York Town News
Local playwright nominated for Edgar Award
By Jennifer L. Saunders
YORK - Local resident Michael Kimball may be best known for his international best-selling thrillers, but he's now quickly gaining recognition for his talent as a playwright, most recently with a nomination for the 2007 Edgar Award.Kimball just learned last week that his recent play, "Ghosts of Ocean House," has been nominated for a 2007 Edgar (Allen Poe) Award, presented annually by the Mystery Writers of America.
And the news came as a complete surprise to Kimball. He had applied for consideration, undertaking the process of sending five copies of the play, which fans of Kimball and he himself often refer to only as "Ghosts," to judges around the country. But, as Kimball put it, applying for consideration is one thing - actually being named one of three finalists was an honor he was not expecting.
"That was such a long shot," he said.
In fact, Kimball found his play listed among Edgar nominees quite by accident, while searching the internet for information related to a new project he has been working on.
"I looked and saw it was a list for 'Best Novel,' 'Best Movie' and thought, this can't be," Kimball said of his nomination.
Also nominated in the category of "Best Play" are the musical comedy "Curtains" - set to begin previews on Broadway starring David Hyde Pierce on Feb. 27 - and "Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure," which premiered at Arizona Theatre Company and Pasadena Playhouse in 2006, was also seen at Milwaukee Repertory Theatre and is scheduled to be performed this season in other venues.
Kimball's play, which is set in a coastal Maine town inspired by York, had its premiere last year at The Players' Ring in nearby Portsmouth, N.H., directed by York's own Joe Dominguez and starring Seacoast actors Kate Bossi, Will MacDonald, Julie Arensman, Kate Kirkwood and Alan Huisman.
"Ghosts of Ocean House" focuses on three siblings and two of their spouses who, to inherit the family's ocean house, must spend one week a year for a decade living together in the Victorian mansion and the play opens at the start of their final week together in year 10.
Staying together on the ocean for one week should be an easy task, right? Not so much. The newest family member, a character Kimball describes as "a flighty, fragile young bride named Darlene, harbors a dark, mysterious past - as does the quiet old house - and when they come together, ghosts begin awakening."
Kimball recalled the inspiration as coming from separate conversations with friends: a comment by an actress in one of his earlier plays discussing her desire for a role that was "not an ingénue" and a story, years ago, from friends who described a lake house left to a group of friends with the expressed wish that they would all stay together there once a year.
"It creates a nice electricity when you put people together who really wouldn't normally spend time together," Kimball said.
With the inspiration of York all around, the lake house became an ocean house.
"I'm not sure I knew that I was going to be dealing with a haunted house at first," Kimball said. "I was just thinking of this character, Darlene, as a trophy wife gone wrong."
The early script readings and the rehearsal process that followed helped to shape the play, he said.
"Doing a play, the editorial process is much more enjoyable than with novels, because I'm getting so much help from the actors and the director," Kimball said, adding, "I'll revise until the actors beg the director to make me stop … I look forward to rehearsals so much. I just love the process."
The impetus to begin playwriting on a regular basis came after Kimball co-authored York's 350th anniversary play, "Submit," back in 2002.
"If you like doing something, you're going to keep doing it," he said of the five years of playwriting that have followed that experience.
Kimball's plays have included the emotionally-charged comedy "Santa Come Home," which debuted in York, and the most recent "Best Enemies," performed at The Players' Ring.
The Edgar nomination does not mark the first time "Ghosts" has been honored. The play also won the F. Gary Newton Playwriting Competition at The Players' Ring.
When asked why he writes plays, Kimball said that it certainly has nothing to do with the money one makes at such an endeavor. In fact, he said, laughing, the tuxedo he will rent for the Edgars will undoubtedly represent all his earnings from "Ghosts" to date.
Named for the 19th-century master of suspense - Edgar Allan Poe - the Edgars honor excellence in mystery writing in several categories and winners will be announced at the Edgar Week convention in Manhattan, N.Y., from April 23 through 27.
"I'm not worried at all," Kimball said of winning, noting he is facing some tough competition. "I'm just happy to get the nomination."
