For their annual fundraiser, the Town Players of Newtown hosted a live Zoom performance last weekend of Always, Anastasia by playwright and director Michelle Leigh, a gritty murder mystery about the Christmas Eve disappearance of an unhappy wife married to a pathologically disgruntled cop. The special event, which debuted Sunday, December 20, also included a festive sing-along.

Playwright Michelle Leigh penned the award-winning one act Always, Anastasia, and directed it using clever means to create tension and a sense of confinement. The action takes place in one room, the still-holiday-decorated, dreary living room of the lonely Nick (played by John Squires). His rough and tumble partner, Danni (Joy Harris), visits as she vacillates between friendship and business while checking in on Nick.

Flashbacks to Christmas Eve reveal the relationship between Nick and his vexed wife Grace (Nikki Yatsenick).

The performances in this piece overcame the challenges of Zoom productions with the strength of their characters.

Squires masters every role he plays with true commitment and skill. He does so here.

Harris portrays Danni as a hardscrabble cop with a heart. She is impressive.

As the erstwhile wife, Yatsenick is both demure and demanding. She is lovely in this role.

Praise to Leigh, who did a thorough job of putting this piece together. Her enthusiasm for her craft and love of theater are palpable in her presentation.

Following the performance of Always, Anastasia, the Town Players offered a family-style Christmas carol sing-along, featuring Amy Cabot, Leif Smith, and Clara Smith, which wrapped the event up on a holiday note.

Congrats to the Town Players for the success of this effort and gratitude for their devotion to local theater.