Thrilling final project

By Melissa Piche Times Contributor

Karyssa Komar is in her final year at Rosebud School of the Arts and is preparing her final project, The Drowning Girls. 

Ahead of schedule for a final project, Komar said she chose the fall for a specific reason.  

“I wanted to do my final project earlier in my fourth year just because I could use the studio stage as a space,” said Komar.

She said in the summer months when most students are doing their final project, there are very brief dates that are available for the studio stage – which has better lighting and sound. 

Komar is producing the play and she also is staring in it as the youngest of the women, Alice. Each character has her own story to tell and Alice’s story is that of a 26-year-old unmarried woman. 

The Drowning Girls is a thriller to say the least, as it’s a play about a serial killer named George Joseph Smith – but instead of telling the story from the protagonist’s perspective, The Drowning Girls tells the story from the victim’s eyes. 

“For me I was looking for a show that was kind of along the spookier side, so like a thriller or a drama that is more than just a warm and fluffy show.” Komar said. “I wanted something that would make people think and they would come and see it and hold a mirror up to society. I like it because it tells the story from the women’s perspective rather than from the serial killer.”

Komar said that she often finds in society and history that the “bad guy” is remembered rather than the victim. 

“This story in particular is from the women and really focuses on their names rather than George Joseph Smith,” she said.

The play is geared towards a more mature audience, perhaps a rating of PG 13. 

“There are themes of violence and murder, so I would say kids should not come,” she said, adding there is a great deal of suspense and thrilling aspects to her play.

“I feel that there’s different perspectives people can take. Like they could just come and enjoy a thrilling show and if that’s what they take from it, that’s great,” she said. “But also, it would be great to think about the woman’s place in society. It’s kinda a timeless story.”

Komar said the story takes place later in the 1800’s or early 1900’s. 

“It holds up a mirror to society about how women were treated like property and weren’t really able to own anything and they had to have a man in their life to be able to do things,” she said.

The play is written by Beth Graham, Charlie Tomlinson and Daniela Vlaskalic. 

The show runs Sept. 21 at 4:30 p.m. and 11 p.m., Sept. 22 at 4:30 p.m. and Sept. 23 at 6 p.m. at the Rosebud Studio Stage. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased from her website (karyssakomar.com).