From left, Kathryn Rose, Justin Mason and Will Futterman rehearse a scene from the comedy “The Game's Afoot; or Holmes for the Holidays,” opening tonight at Greenwood Playhouse. Mason stars as actor William Gillette, famous for playing the role of Sherlock Holmes.

Cascades Theatrical Company’s second play of the 2013-14 season, “The Game’s Afoot; or Holmes for the Holidays,” opens tonight at Greenwood Playhouse in Bend (see “If you go”).

The play is another lighthearted romp by Ken Ludwig, a contemporary comedic playwright whose name should ring a bell by now. In 2006, The London Times called Ludwig “the purveyor of light comedy to Middle America,” adding that “there is hardly a regional (theater) in America that hasn’t a work of his scheduled.”

The Times also had this to say about the prolific playwright, not unkindly: “It’s probably fair to say that audiences and stars are attracted to Ludwig’s work more than critics are.” I haven’t checked my Global Positioning System in a few weeks, but Bend must have drifted smack dab into Middle America.

During the 2010-11 season, CTC performed Ludwig’s “Moon Over Buffalo,” and it closed last season with the golf comedy “Fox on the Fairway.” There’s probably a better reason for the frequency at which Ludwig plays get performed, but I’m going with “because he writes funny plays.”

And as everyone knows, when you have a work by a major comedic playwright and talented actors who want to be in the work and a captive audience, no one can hear the critics over the laughter.

“The Game’s Afoot” is set during Christmas Eve 1936 at the Connecticut home of Broadway actor William Gillette (played by Justin Mason). Gillette is renowned for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes — a persona that comes in handy when one of the folks attending the Christmas Eve party at the estate gets stabbed to death.

And you thought family holidays at your in-laws’ house were risky!

What follows is a whodunit only Holmes — or at least an actor known for playing Holmes — can solve.

Liam O’Sruitheain directs a cast that, along with Mason, includes William Futterman as Felix Geisel, Daniel Liefer as Simon Bright, Victoria Stern as Aggie Wheeler, Erica Boismenu as Daria Chase, Kathryn Rose as Madge Geisel, Patricia Del Ruth as Martha Gillette and Michael Donnenwerth as the announcer.

If you go

What: “The Game’s Afoot; or Holmes for the Holidays”

When: Opens 7:30 tonight; runs through Dec. 7 with performances at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays (no performances Nov. 28-Dec. 1)

Where: Greenwood Playhouse, 148 N.W. Greenwood Ave., Bend

Cost: $19, $15 seniors, $12 students

Contact: www.cascadestheatrical.org or 541-389-0803