The Haleyville High School Theater Class will be bringing two productions, including a murder-mystery live-action Clue game, to the stage at the Heart of Haleyville Park this weekend. Students standing from left are Kylie Hallman, Henderson Smith, Kyndra Estis, Kailynn Kennedy, Carlee Bell, Abby Blanco, Maria Hubbard, Devin Flores and Aaron Dunaway. Seated in front is theater class teacher and play director Kaylen Peppers.
HALEYVILLE - The Haleyville High School Theater Class is bringing some murder and mayhem to downtown Haleyville this weekend with two productions, including a live-action Clue-style murder-mystery event with optional public participation.
The class will have two productions per night onstage at the Heart of Haleyville Park on Main Street this Friday, May 8, and Saturday, May 9, beginning at 6:30 p.m. each night, stated Play Director and HHS Theater Class Advisor Kaylen Peppers.
Tickets are $7 and can be purchased at a table at the entrance to the park. Cash only can be accepted, Peppers said. All of the proceeds raised from both nights of performances will go back into the theater class to cover expenses, she said.
Theater students have been working hard practicing their skills to perform basically a play within a play in Shakespearean style, Peppers explained.
Each night, the class will perform a mystery entitled, “The Trap,” which was actually written by theater class members, Peppers said. The 30-minute production, involving about nine theater class students, will be seamlessly woven into the murder/mystery component of the show known as “The Final Curtain” - one that requests audience participation, but is not required, she added.
To prepare for the productions, theater class members watched productions of “Knives Out,” “Clue” and “The Glass Onion,” according to Peppers.
The murder-mystery game will consist of about 20 participants per night, but some parts can be assigned to members of the audience who wish to participate as a character, Peppers said.
“If there is not enough people who want to do it, our students will be the characters,” Peppers said.
The admission price is the same whether the public attends to only watch the show, or to participate in the murder-mystery game, Peppers advised.
When the public arrives for the shows, they will be asked if they wish to only watch the performances or play a character and take part in the game portion of the show, she said.
The production will feature 1950s style, so those who wish to dress that way are encouraged to do so, but also not required, organizers said.
According to a copy of the show’s synopsis, those attending should note the year of “The Trap” is 1953, the same year Agnes Kirtsie’s debut play “The Trap” opens on Broadway after celebrating its 25th birthday at West End.
Celebrated stars from across the continent have been invited to an exclusive opening night performance and cocktail party at Broadway’s La Souris Theater.
The show, the synopsis continues, is a huge success, but, as guests move into the grand hall for the after-party, there is no sign of director Cameron James, which is unusual, for a director not being at the after party.
The audience and cast must work together to find out what happened to the missing director and, if the director is found dead, who will be the primary suspects.
The participating audience members will be given clue cards that state the name of their character, as well as give key information they should know, so they can give their own personal touch to the character, the synopsis indicates.
Characters in the murder-mystery game include Lee Dingman, Annie Parteldo, Tom O’Notabee, Wanda Bee, Sam Dram, Sue/Hugh Donette, Cami Makin-Tosh, Dante Arguew, S. Potlite, Stan Dinovation, Noah Bodicarez, Thebe Utler, Denni Renold, Alfie Itchlock, Andi Study, Jean Kellie, Toni Deff, Fred Thebords and Lottie Tosh.
Such things will be determined in the game such as motive, method and opportunity, with the audience also invited to fill out a form stating at the end of the game who their choice is for the murderer. Prizes will be awarded.
Awards at the event will be given out for best dressed, best actor, best suspect, according to Peppers.
“If you are part of the audience and you really get into your character, you could possibly win best actor, best dressed, best suspect, those types of things,” Peppers stated.
The public is invited to bring their own portable chairs to set up in the park to watch the productions, according to Peppers.
“This is the first time we have done this, the first time to use the pocket park,” said Peppers.
“I think it’s a really fun thing,” Peppers added. “I know Haleyville, the community, is really trying to push Haleyville first, give people something to participate in within the community.
“I thought it would be a cool experience and give more people in the community an opportunity to participate, have a good time on a Friday night and a Saturday night and be with people,” Peppers continued.
See complete story in the Northwest Alabamian.
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