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The audience became professional sleuths while watching the winter play, “A Murder Is Announced” on March 14 and March 15 at 7 p.m. in the Black Box.
Adapted from the classic Agatha Christie novel, this murder mystery production promised to be anything but conventional. The play was directed by science teacher Brian Kelly, who said that unlike a traditional play, the audience was immersed in an interactive murder mystery party through food and drinks on stage.
The story took place in a small village in the United Kingdom called Chipping Cleghorn, where various quirky characters investigated a murder that occurs at Miss Blacklock’s house, played by junior Lydia Reineke. Other characters include frantic maid Mitzi Kosinski, played by senior Adam Guggina, Inspector Craddock, played by senior Justice Huang and Edmund Swettenham, played by senior Matthew Carreras. However, the cast didn’t act as these characters, but rather as high-schoolers who have been given roles at a murder mystery party.
“When I’m on stage, I’m not Edmund, I’m Matthew Carreras playing Edmund,” Carreras said. “We’re going to get little cards that have objectives for what our character is supposed to do per act or per scene.”
The cast worked hard to ensure the adaptation reached its full potential, as it was difficult to put an original spin on something that has already been written and performed.
“They are very creative, they’re working together and they’re having a great time,” Kelly said. “It takes a lot of minds to create the way we’re going to do it, and they have been working really hard as a team to make it just right.”
Carreras enjoyed the playful environment of rehearsals, as there was more space to experiment without the constraints of a traditional theatrical production.
“We get to be ourselves and focus on making it a party, making it a good time, being sarcastic, making witty comments and ad libbing when we want to,” Carreras said. “It’s much more relaxed then a lot of other productions, but that adds to the quality and fun of it.”
