“The Belgian Detective” at The Depot

(Left to right) Bill Bauernfeind, Dan Sallinen, Keri Gimsley, and Elliott Vanness perform in Rogue Theater’s “The Belgian Detective.”

Rogue Theater brings The Belgian Detective back to the stage at The Depot Performing Arts Center, June 19 through July 6.

When Carol Lyons and her husband, Tom, moved to a small log cabin in Southern Door in the fall of 1994, she spent the winter writing what was intended to be a murder mystery radio play, and The Belgian Detective came to life.

“When Tom and I were reading the drafts out loud in order to time the episodes for radio, I realized there were too many visual opportunities to pass up, so I turned it into a stage production,” said Carol. “Unfortunately, there was no stage, so we gathered together a group of brave souls and started performing it wherever people would have us.”

The Belgian Detective premiered at on Feb. 3, 1995, at Cherry Hills Resort, followed a week later with a performance in the bar at Leathem Smith Lodge.

The play tells the story of Chicago socialite Vera Riche, widow of Randolph N. Riche – the Wilmette Pork King, in the 1920s. She is throwing a party at her Door County vacation home. The festivities have barely gotten underway when Vera, and her secretary, Rod Furrent, find the body of gangster Willie “The Wiener” DeBlotto. She wants Hercule Poirot to investigate, but gets Petey Poirot, the great-nephew of the famous sleuth, who lives in Namur. The Belgian Detective revolves around Petey’s efforts to uncover the murderer.

The cast, directed by Renee Kujawski, includes Lola DeVillers, Stuart Champeau, Keri Gimsley, Joanna Becker, Skyler Champeau, Michelle Rinehart, Bill Bauernfeind, Dan Sallinen, Elliott Vanness and Keith Koch.

Performance dates are June 19, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28 & 29 and July 3, 5 & 6. Thursday, Friday and Saturday performances are at 7:30 pm, and at 2 pm on Sunday. The Depot PAC is located at 341 N. 3rd. Ave., Sturgeon Bay. Tickets are $15, available by calling 920.818.0816 or at Greco Gallery and Avenson Photography in Sturgeon Bay.