For the first time in performing arts history, an interactive interrogation scene between the audience and the cast will be featured in the Drama Department’s fall murder mystery, “The Plot, Like Gravy, Thickens.” Auditions were held Aug. 21-22, and the production will be performed Oct. 15-18.
The play follows an author-playwright in the midst of crafting a story, with the actors bringing his words to life on stage. In the story, a wealthy man named Edward Worthington hosts a party to celebrate his birthday, gathering all the important people in his life. However, during the celebration, he is murdered and a detective must unravel the mystery by delving into numerous characters, each with their own motives.
During Act II, the audience will have the chance to join the detective in questioning any character on stage.
“The concept of this play is cool because we get to see what the audience is actually wondering or what they’re thinking about, which we will also get to know since they’ll be talking to us,” junior Nikolas Howitt, who plays Tony Blackwell, said. “I’ve never played a character before that talks to the audience. We’ve done things where we would go into the audiences, but we would never talk to them and have actual conversations. I’m really excited for the interrogation scene, to just interact with the audience.”
To prepare for the interrogation scene, the cast has been strengthening their improv skills through games. For example, a common exercise–according to sophomore Tobias Silva-Jameson, who plays Lawrence Tate–places the cast in a particular scene where they must recite lines in alphabetical order, following the person before them.
“I’m very excited for the interrogation scene because we have an improv club on campus, and I am the co-president of it. I have been doing improv for all four years of high school so for me, it’s really fun to have a chance to really show my skills,” senior Lorelei Silva-Jameson, who plays Allegra Worthington, said.
A crucial aspect of the play is the actors’ ability to understand and develop their characters. In order to successfully execute the improv scene, the cast must deep dive into their characters and fully embody them. Every actor is given the freedom to personalize and shape their character—whether by developing unique personality traits or inventing backstory details.
“In every play that I’ve ever done, you always have a little bit of character analysis, so you can really get into your character because that’s the best way to play a character. But this is the most analysis we’ve ever done before,” Howitt said. “This is the most unique play I’ve done so far and I’m really excited to do it.”
