October 10, 2002

Just blocks away from busy First Avenue -- inside that little gem of a refuge known as the Navesink Library -- the Shore area's longest-running community theater troupe is preparing to raise the curtain on its astonishing 51st season of shows, with another bit of mystery from the grande dame of drawing-room murder and mayhem.

Although the late Agatha Christie created two of the most enduring literary sleuths of all time in the characters of Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot, neither of her signature characters play much of a part in the prolific novelist's relative handful of works composed for the stage (a portfolio that includes the oft-revived "Ten Little Indians" and the all-time champion longest-running show, "The Mousetrap"). In fact, "Go Back to Murder" -- the 1960 Christie twister debuting this weekend in a new production by the Monmouth Players was adapted by the author from the Poirot adventure "Five Little Pigs," with the fussy old bowler-hatted Belgian detective replaced by a young attorney named Justin Fogg (played here by Alex Faerman). Co-directing for the Players are Lori Renick and Rachel Scalzo, both of whom were in the cast for last year's installment in the newly minted tradition of Christie mysteries, the Miss Marple adventure "A Murder Is Announced."

Opening tonight and continuing at 8:15 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Oct. 30 (with Sunday matinees on Oct. 17 and 24), "Go Back For Murder" appears on the stage of the Navesink Library Playhouse, on the corner of Sears and Monmouth Avenues in Middletown. Tickets ($15) can be reserved by calling (732) 291-9211 or visiting www.monmouthplayers.org.