This month, Canada’s national soccer team will end 36 years in the wilderness with their appearance at the World Cup in Qatar, playing their first match on November 23 against Belgium.
While Canada is an underdog, Globus Theatre in Bobcaygeon is celebrating our national team’s return to the international soccer pitch with the premiere of Murder at the Match: A World Cup Murder Mystery, running for six shows Thursdays to Saturdays from November 17 to 26 at the Lakeview Arts Barn.
“What I love about creating the murder mysteries is that they are an opportunity to write about what is happening right now — connecting purely fictional events to real-life happenings.” says Globus Theatre’s artistic director Sarah Quick in a media release.
“As an avid soccer fan, I have also enjoyed watching many a World Cup here in Canada,” Quick adds. “The rich and varied heritage of Canadians inherently makes for a great sense of rivalry as games are enjoyed at hostelries around the country. We want to give our audiences a chance to experience some international flair, offer up some patriotic support, and cheer on Canada as we create an evening of chaos and comedy.”
The dinner murder mystery about “the beautiful game” is set in Qatar, where ruthless managers, fame-hungry wives and girlfriends, and desperately determined soccer stars come together in a search for goals and glory that leads to calamity off the pitch.
“It appears that someone is not going to make it to the final whistle and the consequences could be Qatar-strophic!” reads a media release.
Globus Theatre is encouraging audience members to come in an appropriate costume, or to pick a country playing in the World Cup to support and dress in those colours.
Theatre-goers will enjoy canapes as they arrive and get introduced to the main characters. As the audience is seated cabaret style for a buffet dinner with lots of choices, the fun-filled night of camaraderie and intrigue will begin, featuring returning actors Jennine Profeta (Girls Night Out), Chris Gibbs (Just For Laughs, The BFG), Kerry Griffin (Schitt’s Creek, Murdoch Mysteries), Dave Pearce (Slap Happy), Globus Theatre artistic producer James Barrett, and Ronald O’Messi — a newcomer to the Globus Theatre stage.
Murder at the Match: A World Cup Murder Mystery takes place from November 17 to 19 and November 24 to 26 at 6:30 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.). Tickets for dinner and the show are $87.50 (plus HST and a $2 service fee) and can be booked by calling the box office at 705-738-2037. If you’re hosting a holiday get-together, group rates are also available.
