Murder mystery successfully launches new school drama club

Providence School in McLennan held a murder mystery play on June 3. Characters included Holly Gervais as Nick, Bungler played by Justine MacInnis, Eden MacInnis plays Desmond, Dr. Rank played by Julie Valiquette, Ramon (Demi Jones), Tommy (Anne Valiquette), Darby (Cassie Lambert), Maggie (Raivan Wollmann), Eleanor (Isabelle Maure), Hadley (Tanaya Johnson), and Nora Dumond (Joelle Legall). Servers included Caitlin Laboucan, Chantel Legall, Angel Charbonneau, Lacinda Charbonneau, Ashley Douglas, Teressa Blais and Jurney Loyie.

Emily Plihal
Special to the Express

Murder was on the menu at École Providence last Wednesday night.

“Dinner at Eight, Dead by Nine,” was the first production by the Providence Eagles Players, the McLennan school’s new drama club. The group was formed in March and started rehearsing for the murder mystery dinner theatre in mid-April.

On June 3 an all-girl cast of 17 students from grades four to nine entertained a crowd that also got to enjoy a spaghetti and cake dinner cooked and served by the students.

The night was full of dramatic twists and turns, with a cast of characters that included wealthy socialites, an egotistical chef (Demi Jones), a drunken police inspector (Justine MacInnis), and plenty of people with reasons to murder guest of honour Eleanor (Isabelle Maure), the wealthy grand matron of the arts who died before dessert.

Mr. Gary Fisher teaches the drama club.

“You could see the kids expressing themselves. They memorized reams of lines. They’re gaining confidence. I think it’s fantastic for students to do drama,” Fisher said.

Tickets for the production were ten dollars each, and the community response exceeded the club’s expectations.

“We sold 85 tickets. I was hoping for 30,” said Fisher.

In January, Fisher took the students to the Grande Prairie Theatre for a presentation of Jungle Book. The money raised from Wednesday’s dinner theatre will be used to pay for students to go to a theatre production next year at no cost to them.

As for whodunnit, in a shocking twist it was revealed murder victim Eleanor actually murdered herself with poison meant for Hadley (Tanaya Johnson), socialite Desmond’s (Eden MacInnis) new bride. Audience members who correctly guessed the murderer had their names drawn for door prizes.

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