‘How the Other Half Dies’: a murder mystery comedy
MANSON — Picture it: You buy a car with a dead body in the trunk, and cannot for the life of you get the authorities to assist in your predicament.
On top of that, you have a big dinner party to throw, and a wanna-be Jack the Ripper won’t stop chasing you around your living room.
“It’s one of those broad murder mystery comedies,” said Kim Keller, director of the play at Manson Northwest Webster High School’s production of “How the Other Half Dies.” “Just silliness. It’s a lot of fun.”
For just the price of a ticket, audiences can experience the thrill of trying to solve the mystery. The mystery revolves around Sybil, a girl just trying to get through an important dinner.
“All the cast of zany characters make life more challenging for her,” said Keller. Fifty students will see how things play out over 90 minutes in two acts.
Rehearsals started in September with extra time for extended rehearsals to accommodate the challenge of busy student schedules with sports. By the time they break a leg, they’ll have put in about 60 hours preparing for the show.
Keller said their willingness to “go all out” really makes the show a special experience for all ages, investing to make their characters larger than life.
“The bigger and more bizarre you are, the better,” she said. “There’s not subtlety in this show.”
Audiences will enjoy trying to figure out who did it and why.
“(Students) enjoy being someone else for a while,” the director said. “When you have permission to be crazy and silly and big … it feels very liberating.”
Audiences can see “How the Other Half Dies” on Nov. 15 and 16 at 7 p.m. at Manson Northwest Webster High School. Tickets are $6 for adults, $4 for students.