If you’re a fan of murder mysteries, talent shows and libraries, then this is your weekend.
Local author and playwright Kathy Perrin is not only talented in putting pen to paper, she’s also a member of the Friends of the Garfield Park Library, a chapter of the Friends of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries founded by Elbina Rafizadeh. Rafizadeh plays herself in Perrin’s homegrown play “Murder in the Library: Final Checkout,” and is backed by a cast of local thespians, including several familiar names from Ben Lomond’s Mountain Community Theater: Director Simon Hayward and actors Susan E. Parker, Brad Roades and Christina Wise.
Perrin has made her mark in the literary world by authoring several plays whose purpose is to raise funds for local libraries. She wrote “Final Checkout” while living in the state of Washington and has continued to use her talents to promote the benefits of the library system.
“I believe in the value of libraries and literacy,” Perrin said. “I hope the audience will have had fun and that they will be motivated to support our local libraries.”
The play will serve as a fundraiser for the many literacy programs at Garfield Park Library, including “R.E.A.D.” for one-on-one reading and comprehension, “Tales to Tails” with therapy dogs and “Preschool Storytime.” The library also participates in the Santa Cruz Public Libraries Summer Reading Program, which promotes getting kids off screens and into the pages of a good book (although it’s appropriate for all ages).
The premise of “Final Checkout” finds local brewery owner, Rufus Brewster, deceased at the hands of one of the play’s actors. Is it Parker’s Robin Leech who portrays a reporter with a reputation of digging up dirt on the townspeople? Roades’ Zack Hailey who sneers and threatens his way through the script? Or Wise’s Shari Mason, Brewster’s lawyer and long-lost love of Brewster’s son, Andy, who helped Brewster draw up the most recent version of his will the day before his death?
Audiences will surely have their opinions, but the surprising end won’t be revealed until the last chapter of the play. Audience members will be entertained by a variety show featuring Timothy Wilkins on the ukulele, Geneffa Jahan crooning her way through a showgirl number about Oedipus Rex and a reading by local poets, including Santa Cruz’s Youth Poet Laureate Finn Maxwell.
The variety show culminates in a terrifying surge of emotion by Leech as she stumbles upon Brewster’s body. From that point on, fingers are pointed, assumptions are made and secrets are revealed until Detective Ben Canant (played by none other than actor Ben Canant) brings the mystery to a close.
“Directing a murder mystery is a fun challenge—maybe not a lot of deep character work, but there is a lot of coordination involved,” Hayward said. “For me and many of the other participants, supporting our libraries is important, and we hope the audience also has fun supporting a worthy cause.”
Parker’s Robin Leech is a reporter who has a way of throwing the other murder suspects under the proverbial go-back cart. Parker has always wanted a “dinner theater” performance, where the actors get to interact with the audience.
“For me, this is a wish fulfilled. When I first read the script, I was thoroughly entertained,” she said. “I can’t wait to bring this story from the page to the stage.”
Roades has been involved in productions for Santa Cruz’ 8 Tens @ 8 Festival, All About Theatre and Mountain Community Theater. His background in library science and education is a perfect fit for this event.
“As someone who has provided content and library management systems throughout the U.S. and globally, it’s a great opportunity to give back to that community,” Roades said.
Wilkins plays Andy Brewster and is excited to add his musical chops to the play.
“I’ve always loved murder mysteries, and when I saw that this play is supporting local libraries, I had to say yes,” he said. “Libraries have always been a safe haven for me, and I’m honored to be part of keeping them around for all of us to enjoy.”
Jahan is a poet in her own right. When she’s not in front of a classroom full of students at Cabrillo College, she’s doing readings and working on her own intricate stories that are informed by her life experiences.
“With national and global landscapes more fraught than ever, I love how this play embraces our local landmarks and is performed in three different beloved locales,” Jahan said. “I hope the audience comes away inspired to see what local collaboration can achieve and that fundraisers can also be fun-raisers.”
“Final Checkout” will be performed over three days in three different locations:
- Friday, July 18 at 7pm – Santa Cruz Downtown Library Community Room
- Saturday, July 19 at 7pm – Satori Arts, 815 Almar Ave., Santa Cruz
- Sunday, July 20 at 2pm – Cabrillo College, Room 322
The suggested donation is $25, and tickets may be purchased at the door. For advance purchases and to learn more about the production, visit satoriarts.org/garfield-park-play.
