In Earth and Sky, White Rock Players鈥� current mystery thriller (Coast Capital Playhouse, until Feb. 26), Lori Tych plays an emotionally charged central role.

A poet and part-time librarian, Sara McKeon finds herself in a nightmarish situation when her lover, restaurant owner David (Jason Dedrick) is found shot to death.

Just as shocking are allegations that the man she thought she knew had an unsavoury past that may have included kidnapping, rape and murder.

Her interaction with the officers investigating the case, intense 鈥榓lpha male鈥� Det. H.E. Weber (Ben Odberg) and the more easy-going Sgt. Al Kersnowski (Mike Busswood), convince her that her only option is to investigate the murder herself.

Along the way she enlists the help of friends Joyce Lazio (Kaity Busswood) and Billy Hart (Aaron Elliott) 鈥� and her own memories of her relationship with David 鈥� to navigate an urban maze populated with characters whose motives are in question, including Carl Eisenstadt (director Dale Kelly), Marie Defaria (Colleen Kelly) and Julius Gatz (Andrew LeBlanc).

The mystery is also relatively unexplored territory for White Rock resident Tych, who acknowledges 鈥渢his is the most straight character I鈥檝e played 鈥� I can鈥檛 go to my comedic default setting.鈥�

While she鈥檚 always been featured more in character roles, she confesses that playing a plum role that has her on stage for most of the show鈥檚 28 scenes 鈥� and a romantic lead in the bargain 鈥� has whetted her appetite for more.

She says she can identify with her character鈥檚 belief that materialism and possessions don鈥檛 add up to a good or happy existence.

鈥淪ara鈥檚 a minimalist in many ways 鈥� and I鈥檓 a little that way, too. I live a very simple life.鈥�

Tych, who also actively pursues television and film parts, hurled herself back into stage acting several years ago as a counterbalance to her busy career in the restaurant business 鈥� patrons of the local scene may recognize her from such venues as Beecher Street Cafe and Cielo鈥檚.

Mostly known for comedy, she鈥檚 acquired a reputation as something of a chameleon for taking on a wide range of characters in such plays as The Passion Of Dracula (directed by David Lloyd Austin), Dearly Departed (also directed by Kelly) and Twentieth Century in White Rock and in the farce Up and Coming for Vancouver鈥檚 Metro Theatre (the last two directed by Paul Kloegman).

鈥淚n Passion of Dracula I was Wilhelmina Murray, a take off 鈥� with many liberties 鈥� of Dracula鈥檚 eternal love,鈥� she said. 鈥淚n Dearly Departed, I played trailer park trash 鈥� a mother of three who aspires to be a singer 鈥� a busy-body drama queen in cowboy boots.

鈥淚n Twentieth Century, I was this outrageously lovely diva 鈥� part Carol Burnett and part Gloria Swanson 鈥� that was just exhilarating. And in Up and Coming I was Diane, a blonde tart who was stuck in a politician鈥檚 hotel room but couldn鈥檛 be found there.鈥�

Tych, who grew up on an acreage outside of Edmonton, said acting is something she originally 鈥渇ell into鈥� 鈥� but ended up doing a lot of work in Alberta.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 pursue it in high school or university,鈥� she said.

鈥淚 was working as a bartender at a hotel in Edmonton where they had a dinner theatre. I鈥檇 been doing some singing, so when I was offered some roles, it seemed like an opportunity to learn my craft.鈥�

It soon became a passion for her, which she fueled by working with a small independent theatre company, Celebration, based in Winnipeg, and also Theatre Prospero, which toured Shakespeare plays to high schools.

鈥淲e鈥檇 invite five or 10 students to be part of each play 鈥� they loved it,鈥� she said. Tych notes Earth and Sky reunites her with Dedrick (the uncomfortable politician of Up and Coming).

鈥淚t鈥檚 a very different role for Jason, who鈥檚 well known for comedy, but he鈥檚 doing really well 鈥� there鈥檚 one scene, particularly, that has an inference of David鈥檚 darker side, and we get to see him get a little angry.

鈥淚 think it helps that we鈥檝e worked together before; that we know each other so well and are very comfortable with each other.鈥�

Tych said she has also enjoyed a second chance to work with detail-oriented direction of Kelly 鈥� but in a much different context 鈥� and also renew acquaintance with Busswood, with whom she last worked on Up and Coming, as well as have a chance to act with Busswood鈥檚 frequent collaborator, Odberg.

鈥淗aving a chance to be on stage with Ben and Mike 鈥� I feel safe up there. I can鈥檛 say how lucky I feel to work with them.鈥�