Reagan Lewis; Top Girl Runner: Grace Moore
Live music was provided by the band Flat Rock, with partial sponsorship from the Pomfret Proprietors. Attendees enjoyed a variety of food trucks and local vendors throughout the day. The PCS PTO organized several inflatables and yard games for children, while members of the Junior Recreation Commission led traditional games, including sack races.
A highlight of the day was the apple pie contest, where the aromas of apples and cinnamon filled the air. Judging the contest were Carrie Wolfe (Recreation director), Joseph Wolfe, and Maureen Nicholson (first selectwoman). The winners were: 1st Place: Sue Mix; 2nd Place: Ashley Silvia; 3rd Place: Barbara Herbert
The festival also featured a pie-eating contest, with pies generously donated by Table Talk. Winners of the contest were Miles Olson and TJ King.
The Pomfret Recreation Department thanked all who contributed to the success of the festival, including the PCS PTO, Pomfret Fire Department, Recreation Commission members (Jen Hudock, Katie Bloom, Mary Collins, and Jennie Mix), Junior Recreation members (Emily Pike and Madison Lussier), student volunteers from PCS, and Joseph and Anthony Wolfe.
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Clockwise from top left:
Pie Winners: From left: Barbara Herbert (3rd), Maureen Nicholson (1st selectman), Carrie Wolfe (Recreation director), Joseph Wolfe, and Sue Mix (1st). Courtesy photos.
Mike Olsen took a first place in the pie eating contest.
Oldest racers
A bit of soccer. Linda Lemmon photo.
TJ King
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