The Thirteenth Chair at Ghostlight Ensemble

"The Thirteenth Chair," written by Bayard Veiller in 1916, takes place during a party at the home of the wealthy Crosby family. The entertainment for the night is a sance conducted by an Irish medium.But the sance turns out to be the scene of a very real murder. Once the lights are all turned on, everyone discovers that the person in the 13th chair has been murdered. All the doors and windows are locked and the murder weapon cant be found. How will the real murderer be uncovered?This seldom produced play, which is presented as a whodunit, has strains of deeper social issues that still resonate today. By setting up Rosalie, the Irish immigrant medium, as a foil to the police Inspector Donohue, Veiller touches on issues of sexism, classism, prejudices and the way police dismiss immigrant populations - even ones they may be part of.Ghostlight Ensemble presents a staged reading of "The Thirteenth Chair" at Vagabond School of the Arts (4001 N Ravenswood Ave #503B, Chicago, IL 60613). Performances are 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 18 and Saturday, Oct. 19, and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 20. The reading is pay what you will.

Authors

• Bayard Veiller