‘Stargess Goes to Hollywood’ plays at Geyer in Scottdale
SCOTTDALE – He’s back for a second act. That outrageously whacky character, Roy Stargess, who keeps audiences rollicking as he absurdly, yet astutely solves a murder mystery is in a new comedic play “Stargess Goes to Hollywood.” The play is a sequel in a series and second after “The Cold Man,” which was recently presented at the Geyer Performing Arts Center in Scottdale.
“It was received well,” according to Richard Means, general manager at the Geyer and director of production for the “Cold Man” and “Stargess” plays.
“The Cold Man,” a detective story set in Scottdale, centers around the fictional character, Roy Stargess, a former cop fired from the force for his chronic over-indulgence of alcohol. A failed attempt as a private detective leads Stargess to yet another career – journalism. He joins the staff of the Scottdale Sentinel as a reporter and is disappointed when he is assigned to school board and municipal authority board meetings.
But, in his ever-increasing drunken haze, though contradictory, he possesses clarity and unique perspective to look at unsolved murder cases from a different angle and solve them.
The fictional character returns in the sequel “Stargess Goes to Hollywood” beginning today through Sunday at the Geyer Center.
In this production, Hollywood movie producers make a movie for the big screen based on a successful book Stargess wrote chronicling the details of how he solved cold murder cases. The hilarity ensues as Stargess heads to Hollywood with a big ego intact and decides that he must make a lifestyle change to fit in with the Hollywood crowd.
He stops drinking, and begins a healthy diet, only to have his ego deflated when his only role is – script consultant. The plot thickens and the twists and turns begin when the actor depicting Stargess is shot on the movie set.
The plays are original works and brainchild of local resident Mark Hofmann, who is a professional journalist and works as a reporter at the Daily Courier newspaper in Connellsville. Imagining his fictional Stargess as a reporter isn’t a big stretch, but the imaginative comedic writing is, considering Hofmann mostly covers serious news items.
Hoffman earned a degree in literary arts from California University of Pennsylvania. He said he always loved writing and wrote short stories in college, but he said chuckling, “I never imagined penning a manuscript.”
About a year ago, he had the opportunity to act in the film, “Mars Attacks Mt. Pleasant,” in one scene he did the voice of Jerry Springer.
Shortly after, while doing a story about acting at Yough River Park in Connellsville, he ran into Brad Geyer, board vice president of the Geyer Center. According to Hofmann, Geyer knew of his part in Mars and asked, “When are you going to come to the theater and do a show?” Hofmann said he declined the invitation to act but suggested to Geyer that he may write something. And the rest is history. Hofmann submitted “The Cold Man” to the theater as a full-stage play.
He said that before “The Cold Man” was finished he had the idea for “Stargess goes to Hollywood,” as well as another play titled “Wirehead.”
Means really liked the scripts. “They are funny, and there are many twists and turns,” Means said about both plays. He explained that because detective stories require many scene changes, they are complex to produce, so he decided to adapt modern material to the throw-back format of a 1930s radio play.
Hofmann said he was nervous about the format change, but the rewrite he did for the adaptation made it funnier.
“I am very pleased with the live radio show format. It has exceeded my expectations,” Hofmann said.
Means likes to try new ideas. “The actors take the stage with scripts as the audience listens to the story,” he said. “The radio format allows the audience to lean back, close their eyes and use their imagination.”
Hofmann said having the sound effects produced on stage is very effective, too, and very funny.
Hofmann plans to continue writing plays and has two others he plans to submit to a larger market like Pittsburgh.
The play opens today with a wine and cheese reception at 6:30 p.m, featuring wine donated by Greendance Winery at Sandhill, Mt. Pleasant. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. The Saturday show is at 2:30 p.m., and Sunday’s show begins at 4 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at the door at the Geyer Performing Arts Center.