"Whodunit'' fans will have a chance to bite their nails through another murder mystery play at Daylesford next week, when `Murder By Misadventure' begins a week's run.

Director Gavin Wilson who, according to cast member Arthur Lugo, has "a soft spot'' for this type of drama, chose to direct Edward Taylor's suspense-filled play for the Bermuda Musical and Dramatic Society after seeing the London box-office hit several years ago.

It follows his smash hit production of `The Business of Murder' at Daylesford last year.

"It's a wonderful play, which keeps you guessing right to the end, but it's also very funny,'' says Mr. Lugo. "We have a cast of four very experienced actors and I think (and hope!) we'll do a good job.'' Appearing alongside Mr. Lugo, who worked for several years as a professional actor in Britain, will be three of Bermuda's best known players -- Ken Morgan, Brian Webb and Tricia Morgan.

"I've never worked with Gavin before, with the exception of when we both appeared in `Richard III' last year. He brings some very nice qualities to the role of director -- he's patient, creative, and (although I still have time to change my mind) amazingly calm, and manages to retain a commendable demeanour of decorum in dealing with us!'' This production sees a reunion between Mr. Lugo and Tricia Morgan who formed an hilarous stage duo last year, when they took the starring roles in Jabulani Repertory Company's production of `Don't Dress for Dinner' at the Pembroke Princess. "It seems like old times, to be back with Tricia,'' he says.

Mr. Lugo also reveals that "many, many years ago'' he appeared onstage with Ken Morgan (who is married to Tricia). "This was back in our youth, and I believe we were in a pantomime together.'' He compares Ken Morgan's method of acting -- "a very gentle, but very effective way of working through a role'' -- with the character he portrays in the play: "Not a forceful person on the surface but there's a cool determination about him and the two things connect!'' This is the first time, too, that Mr. Lugo has acted with Brian Webb, who was most recently seen as General Peron in `Evita'. "He was the speech instructor for both `Richard III' and `The Merry Wives of Windsor', and I was in both of those productions, so we have worked together. I have a great respect for him -- a very talented man.'' Mr. Lugo, who is possibly best known to the general public as radio and TV `spokesman' for Cable & Wireless Ltd., says he is reluctant to "chatter on'' too much about the play "in case I spill the beans! It's very difficult to talk about a murder mystery without giving the game away -- and I certainly won't be popular with our esteemed director if I do that!'' It was almost certainly Arthur Lugo's one-year stint with Up With People which gave him the theatre "bug''. His strong musical foundation, however, was formed long before, as a student at Dellwood School. Paying tribute to his former music teacher, Mr. George Murphy, he reveals that he was the first Bermudian to ever gain his GCE in Music: "That was thanks to him. He was once an admired teacher -- now, he's an admired friend!'' During his year with Up With People, Mr. Lugo travelled all over the US and Canada, as well as visiting Italy, England and Ireland. He performed before Princess Margaret at the Royal Albert Hall and, in Vatican City, for the Pope.

"Even now, 20 years afterwards, I look back on Up With People as being one of the most rewarding experiences of my life,'' he says. "Exciting as it was to perform in all these places, the best thing about it was the fact that we lived with local families, so we had direct exposure to local customs and culture, and I think that's a very valuable experience for young people, especially if you live in a small place like Bermuda.'' It was while he was in England that Mr. Lugo decided to audition for acting school and admits he was "amazed'' to be accepted for its three-year course by the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama. "It was very hard, but when you're 19, hard is fun! When I finished, I was lucky enough to already have my own agent and within three months, got my first professional acting job!'' In the overcrowded theatre profession, this, he says, was quite an achievement: "It was at a repertory theatre in Mold, in Wales, and I was given the role of Jonathan Harper in a newly created musical version of `Dracula'. The important thing about that was that I was able to join Equity, the stage union, because, unless you are a member, it's almost impossible to get work.'' He then appeared in two productions of `Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat', one of which formed part of the repertory season at the well-known Nuffield Theatre in Southampton. He also was the musical director for a new musical of `Pinocchio', for which he also wrote the songs.

His big moment came when he was chosen for a successful mini-series on BBC TV, `The History Men'. "This was about two teachers in a UK university, and dealt with student unrest, which was all the thing at that time and it starred Anthony Sher (who went on to become a big star) and Michael Horden. I played a Moroccan student -- so I was part of the student unrest!'' This was followed by the national tour of `Godspell', produced by Cameron Mitchell who, as Mr. Lugo points out, today probably owns 50 percent of Broadway, being responsible for, among many other productions, those of `Les Miserables' and `Miss Saigon'. Mr. Lugo's role was that of the disciple who sings `All good gifts'.

He reflects that several of the people who were at the Guildhall with him are famous today, notably Art Malik who became a star overnight with his leading role in `Jewel in the Crown'.

"He's a great guy and one of my close friends. I've stayed with him and his wife in London and I always see them when they are in New York.'' He also became a close friend of Alfred Molina, who starred in `Prick Up Your Ears', the life story of the dramatist Joe Orton, and who also played Sally Field's husband in the film, `Not Without My Daughter'.'' One of his most interesting experiences, he says, was when he was chosen to try out for the role of a young African in a play by Harold Pinter, `The Rear Game'. "I didn't get it in the end, because at 23, they decided I looked too old for a 17-year old, but it was fascinating to meet Pinter and to rehearse with three of the biggest names in the business -- Jeremy Irons, Simon Ward and Barry Foster.'' Asked why he decided to abandon his theatre career just as he was tasting success, Mr. Lugo's reply is direct: "The need to feed myself! I found that although I had an Equity card, it was becoming increasingly difficult to get roles as I had to have immgration permission to stay in Britain. You could say that it's similar to the situation in Bermuda -- if a local is available, they take the local.

"The irony was that, at that time, an evolution was beginning to take place in the arts in Britain, because `people of colour' were just developing a presence in the arts there and the issue of race relationships was beginning to heat up. I was in London during the Brixton riots and the truth was that most of TV at that time was not reflecting society as it really was. There were some very good opportunities on the horizon, but I decided I'd had enough of wondering when I was going to eat!'' Not surprisingly, his career since his days as a professional actor has reflected that emphasis on personality, involved as he has been in selling Bermuda's charms as a resort destination. His first job with Bermuda Tourism, the "P.R. guy'' on the cruise ship, Volendam , where he promoted Bermuda in general, and St. George's in particular.

He also spent eight years as assistant manager for sales in Tourism's New York office. On the subject of tourism, he believes one of the shortcomings is that the general public in Bermuda are simply not aware of the amount of work done by the Department on behalf of the Island in New York.

"They work enormously hard -- it is not an endless round of cocktail parties, as some people seem to imply! They go out in the field, doing seminars and so on, on a daily basis, all of which has to be prepared beforehand.'' When he "got lucky'' and obtained his US `green card' in the lottery, Mr.

Lugo joined the Marriott organisation where he was senior sales manager in Manhattan before he was asked to return home to take up the reins as director of sales at Marriott's Castle Harbour Resort.

Mystery theatre Although he concentrates on group sales, Mr. Lugo makes the observation that Bermuda, just like a house, needs to be constantly maintained and refurbished.

"Customers have a multitude of choices today and they are very savvy! They know what they want and what to expect,'' he said. "I think there is a real danger that Bermuda could be left in the dust if we don't get back to the basics of providing a first class physical product and service at competitive prices. The customer has changed and we need to change with him.'' `Murder By Misadventure' will be presented at Daylesford Theatre from Friday October 20 through Thursday October 26 (including Sunday) at 8 p.m. sharp.

Tickets at $10 may be obtained from Daylesford today and tomorrow from 5.30 to 7.30 p.m. and on performance nights from 7 p.m. to curtain time.