Fall 2026 -

An Old Fashioned Family Murder

by Joe DiPietro

A murder. A mystery. A mother. It’s a dark and stormy night at the mansion of elderly Colonel Claythorne, and the pompous murder-mystery author Arthur Whittington is holding court with the Colonel’s family: his eldest daughter, Clarice, who is cold and glamorous; Clarice’s attractive fiancé, Jasper; Claythorne’s youngest daughter, Dotty, who is a big fan of Whittington’s; and Mrs. Shirley Peck, an unassuming but keenly observant visiting widow. When Whittington shares the news that the Colonel has modified his will to cut out one of his daughters – though which daughter won’t be revealed until the Colonel’s death – tempers flare. By the time Mrs. Peck’s son, (junior) Detective Paul Peck arrives at the house, there’s been a murder, and everyone is a suspect. With backstabbing, love and Mrs. Peck’s mother-knows-best advice complicating the investigation, it soon becomes clear that nothing – and no one – is what it seems.

The Cast:
Dotty Claythorne played by Samantha Mitchell
Clarice Claythorne played by Ansley Sherwin
Mrs. Shirley Peck played by Michelle Kritzler
Detective Paul Peck played by Eddie Perez
Arthur Whittington played by Charlie Boone
Jasper Jamison played by Taveion Mickens

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Performance Dates 
Evenings: October 16, 17, 23, 24 , and 30 at 7:30pm
Matinees: October 18, 25, and November 1 at 2:00pm

Location
Vienna Community Center: 120 Cherry S. SE, Vienna VA  22081