By By ANDY HAMILTON / Niles Daily Star
NILES - The mid-winter meeting was not expected to draw a large crowd.
Todd Wakevainen figured the blistering snow storm would keep most sane people bundled up at home for the night.
To his surprise, 12 people braved the January 12, 2004 storm and arrived to re-create the local performing group.
The Four Flags Players got its start in the 1970s as a youth program for under 21-year-olds. In the mid-1980s, Wakevainen said the organization folded until the dozen or so newest members revived the Players as a community theater group just two years ago.
Wednesday evening at their new home in Niles, the Players were rehearsing for their fifth stage performance since reforming.
The comedy mystery play, ‘Out of Sight, Out of Murder' by Fred Carmichael, is the story of a Vermont author named Peter Knight, who is played by Jon Rudolph. The novelist is preparing to pen a new murder mystery book and is in the midst of creating the characters for the story. Instead of leaving them within the pages of the text, Knight allows the typical murder mystery stock characters to escape his imagination and run rampant around the dark halls of his Victorian-style mansion. But, only Knight can see them.
Throughout the play, Knight is hassled by a rich socialite named Lydia and played by Patty Eycleshymer and catered to by a tuxedo-wearing butler named Cogburn, who is played by Dale Banks.
Knight must also compete against the juvenile Dick Stanton, played by Dustin Wilfert, for the lovely hand of the naive Kay Kelsey, played by Dana Rudolph. Knight faces two obstacles in his pursuit of the young Kelsey. Not only does Stanton always win the girl, but the author is competing against an imaginary character.
The real-life marriage between Dana and Jon Rudolph also provides an added twist to the love triangle.
Also appearing on stage for the Players are Marty Smith as the housekeeper Minna, Cathy Heide as the spinster Fiona, Ron Goodwin as Attorney Jordan Dillingham and Danielle Davis as another maid named Addie. Davis also handles costume designs for the Players and Jan Personette works as stage manager.
Though the events take place in a current setting, Davis said she pulled the clothing from different eras to give Stanton the look and feel of a 1920s hot shot and to portray, as a “gold-digging wife from the Hampton's.”
Most of the performers have experience under the lights, Wakevainen said. But, the Players are also welcoming some new faces to the stage for the first time.
The Four Flags Players' performance of ‘Out of Sight, Out of Murder' begins Thursday, May 4 and is followed by a showing on both Friday and Saturday. All show times are 7:30 p.m. and all performances will be at the First Presbyterian Church, 13 S. Fourth St. in Niles.
Reservations can be made by calling 695-1150. Tickets can also be purchased at Majerek's Hallmark Reader's World, 312 E. Main St. in Niles.