Stettler students are getting ready to present four nights of mystery and comedy in this year’s fall drama production.
Bone Chiller will run from Nov. 27 to 29 at the Performing Arts Centre, performed by the students of William E. Hay Composite High School.
“We’re almost ready to start full-run rehearsals,” said staff member Darren Fleischhacker last week.
The three-act play, written by Monk Ferris, tells the story of 13 people gathered on a Friday the 13th for the reading of an unorthodox will.
In addition to the cast, several students have joined the light, sound and backstage crews. Serving as stage manager is Grade 12 student Bailey McMullin.
As the students become more comfortable with their roles, they’re starting to bring the characters to life, said Fleischhacker.
“They really started to let themselves have fun with it,” he said. “When they have fun, the audience is allowed to have fun with them.”
“If we don’t do a decent warm-up, the rehearsal’s really flat,” continued Fleischhacker, emphasizing the need to “get the blood flowing.”
The cast contains plenty of colourful characters, such as Zita Van Zok, an eccentric clairvoyant, played by Grade 12 student Dacia Gramlick.
Auditions were held in the second week of September, with rehearsals beginning the following week.
A total of 27 students auditioned for 13 parts; those not chosen for a role had “first dibs” on backstage crew roles.
After Thanksgiving, the production moved into high gear, and the cast and crew are now up to three rehearsals each week.
“They’re having a terrific amount of fun and loving the comedy of it,” said Fleischhacker. “It’s a pretty entertaining comedy.”
While the school has sometimes organized a Saturday matinee in past years, Fleischhacker said this would be unlikely given the comedic nature of this year’s show.
Tickets for the show are available from the high school office and at Wells Furniture in downtown Stettler.
They are priced at $10 for adults and $7 for students.