"To Wake the Dead" at the Woburn Library

Location(s)

Tickets for the Friends of the Library's presentation of "To Wake the Dead" may be purchased at the main circulation desk of the Woburn Public Library. There are a limited number of tickets, and they will not be sold at the door. The cost is $25.00.

The Woburn Friends of the Library have presented four previous plays that were very successful fundraisers for the library. The Friends hope that this year's play, "To Wake the Dead" will also prove to be a successful fundraiser for Woburn's most beautiful National Historic Landmark.

The occasion of this year's play is the wake of Fred Finnegan, a successful writer of murder mysteries and supernatural stories, who fell to his death from a hotel window. But word has it that he was pushed, and his close friends are gathering at his wake to discuss the suspicious circumstances surrounding this so-called fall.

Chief mourners at Freddie's wake are his widow, Joyce; his publisher Leonard Elmore; former Police Chief Wambaugh along with Officer Francis; a shady figure named Danny Runyon and his "special friend" Peaches Marie Crabtree; a reporter named Agatha Fletcher; and three of Freddie's most eccentric fans, Clyde Barker (who has the gift to "hear" dead people), Deena Koonz, and Stephanie King. Rounding out the mourners is Freddie himself, or at least his ghost is "around."

Playing the parts of these mourners are several of Woburn's VIPs. The celebrity cast includes Mayor Thomas McLaughlin; Police Chief Phil Mahoney; City Council members Charles Doherty, Jim Dwyer, Joanna Gonsalves, and Darlene Mercer-Bruen; School Committee members Pat Chisholm, Margarette Masotta, and Michael Mulrenan; WMHS Principal Robert Norton; Woburn Business Woman Susan Hartmere; and Woburn entertainer and master of ceremonies at numerous events Keith Sullivan. Directing this stellar cast is Neil Cudmore, a most popular and talented teacher at the Kennedy Middle School.

Doors will open at 7:15 pm. Prior to the curtain going up mourners will be treated to cheese and crackers and wine or punch (save some of that glass to toast Freddie along with his widow and friends). Raffle tickets may be purchased, and there will be a door prize. Coffee and dessert will round out the evening.

"Spirits" will be present throughout the evening, so mourners under 21 years of age cannot be admitted. As always, with all events sponsored by the Friends of the Library, the proceeds from this evening of mystery will benefit the library.

The library is handicapped accessible. If handicap access is required, contact the library in advance at 781 933-0148.