
DATE: Friday, October 10, 1997              TAG: 9710080130

SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER      PAGE: 04   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   86 lines

LIBRARY TO FEATURE THE SAINT DURING ITS MYSTERY WEEK

It's no mystery. Besides romance and science-fiction, mysteries are one of the most popular genres in reading.

People can't seem to get enough of whodunnits by such authors as Rex Stout, Agatha Christie, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sue Grafton, Mary Higgins Clark or Patricia Cornwell. And let's not forget our own nationally published mystery writers, Wendy Haley and MaryAnne Gleason, both Chesapeake residents who have created critically acclaimed mysteries using familiar Hampton Roads sites in their stories.

To celebrate mysteries, the Chesapeake Central Library will present its ``Mystery Week'' next week with two special events and a special prize drawing.

On Monday the number 13 will be a lucky one for fans of Simon Templar, the internationally popular rogue/jewel thief/hero known as The Saint.

The popular literary character created by Leslie Charteris has been popularized in films and television by such actors as George Sanders, Roger Moore, Ian Ogilvie, and most recently, Val Kilmer.

Raymond Jones, former Chesapeake City Schools spokesperson and currently with WHRO public television, is a huge British mystery fan. Jones can recall details from Sherlock Holmes stories and quote lines from ``Avengers'' television episodes. His knowledge of Mr. Templar is just as deep rooted.

He will be on hand at the library at 7 p.m., Monday to talk about the development of Charteris' famous character using clips from Saint films and television episodes.

Then on Thursday, Michael Clark, author of ``Reason to Believe,'' will discuss psychic phenomenon in his talk ``Fact vs. Fiction.'' Clark will focus on details from his own book to present his case on psychic phenomenon.

Is it just a bunch of superstitious hooey used by charlatans, slickers and 1-900 phone operators, or is it a reality that has place in our modern times?

Find out Thursday when Clark give his 7 p.m. talk.

In addition, Barnes & Noble book sellers will have copies of Clark's book available that evening at the library for sale and autographing.

And mystery fans should creep over to the Central Library and check out an adult mystery novel during the week of Oct. 13-19. Those who check out a book will be eligible to enter a drawing to win a bag full of mysteries.

Who will win? Well, that'll be a mystery until the end of the week when the winner is announced.

For more information on the library's Mystery Week, call 382-6591.

2 Chesapeake girls in new ``Hurrah'' production

Two Chesapeake girls will have major roles in the upcoming Hurrah Players production, ``Rockin' The Playhouse,'' a high energy interactive musical revue celebrating music of the 1950s.

During the production, the audience will help a young boy discover that his parents aren't so square after all. The production will key in on such tunes as ``Rockin' Robin,'' ``Lollipop,'' ``The Monster Mash'' and ``Splish Splash.'' Audience members will blow bubbles, dance the monster macarena, play the name game and do the hand jive.

Nicole Kuzmich and Elizabeth Alford, both from Chesapeake, will have important roles in this production.

Kuzmich, a fourth-grader at Butts Road Intermediate School, will portray a 1950s character named Babs, who will be resplendent in her saddle shoes and poodle skirt. She is a veteran of the Hurrah Players' Little Playhouse series, having appeared in five other productions including the role of Little Red Riding Hood. She has also appeared in Hurrah Players main stage productions of ``The Wizard of Oz'' and ``Zip-A-Dee-Hur-Rah.''

Alford will make her Little Playhouse debut as Muffy, a perky '50s cheerleader. She's a student at Carver Intermediate School and has appeared in such Hurrah Player main-stage productions as ``Charlotte's Web'' and ``Zip-A-Dee-Hur-Rah.''

The show will be directed and choreographed by Mary Black, who has directed seven other Little Playhouse productions. ``Rockin' the Playhouse'' will be the first to feature major dance numbers. MEMO: ``Rockin' the Playhouse,'' a special musical production for

ages 12 and younger, will be presented by the Hurrah Players at its

studio, 935 Woodrow Ave. in Norfolk, just off Hampton Boulevard.

Showtimes are 11 a.m. and again at 7 p.m. on Saturday, 3 p.m. on Sunday,

11 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Oct. 18 and 3 p.m. on Oct. 19. Tickets are $4 per

person. Call 627-5437 or 623-7418 for more information or to reserve

tickets. ILLUSTRATION: Photos

Val Kilmer is the latest to play Simon Templar, ``The Saint.''

Chesapeake's Nicole Kuzmich, left, and Elizabeth Alford, will have

important roles in the Hurrah Players' ``Rockin' The Playhouse.''