Checkmate,

Checkmate is intriguing!

Checkmate, a whodunit thriller written by Leslie Sands, and directed by Cecile Campbell, is a play full of twists and turns, sure to leave you questioning the truth up until the very end! Playing on the stage at Tugun Theatre, why sit on your couch and watch true crime when you can immerse yourselves in the mystery at the theatre?

When the stage lights come up, audiences are instantly transported to 1990s London. The play follows Peter Conway (Nathan Thomas Shultz), a washed-up television actor who finds his wife, Stella (Peta Shultz) dead from a drug overdose in his home. When Detective Sargent Drummond (Viviane Gian) arrives to investigate, she ends up in a search to uncover the whole truth of the death…was this overdose an accident, suicide, or murder?

The casting for this show was brilliant, the chemistry between Peter Conway and his mistress, Lori Nilsson, was superbly palpable, as was the energy between Peter and Stella. With Nathan Thomas Shultz and Peta Shultz being a married couple off-stage as well, their chemistry was incredibly realistic and entertaining to watch. Moreover, Peta commanded the stage with every scene she was in, drawing all the attention to her as audiences watched, enraptured by her performance. Meanwhile, Nathan did a fantastic job playing the husband who mourns the loss of his career more than his wife, taking audiences on the journey of Peter Conway’s life.

Furthermore, Chantelle Miller, who plays Lori, did a fabulous job portraying the conniving, yet alluring young mistress. In addition, Viviane Gian was the perfect choice to portray Detective Sargent Drummond, bringing a sweetness to her relentless quest for answers, acting innocent even when suspicions arise. As for Robert Quirk, who plays Richard Shaw, while only on stage for a short amount of time, Quirk did a wonderful job of playing Peter Conway’s agent, stricken with a lovesickness for Stella that is unrequited, and a guilt for her death. You can hear the pain in his voice as he reflects upon his last moments with Stella, and it is truly amazing.

The direction by Cecile Campbell is incredible. You can tell she had a vision, and she whipped this cast into shape to get it. Every mark is hit, every twist and turn is perfectly timed, and this show is evidence of a professional director who has every respect from her cast and crew.

The costumes by Cecile Campbell and the cast are absolutely wonderful. The red dress worn by Chantelle Miller in her first appearance highlighted not just her beauty, but the way her character would become a person of interest for Peter Conway. Red is associated with romance, and that is exactly where Lori and Peter’s relationship went. Further, the costumes worn by Nathan, Viviane and Robert were indicative of their status in society. Richard is an agent for film and tv stars, and therefore does well in society; Peter lives in a coveted part of London, thanks to his career, while the costume for Detective Sargent Drummond is more modern, yet still representative of a person working for the law, in a well-presented and professional manner.

Lighting by Jasper Lee and sound by Molly Dean are very well done. Every lighting cue, every sound, was so perfectly timed with the actions on stage, that at some point you start to forget that there are people orchestrating these cues from the bio box behind you!

Checkmate at Tugun Theatre is a thrilling and intriguing performance. Fantastic acting coupled with a brilliant story and wonderful energy and chemistry, audience members are left with surprise and satisfaction by the time the story comes to a close. Again, who needs a television when you can immerse yourself in a live crime show?

Marina Cerra

For more information, visit https://www.tuguntheatre.org/checkmate