SHS presents Murder Inn

Sabrina Kooistra
Times Junior Reporter

 

Strathmore High School’s (SHS) drama program will be presenting a rendition of a murder mystery titled Murder Inn by Howard Voland and Keith McGregor.
This production has multiple elements that have pushed the actors and actresses to new limits through the challenges of characterization. However, despite this, director and teacher advisor Paula Richardson is confident that her students will deliver in bringing the script to life.
In the cast’s opinion, the script has made them better actors and actresses through rehearsing and performing.
“There’s a lot of direction in the script which is a good reason to do it which is good for budding young actors,” said Rhett Dumonceau, a professor in the production from the drama 30 class. “It has an even mix of all sorts of characters, genders, and personalities and so there’s a lot of opportunity to be creative and adventurous.”
Held in the SHS theatre, these performances showcase a variety of personalities, intermingled themes, and a talented amateur cast from the drama 20, 30, and 35 classes.
The script features a murder mystery involving travellers desperate after a flood. They are trapped for a few days in an abandoned, rundown inn where numerous brutal stabbings occur. The question is, who is the malicious perpetrator?
Claire Webb, a tour guide and tourist from the drama 20 class identified double casting as her area of growth within the production.
“For me, it’s hard to do both characters because I have to switch between two different mindsets,” she said.
Dumonceau also encountered similar challenges in depicting his character.
“I think it’s sometimes difficult to portray a character who is so much older than myself,” said Dumonceau. “It’s hard to get the movements right, the manner of speaking right. Being 47, 50 (years old) as opposed to 17 … I feel like the character suits me pretty well, (though).”
Even though the script poses many obstacles for the cast, Richardson feels extremely proud of how her cast is performing and publicizing the production.
“The cast have been very dedicated … the students have found their own costumes, done a great deal of the set building,” said Richardson. “Madison Ferraton, a cast member, drew our poster. Students are double cast so they do not get as much on-stage time as students who are not and this can be stressful, but they do not complain.”
Even though the actors and actresses have identified various challenges that are pushing them as drama students, “it’s a very good story and is something you can walk away from having enjoyed going to see it,” Dumonceau said.
“There are a lot of characters so you can get everyone involved with it… and everybody can relate to in some way,” said Webb. “And it’s funny too.”
Murder Inn will be playing in SHS’s theatre at 7 p.m. from Nov. 23-26. Tickets are $10.
“We have an amazing set, great student acting to showcase and it will be fun for the entire family,” Richardson said. “Live theatre is so different from watching something on a screen. The actors pick up on the energy from the audience, so the more audience members, the greater the energy, the better the performance. We hope to fill the theatre to capacity every show.”