Dessert Thriller is grabbing audiences

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Police detectives earn their keep by solving mysteries. How they pull
this off comes in many flavors; toughly bulling in, slyly using
disguises, confusing the perps, working a sting and so on and so
forth. In ''Something to Hide,'' the British mystery-thriller by
Leslie Sands now at the Hawkeye Theatre, Police Inspector Davies is a
sort of rumpled country Colombo.

The perpetrators are Howard Holt, a writer of romance novels and his
wife, Karen Holt, who owns the publishing company that publishes
Howard's books. The victim is Howard's pregnant mistress, Julie. The
maid is an inquisitive type, one who spends more time snooping than
cleaning. A very nosy, overbearing woman is the Holt's nearest
neighbor.

Who is who is established at the beginning of the story. The thrills
come as the police investigator begins to pull away layers of
circumstantial evidence as though he is peeling an apple. However who
is actually doing what to who is not as clear later as it seemed at
the start. Suspense continues to build, until by the end of the second
act the only person who knows the who-when-why-what-where is possibly
the seemingly bumbling detective.

In ''Something to Hide,'' Jeffery Bluml takes on the role of the
relentless detective who follows the scent until it leads him to a
confusing pile of murder and intrigue. Mr. Bluml, whose expressive
face only further defines the character, excels at parts that demand
at least an underlying tone of humor. As presented by Mr. Bluml,
Inspector Davies is outstanding in apparent absentmindedness, sloppy
attire and a single-minded determination to solve the case. And, like
Colombo from the old television series, there is something very
likeable about this detective.

Dana Westphal is the cheating husband, Howard Holt. When this low-rate
writer could not find a publishing house for his novels, he married
into it. Karen, whose father had willed her a publishing company,
fills the bill. Karen not only publishes his work, but also supports
him. He, in turn, supports Julie, his mistress. Mr. Westphal’s Howard
has smooth good looks, but there is a dark glint in his eyes and a
slightly cruel turn to his mouth that add an effective evil quality to
the character. Mr. Westphal is a study in bipolar split-personalities.
His artful deliverance of the very difficult person Howard is captured
perfectly. To see a very smooth shift in a wide range of personas, you
must see his performance in the show.

Karen Holt is played by Sarah Livingston Smith, who keeps everyone
from police inspector to audience guessing about whether Karen is a
villain or a victim. Ms. Smith crafts the many-paged character into a
tumulus tumble of emotions and unexpected faces. She delicately
delivers the role in a manner suited for a strong leading lady:
effortlessly natural. Enough said; Cue the award music.

Stella the maid is playfully created by Stacey Bochart. Ms. Bochart
has the ability to keep things flowing smoothly and warmly whenever
her presence is on stage and this time is no exception. Her natural
humor and great sense of timing allows this colorful role to release
the grip of constant tension – due to her talent of portraying a light
fare – a humorous undertone in an otherwise dark environment. Key to
the story, her serving of the role is an ironic study in humor, while
carefully stepping over cracks in the household she maintains.

Martha McColley as Miss Cunningham, the prying neighbor, is a bundle
of encroaching smothingness – perfectly delivered - as she worms
herself into the Holt home to see what she can find out about everyone
else's life and problems. The colorful role is captured deftly, as
usual given her talent, by Ms. McColley. Her real-life husband, Jim
McColley, does a great job in the role of the local automobile
mechanic. His unassuming rendition of the blue-collar Will Purdie is
dead spot on.

Julie, the other woman in Howard Holt's life, is played by Brandy
Vrchoticky. The character may be a morally questionable kept woman,
but as presented here she is a warm and very genuine person with the
charisma to match. Ms. Vrchoticky has also adopted a unique ability to
play the role with the deep layers of character needed to pull off
this difficult part.

The show runs for six nights this October 6 – 11 at Hawkeye Community
Theatre, 5212 North 12th Street. Michael Shoopman directs.