Audience attempts to crack a killer case

“The Plot, Like Gravy, Thickens,” Drama’s fall production, was a murder mystery play which included  larger-than-life characters, audience participation and thrilling scenes.

The production was held Oct. 15-18 at 7 p.m in the Performing Arts Center (PAC) with a matinee show on Saturday, Oct. 18. The story featured a house party hosted by the wealthy main character Edward Worthington, played by senior Roman Macali, in celebration of his 50th birthday. Despite the innocent purpose of the event, the gathering quickly turned into a tangled web of secrets and confessions.

The play commenced with an introduction of all the family members, such as Edward’s wife Allegra, played by senior Lorelei Silva-Jameson, sister Beatrice, played by junior Riley Russo and the staff. His business associates—Roy Philips, played by sophomore Matthew Salguero, Peggy Sue Brumley, played by junior Rebecca Jordan and Lawrence Tate, played by sophomore Tobias Silva-Jameson, were also introduced. Edward then reveals that all attendees have betrayed him in some way. Before he is able to figure out who, the stage lights are shut off and Edward is killed, leaving the audience without a clue as to who the killer is.

“I liked seeing the crowd’s reaction to everything we [did],” Jordan said. “A lot of the energy that the actors put in comes from the crowd. The fact that the crowd is on stage and they get to interact helps a lot.”

Lieutenant McMillan, played by Macali, was the detective in the play who led the investigation to find the killer in Act II. The audience had the chance to directly interrogate the characters and rule out potential suspects. The incorporation of audience participation was entirely new for the drama students, encouraging them to improve their improv skills.

“It’s a really good skill for actors to learn, [especially] if they’re planning on going forth in Drama,” drama director Zoe Seare said.

After a series of accusations, false arrests and confessions in the final scene, it is revealed that Allegra was the murderer. However, the cast faced some complications with the placement of props on stage. Despite these challenges, the cast continued embodying their roles and did not let it interfere with their performances.

“I learned [that] nobody is inside of your head and nobody knows the things that you’re thinking,” sophomore Olivia Parungao, who played Edward’s daughter Debra said.

While the play has helped the cast develop public speaking skills and achieve acting goals, the support and relationships within the cast remain one of the most impactful aspects of the play.

“It was my first drama show [in] high school. It was definitely nerve-wracking, but having people that I was comfortable with and loved hanging around made it so much better,” Russo said. “Having my family, friends and [other] people laugh made it so much better of an experience.”