Published on June 10, 2025 | 
| Written by Carol Ann Benanti
By Carol Ann Benanti | benanti@siadvance.com
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Sundog Theatre will present a double-billed production straight from Scotland’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
“Cabin Fever” and “It’s a Mystery,!” mainly comedies, were written and performed by actors who premiered them at the Fringe.
The plays, which are Act 1 and Act II at each performance, will open Saturday, June 21 and run Sunday, June 22, and Thursday, June 26 to Sunday, June 29 at Wagner College’s Stage One.
Catch Sundog Theatre’s “Cabin Fever” and “It’s a Mystery,” June 21 through June 29 at Wagner College’s Stage One Theatre. (Courtesy/Sundog Theatre)Staten Island Advance
In “Cabin Fever,” board a flight from London Heathrow to LAX (Los Angeles International Airport) and watch two actors bring to life a flight full of passengers. The play runs 60 minutes.
Aurelia Harris-Johnstone, co-writer and performer in “Cabin Fever,” is co-founder of Fresh !nk Theatre Company. She has performed at Annabel Studio, Memorial Hall, Year Out Drama Co, Clive Benfield Studio, and UOB Guild of Students. And she has acted in “Living with Lady Macbeth,” “In the Heights,” “Threepenny Opera,” “Spring Awakening, As You Like It,” and “Blood Wedding” and has directed “Blood Wedding” and “The Pillowman.”
Beth Miles, co-writer/performer in “Cabin Fever,” is also co-founder of Fresh !nk Theatre Company. She has performed with the National Youth Theatre, Greydog Theatre, Comeback Co., Year Out Drama Co., Clive Benfield Studio, Winston Theatre, and Bristol Improv Theatre. Beth has acted in “Grimm Tales,” “As You Like It,” “Blood Wedding,” “Summer Fling,” “Alcestis,” “Barbie,” and “Party Conference.”
In “It’s a Mystery!,” the audience is summoned to the drawing room to help solve a mystery as a detective sorts through clues that drew him to the art form as a child.
The new one-man show that runs 65 minutes features Tim Benzie.
Benzie also is the creator and performer of “Solve-Along-A-Murder-She-Wrote”, touring the critically acclaimed show across the UK, Ireland, and Australia since 2018. An award-winning playwright, he has been co-writer of the Royal Vauxhall Tavern pantos since 2017 and is co-producer of the camp club night “PopHorror.” “It’s a Mystery!” is directed by Sarah Chew.
“I had been wanting to attend the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland since I was in college,” explained Susan Fenley, Sundog’s executive director. “Last summer I finally got the chance. Among the over 1,500 shows there, I selected two that travel well and are extremely entertaining. They both did well at the Fringe, and I am betting Staten Island audiences will love these as much as UK audiences have.”
Set design by Ken Tirado, lighting/sound designed by Harry Marshall and lighting and technical work by Ash Mojico.
Thursday, Friday, Saturday performances are at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. Wagner College’s Stage One, is located at 636 Howard Ave. on Grymes Hill. Tickets are priced at $25 general admission and $20 for students with ID and seniors. For tickets and general information visit www.SundogTheatre.org or phone 718 816-5453.
ABOUT SUNDOG THEATRE
Sundog Theatre is a Staten Island-based performing arts organization, formed in 2002, that provides contemporary and original theater for adults and children, educational touring shows throughout the Tri-State area, acting classes for young people, and programs that bring teaching artists into schools to support curricula through the arts that help make learning come alive.
