TO DIE FOR
by Caroline Smith
(November 6-28, 2026)
Directed by Anne Harper
Producer: John Acuna
About the play:
Step into the gothic mansion of Carla Woods, a best-selling historical romance writer whose life is anything but dull. Carla has a penchant for playing dangerous mind games—especially with her secretaries. But when a mysterious, devastatingly handsome stranger appears on a dark and stormy night, the game takes an unexpected turn.
Is this charming newcomer merely payback from a disgruntled past employee, or could it be… love’s destiny? As secrets unravel and the line between fantasy and reality blurs, Carla finds herself caught in a thrilling battle of wits where every twist could be her last.
This brilliant comedy-thriller features two incredibly intelligent and charismatic female combatants, and one dangerously alluring man, all tangled in a web of deception that will keep you guessing until the very last, shocking moment. Don’t miss this electrifying evening of suspense and laughter!
About Caroline Smith, the playwright:
Since earning her Canadian Actor’s Equity card in 1979, Caroline Smith has made her living as a performer, choreographer, director, adjudicator and playwright. She has worked for hundreds of theatres and festivals across the country, including the Shaw Festival, the Charlottetown Festival and the Canadian Opera Company.
In 1996, Caroline moved to the village of Stirling, Ontario and founded the Stirling Festival Theatre, where she served as Artistic and Managing Director until 2009. Under her leadership, the company won three Lieutenant Governor’s Awards and numerous business awards.
As playwright, Caroline’s popular comedy The Kitchen Witches was the winner of the 2005 Samuel French Best Canadian Play Award and her popular Panto scripts are produced by Drayton Entertainment and various theatres across Ontario.
Caroline continues a busy career, most recently directing productions for Westben Arts Festival in Campbellford, the St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival and the Toronto Film School. She also works with new writers as dramaturge for the historic annual Gaslight Tour short-play festival in Collingwood and leads various writing workshops while continuing to develop her own plays.
About Anne Harper, the director:
Anne first acted on the Village Players stage in Alan Ayckbourn’s Season’s Greetings in 1987, and was last seen on our stage as Madame Arcati in Blithe Spirit. Her first directing gig was The Odd Couple in 1995. Anne is also a long-time member of the Village Players Board of Directors.
Among the other plays Anne has directed at Village Players are These Shining Lives, Rumors, The Importance of Being Earnest, The Impossibility of Now, Anybody for Murder, Perfect Wedding, Powers and Gloria, Murder in Green Meadows, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Dangerous Obsession, Tartuffe, Cyprienne, Humble Boy, The Winslow Boy, Private Lives, Cause Célèbre, All My Sons, The Real Inspector Hound/After Magritte, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Sea Marks, Bus Stop, and My Three Angels. Recent directing gigs elsewhere include Omission and Gloria’s Guy (Alumnae), A Lion in Winter (Amicus) and Speaking in Tongues (East Side).
Village Players 