Marianne Zimmerly of Jefferson Township will make her directorial debut this Friday when the comedy "A Shot in the Dark" opens at the Butler Little Theatre.

Written by Marcel Achard and adapted by Harry Kurnitz, "A Shot in the Dark" is the tale of a good-hearted young woman (Monica Filippone) who is hauled before the magistrate (Doug Anderson) on a charge of murder, having been found unconscious and clutching a gun.

Her lover, the hot-blooded and ill-tempered chauffeur to a wealthy Paris couple (Casey Evanko and Angelo Quaranta), lies dead beside her.

While questioning the young woman, the complete frankness with which she describes her life as a parlor maid and her affairs with the dead chauffeur and her aristocratic employer astound the magistrate, who decides she is innocent.

As a result, the magistrate must determine the actual killer. Was it the maid, or did someone else have the motive and opportunity?

Zimmerly has been involved with theater since grade school and with Butler Little Theatre since 2002. She thought it would be fun to see what it's like from the director's point of view.

"I decided to do this show because it is funny and sharp and I was able to get excellent actors," she said.

"I have been very lucky and grateful to have experienced and supportive people — wonderful friends guide me through each hurdle I've encountered."

Filippone of Butler enjoys playing Josefa Lantenay, the subject of the mystery.

"She is seemingly clueless, yet charming. She is a 24-year-old woman whose life has lacked mutual love and support," explained Filippone.

"She is capable of much more than she appears."

Filippone tackled the role because she loves comedy. "Josefa's lines and her thoughts and reactions are ridiculously ditzy. She has trouble focusing on the questions she is asked."

Her interrogator, Paul Sevigne, is played by veteran actor Doug Anderson, who took the stage as Dracula last season.

"He is honest and principled with a romantic view of justice," said Anderson of his character.

Anderson said he is delighted to work with Zimmerly and the cast. He hopes "the Butler audience will experience many laughs and hopefully a few touching moments."

Sevigne's wife, Antoinette, is played by Tricia Pritchard of Center Township.

"This is my first play with the BLT. Even though I have been interested in acting for a long time, I have not participated in theater since high school," said Pritchard, who was encouraged to audition by a friend.

"Antoinette is jealous and interested in material wealth. She loves her husband very much," she explained.

Another newcomer to the BLT stage, Angelo Quaranta of Buffalo Township, plays Benjamin Beaurevers. Quaranta recently moved to Butler County and was anxious to be involved with the BLT. He last appeared on stage with the Pittsburgh New Works Festival.

"Beaurevers is a snooty, aristocratic banker from the finest European bloodstock," said Quaranta. "My accent is fun to play, and I enjoy the great comic interplay between my character and Josefa," he said.

"It can be challenging portraying a wide range of emotions with little physical movement," he added.

His wife is played by Casey Evanko of Butler Township. "Madame Beaurevers is very snobby, very wealthy and thinks nothing can touch her," said Evanko. "She is definitely used to getting her own way, and loves to name-drop. When things don't go her way, watch out," she added noting her character is referred to as Attila the Hun by her own husband.

Evanko last appeared in "The Crucible" and is delighted to be working in comedy.

Also starring in the play is Robert Snodgrass Jr., Danyle Versinskie and Jim Pastorius.

When the show opened on Broadway in 1962, it featured Julie Harris, William Shatner and Walter Matthau, who won a Tony Award for his performance.

"A Shot in the Dark" was the first of the popular Pink Panther film series that starred Peter Sellers.

<B>WHAT:</B> Butler Little Theatre's Production of "A Shot in the Dark"<B>WHEN:</B> 8:15 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday Friday through Dec. 2<B>WHERE:</B> One Howard Street<B>TICKETS:</B> $10; call 724-287-6781 between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.<B>INFO:</B> www.bltgroup.org