Diamond Valley students are putting on a play within a play next week.
The Oilfields High School and Diamond Valley Dramatic Society are staging Murder Me Always on Dec. 14-16 at 7 p.m., with a Saturday matinee at 2 p.m.
Created by playwright Lee Mueller, Murder Me Always takes on the trope of a play within a play where the characters are all actors in a murder mystery play, when a murderer strikes, killing a cast member.
“This is not a traditional murder mystery. It is a murder mystery within a murder mystery, which adds another layer of complexity and sophistication to the cast creating more than one character on stage,” said Pam Pracic, drama teacher at Oilfields High School.
Theatrics ensue as the police detain and question various cast members.
“The kids were really excited about the opportunity to do a murder mystery, and I always base my plays off of the kinds of students I have, as well as the energy level and the desire of what they want to do,” said Pracic. “I always like to have as much of their input into the show.
“They have really absorbed playing characters that are outside themselves, and the thing I take pride in is doing my best not to typecast and giving them characters that can really challenge their performances, and I’ve seen them really rise to the occasion.”
Heading up the investigation is Oilfields student Warner Hodgins, playing detective Joe Mamet.
"He's kind of the complete archetype, just all those characters melded into this one big goofy cliché,” Hodgins said.
His character, and the overall concept of the play, have been a great opportunity to not only take a lead role, but also take on the fun challenge of toying with theatre meta.
“It’s fun to kind of make fun of theatre in general, just playing around with people messing up their lines, or lighting cues,” Hodgins said. “It adds up to a pretty fun atmosphere.”
Tickets are available at the door; $10 general, $5 for students. Doors open 30 minutes prior.
