Superior High students perform murder mystery

SUPERIOR – On a stormy night in the 1980s, a series of murders occur at an old mansion in the English countryside.

The mystery was solved May 3 at Superior High School, during the performance of Alibis by Cathleen Kuchera’s drama group.

Toward the end of each school year, Kuchera enlists students to participate in a play as an extracurricular activity. Students involved perform a different play each year.

The students in this year’s play were made up of two freshmen, five sophomores and four juniors.

“This is an extracurricular activity open to all high school students,” said Kuchera, director and history teacher at Superior High School. “We only had five weeks to put this on and only had 13 practices.”

Rehearsals were often five days a week, sometimes two or three hours long.

“A lot of students who participate don’t do a lot of extracurricular activities so performing is really important to them,” Kuchera said. “It’s important to have a drama program.”

The students weren’t the only ones busy, as Kuchera had to spend a lot of time and money getting ready for the performance. She had to track down props, costumes and have help building a set.

Tryouts were conducted in the middle of February, and those chosen for the cast started rehearsing at the end of the month.

In Alibis, a group of people are invited to a dinner party. When the group arrives and someone is dead, the focus of the night quickly turns as investigator Mr. E.S. Solvedd, played by Asa Ovitt, tries to find the truth while two more deaths occur.

Hope Leslie Trite, played by Sienna Faydo, and Dr. Jacqueline Hyde, performed by Hanna Hollenback, sported 80s hairdos that were so out of control, both girls looked as if they stuck their fingers in an electrical socket.

The performance had the typical drama with a splash of comedy. The play went off without a hitch, as the cast didn’t miss a beat and spoke their lines masterfully.

“The characters are really fun,” Kuchera said. “It’s based in England so everyone had fun with the English accent.”

The cast has their suspicions, often blaming each other for the crime. Little did they know it’s really Sister Bella Donna, casted to Patricia Gaston. The sister took a vow of silence and didn’t talk until the end of the play when she reveals her true identity.

The biggest challenge for the cast was trying to find stage time between wrestling and prom; sometimes they had to practice in Kuchera’s small classroom.

The young actors were greeted in the lobby after the performance by parents and interested viewers of the performance.

Hugs, handshakes and flowers were given out as the students took their final bows.

The play is over, but the experience will never be forgotten.

“These guys were one of my best groups,” Kuchera said.