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The Friends of the Monterey Symphony will present "Ghosts Galore: The Mystery of the Macawber Mansion," its 8th annual mystery play and dinner fundraiser, Jan. 28 in Salinas and Feb. 4 in Monterey.

The play was again authored by Stancil Johnson. This year's drama is set in the year 1923. The Macawber family has gathered to determine who will inherit the family mansion. They decide that the true heir is the person who can survive two nights alone in the house. All who have tried before have failed the test. The plot will certainly challenge the audience to guess the mystery heir to the estate.The audience will again participate in the play.

This year's production features Theodore Balestreri Jr., Amy Treadwell, Doug Toby and Taylor Safina with cameos by such notable locals as Maddox Haberdasher, Bashar Sneeh and Sylvia Gardner. Proceeds benefit the Music for the Schools program of the Monterey Symphony.

Lucretia Butler, a long-time dance instructor and once, a faculty member in theater at North Salinas High School will direct the production. Butler has directed the past four Friends of the Symphony mystery plays.

"We're making it happen," Butler said. "I love my theater work. This year, there's a little more eeriness to it, which lends itself to another element of fun. Many of the ghosts are favorite ones."

Several past cast members are returning and there are also many new people, including four female captains from the Naval Postgraduate School – one missed rehearsals because she had to take a trip to Iraq.