Director brings his interests to Sisters

Gil Martin, writer and director of "Murder at Henry Cabot's Lodge."

Gil Martin has lived in Sisters for almost one year now, and he intends to pick up where he left off in his previous digs.

As the proprietor of the Trout Lake Country Inn in Trout Lake, Washington, he was able to indulge his passion -- writing and directing plays.

"I came to Trout Lake with the Forest Service, but when the Inn came up for sale, I bought it," he recalled.

"We made a bed and breakfast out of it, but because it had a big stage, we also had a dinner theatre."

Martin received a degree in drama from the University of Washington, so he took advantage of the opportunity. It was a natural fit.

"I have the writing bug. If it wasn't drama, I'd be writing novels," he said.

"I've written about 20 plays, and two of them have been published by Eldridge Publishing."

His most popular play, entitled "Murder at Henry Cabot's Lodge," is coming to Sisters and Bend, courtesy of the Sisters Community Theatre.

If history is any guide, the play should be a hit here in Sisters.

"'Murder at Henry Cabot's Lodge' was far and away the longest-running of any of the plays that we did at Trout Lake," Martin said.

"The average run was about four days, but this one went on for four months -- the people just kept coming to see it."

Concerning the play, he says, "It's billed as a comedy, a mystery, and a love story. But it's a comedy first and foremost. I have an off-the-wall sense of humor, and that comes out in the production."

While the publicity flyer notes that it's rated PG-13, Martin says, "There is no bad language or anything of that nature. It's simply because a humor murder- mystery is something that children under 10 years old wouldn't understand or appreciate."

As the writer, director, and producer, his excitement and experience in drama are assets to the Sisters Community Theatre.

"Murder at Henry Cabot's Lodge" is playing on January 4-5 at the Sisters Middle School Auditorium at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $7 at the door.

In Bend, the play is scheduled for January 18-19 at the Bend 2nd Street Theatre.