Prince Charles Secondary School mascot Charlie the Bulldog will meet his demise next week — and he won’t be the only one. Perhaps more surprising is that at least one PCSS teacher is in on the dirty deeds.
At least, that’s how the story goes in Murder She Baked, the school’s talent show, which runs Jan. 21 and 22.
Directed by drama teacher Brooke Douma, the murder mystery will be woven between the talents acts — which include Highland dancing, violin and singing — and star drama students as their teachers.
“They’re making fun of the staff of PCSS, like Saturday Night Live,” said Douma. “It’s a good way to add drama in without adding monologues. The kids love it.”
And it’s made the performers take a much closer look at their teachers.
“It’s a lot different than playing a character in a script, as I have to try and properly portray somebody that I already know,” said Marybeth Stenhouse.
“It’s interesting portraying a person you actually know and see every day and putting it on stage,” said Skylar Eyre. “I feel a lot more analytical of their behaviour now. I get to take all their little quirks and traits and exaggerate them for an audience, which will be a blast. “
The students created the theme for the show, and then developed a script, which has a unexpected ending they’re sure the audience will appreciate.
“I think the audience is going to love this show because a lot of people know the teachers at the school,” said Stenhouse. “Even if they don’t know them, we have still added a lot of fun twists along the way to have people at the edge of their seat!”
“The audience will enjoy the show because there is a real-life connection between the audience, characters and actors, and that connection is demonstrated in an exaggerated, hilarious way,” added Eyre. “The characters are real members of the community who you may see every day, and are recognizable members of staff within the school.”
Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students/seniors, available at Creative Fix or PCSS, or from cast members. Partial proceeds will support a trip to New York for drama students, sponsored by the Creston chapter of Visually Impaired-Blind Empowerment.
