This year, the Chemainus Theatre Festival’s gala fundraiser will be full of mystery.
Sherlock’s Masquerade, being held Saturday, Nov. 15, will be an evening with an intriguing mystery, themed canapés and beverages, games, with prizes for costumes and clever sleuthing. Entertainment will include Bernard Cuffling (Jeeves in Bloom, Dracula, The Woman in Black, Amadeus, Hayfever) as your host Mr. Sherlock Holmes, with live musical entertainment by the Dave Lieffertz Combo, as well as performances by Vanessa Croome (Cosette in Les Misérables), Sarah Carlé (Les Misérables, The Buddy Holly Story, The Gifts of the Magi, Steel Magnolias) and Brad L’Écuyer (Les Misérables, The Buddy Holly Story, Joseph, Gifts of the Magi).
In addition to the entertainment, there will be a wide variety of silent and live auction items, including unique auction items such as the Chemainus Theatre’s Royal Downtown Abbeyish evening featuring a pre-show extravagant dinner on set, a behind-the-scenes tour, a performance with overnight accommodation at the Best Western Plus, a fishing charter from Screaming Reels Fishing Charters, a $500 shopping spree at La-z-boy, a wall of wine consisting of 100 bottles of wine from all across the Island and an array of artwork by local and B.C. artists.
The event will also wrap up the online auction, which features a selection of serigraphs from local artist Arthur Vickers, hand-printed or hand-pulled prints, representing a wide variety of the artist’s work, along with getaway packages, day trips, attraction tickets and more.
The festivities will take place Nov. 15 in the Playbill Dining Room at the Chemainus Theatre from 7-10 p.m. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $40, or $70 including a special Venetian mask, and are available now at the box office by calling 250-246-9820.
All proceeds from this event will support the Chemainus Theatre’s ongoing operations.
The gala is sponsored by Coastal Community Credit Union, Orchard & Co., Island Savings and Willow Street Café.