RIDGEFIELD — Ridgefield Theater Barn will open its 2007-08 season on Saturday, September 8, with the 1970 Best Play Tony Award winner, Sleuth, written by Anthony Shaffer and directed by Sherry Asch.

Ms Asch, who is president of the Pound Ridge Theater Company, lists among her directing credits Sylvia, Ordinary People and Five Women Wearing the Same Dress in Pound Ridge and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? at the Manhattanville Little Theater. She was recently elected to the Ridgefield Theater Barn’s board of directors.

When Anthony Shaffer’s Sleuth opened on Broadway, Clive Barnes, writing in The New York Times called it “as clever as a wagonload of monkeys solving the crossword puzzle of The Times of London and as intricate as the Hampton Court Maze.”

Sleuth has all the ingredients of a top-class thriller, which it undoubtedly is: a plot whose twists and turns are breathtakingly audacious and fiendishly cunning; suspense and excitement galore and a brilliant parody of the Agatha Christie country-house thriller, mercilessly satirizing the genre while using its technical devices to full advantage.

The plot centers on Andrew Wyke, a wealthy writer of detective novels who delights in playing elaborate games. Aware that Milo Tindle, the owner of a travel agency, is having an affair with his wife Marguerite, Wyke invites him to his country manor house. No angel himself, Wyke is having an affair with a girl named Tea and is delighted his wife is occupied elsewhere.

His main concern, however, is that Tindle will be unable to maintain Marguerite in the style to which she has become accustomed — which means she would eventually leave Tindle and return to him.

Wyke suggests that Tindle steal some of his valuable jewelry and sell it in order to live happily with Marguerite — while Wyke will claim the insurance in order to live happily with Tea. The proposal sets off a series of schemes and double-crosses with potentially deadly results.

Cast in the lead roles for this production are Will Jeffries as Andrew Wyke and Bennett Pologe as Milo Tindle.

Working behind the scenes is an experienced and capable crew headed by Stage Manager Melissa Power and Assistant Stage Manager Nikki Siclare. Set Design is a creative collaboration between Sherry Cox of Ridgefield High School’s Drama Department and Will Jeffries. Set construction supervision is by Will Jeffries, assisted by Tim Cronin, Will Rogers and Louis Gordon. Lighting design and sound responsibilities will be managed by Jose Helu with technician Ryan Wenke at the light and sound board.

Katherine Barry is in charge of Properties, with assistance from Julia Sheahan and Marcia Sloat. Pat Skinger is leading the make-up, with assistance from Maria Sloat. Barbara Norman is handling Costumes; Set Dressing is being managed by Pam Reichenbach.

Sleuth opens Saturday, September 8, at 8 pm, and performances continue Friday and Saturday evenings through September 29. Sunday matinees are scheduled for September 16 and 23 at 2 pm.

The Ridgefield Theater Barn is at 37 Halpin Lane. Seating is cabaret style, bring food and beverage; doors open one hour before curtain. Tickets are $22 for adults, or $18 for seniors (62) and students, and are available online at TheaterBarn.org.