The Great Detectives: A Weekend of Classic Mystery Plays

For those who revel in the intellectual challenge of a gripping mystery, the Pennsylvania Theatre of Performing Arts in Hazleton offers a treat this weekend. The theater presents “The Great Detectives,” a series of newly adapted one-act plays that promise to delve into the captivating world of literary sleuths.

Submitted photo

Bill Amos as Dr. Watson in 2019.

Bill Amos, a playwright participating in the event, has been captivated by mysteries and the detective genre for as long as he can remember. “I always had a real strong interest in Sherlock Holmes. I like mysteries in general,” Amos explains. “They were really stimulating to the imagination, and I always had a flair for the horror genre and the mystery genre and things like that.”

The performances will feature four one-act plays inspired by the works of Edgar Allen Poe, Arthur Conan Doyle, and Agatha Christie. Amos himself has adapted Doyle’s “A Scandal in Bohemia,” introducing audiences to the formidable Irene Adler, known as the only woman to outsmart Sherlock Holmes.

Alongside Holmes, the stage will showcase Christie’s celebrated detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, as well as Poe’s C. Auguste Dupin.

Miles Ledoux, another creative mind behind the performances, has adapted Christie’s “The Thumb Mark of St. Peter,” one of his cherished Miss Marple short stories. Ledoux reflects on his childhood passion for mysteries, noting, “They’ve adapted the Miss Marple novels into movies or film length TV episodes many many times, but the short stories largely remain untouched.” His adaptation aims to shine a spotlight on these lesser-known gems.

The event began on Thursday and will continue until Sunday, culminating with a matinee at 2 p.m. Afterward, WVIA’s Chris Norton will lead a discussion on the enduring appeal of mysteries. Tickets can be purchased via the PTPA’s website.

In celebration, the cast and crew shared their top mystery book recommendations:

Adam Randis, Artistic Director, Pennsylvania Theatre of Performing Arts

Book: “The Quiet over Ashcombe: A Small-Town Mystery Thriller”
Author: Jessica Schafer

Adam Randis recommends “The Quiet Over Ashcombe,” a mystery by local author Jessica Schafer. Randis notes that Schafer, a veteran of PTPA Productions, crafts a captivating small-town mystery with familiar regional influences. The book is available on Amazon and other retailers, and Schafer will also be present at “Stories after Dark,” an event at PTPA on October 12.

Adam Randis recommends “The Quiet over Ashcombe”

Alison Scott, playing Miss Jane Marple in ‘The Thumb Mark of St. Peter’

Book: “The Sundown Motel”
Author: Simone St. James

Alison Scott recommends “The Sundown Motel” by Simone St. James, which features a dual timeline narrative about a girl unraveling the mystery behind her aunt’s disappearance in the 1980s. Known for its chilling atmosphere, Scott comments, “I am not somebody that scares very easily, and I did definitely jump a few times while reading this book.”

Alison Scott recommends “The Sun Down Motel”

Cole Hrusovsky, director of ‘A Scandal in Bohemia’ and ‘The Wasp’s Nest’

Book: “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”
Author: Robert Louis Stevenson

Cole Hrusovsky suggests “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” by Robert Louis Stevenson, pointing out its mystery elements. He highlights that “the first two thirds of it are basically set-up, introducing these characters and situations,” making it a surprising and intriguing read for those familiar only with its adaptations.

Cole Hrusovsky recommends “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”

Dana Jackson Burke, Her Highness in ‘The Purloined Letter’ and Mabel Denman in ‘The Thumb Mark of St. Peter’

Book: “Ninth House”
Author: Leigh Bardugo

Dana Jackson Burke suggests “Ninth House” by Leigh Bardugo, a dark academia mystery set at Yale. The narrative intertwines ghostly elements and a dual murder investigation spanning decades. Burke is eagerly anticipating reading the final book in the trilogy.

Dana Jackson Burke recommends “Ninth House”

Ciaran Burke, director of ‘The Purloined Letter’

Book: “The Long Goodbye: A Philip Marlow Novel”
Author: Raymond Chandler

Ciaran Burke recommends “The Long Goodbye” by Raymond Chandler as a complex and introspective novel. He describes it as Chandler’s more sophisticated work that examines the detective genre and its themes deeply.

Ciarán Burke recommends “The Long Goodbye”

Emily Babula, director of ‘The Thumb Mark of St. Peter’

Book: “The Country Under Heaven”
Author: Frederic S. Durbin

Emily Babula recommends Frederic S. Durbin’s “The Country Under Heaven,” a western novel with mystery and supernatural horror elements. Babula praises the book for its unique blend of genres that captivates her interests.

Emily Babula recommends “The Country Under Heaven”