Staging a murder at Sanford Collegiate

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This article was published 25/03/2011 (5528 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Murder will soon be on the menu at Sanford Collegiate and staff and students are asking the community to figure out whodunit?

The school’s drama department is preparing for this year’s staging of Rehearsal for Murder, which will be performed at the Oak Bluff Recreational Centre on April 19 and 20.

Drama teacher Monica Reis said she wanted to choose a different kind of story than the comedies that the school typically performs.

Rehearsal tells the story of playwright Alex Dennison who believes the apparent suicide of his fiance was actually a case of murder. On the anniversary of her death, Dennison gathers the cast and crew of his latest play in order to figure out what really happened that fateful night.

Reis said she chose the play to challenge the schools’ budding thespians.

“I wanted to challenge them as actors with this production because mystery/sus­pense is much more difficult to do well than comedy is,” Reis said.

Despite the challenges inherent in staging the production, the student-actors have eagerly taken their roles to heart.

Cast member Sydney Weibe, 17, has one of the biggest challenges of any of the young actors. Weibe has been cast as a male in the production.

“She’s channeling Johnny Depp. She has a New York accent and she has created this alcoholic back story,” Reis said.

Actor Connor Hopper, 17, who has been part of Sanford’s drama group for the last four years, has been cast as the playwright Dennison.

Hopper said that the murder-mystery has been far more challenging for him as an actor than other works have been.

“The murder-mystery is something newer for us,” Hopper said. “This character is a lot different because I have to control everyone on stage. What they say in the play is that I am the puppet master.”

Hopper said playing such a vital role in the production is energizing every time he steps on stage.

He said one of the best parts of being involved in Sanford’s drama productions is the positive atmosphere the works create at the school

“It brings together people from all areas of the school,” he said. “No matter if your athletic or not, everyone comes together to create a family atmosphere — I keep coming back for the family.”

Stage manager Stephanie Lavoie, 16, who has been part of the drama group for the last three years, said it’s a sense of fun that keep her coming back year after year.

“You come back because you keep working with the same people over and over again,” Lavoie said. “It’s fun and it’s a good atmosphere — it’s basically like a family.”

Megan Turnley, Sanford’s new English teacher, agrees.

Turnley said that she has learned more about drama productions during preparations for Rehearsal for Murder than she would have in a university level course.  

Community members interested in attending one of the two performances can purchase tickets from cast members or from the school. Tickets are $8 and show times are 7 p.m. both nights.

prescott.james@canstarnews.com