On January 23 and 24, at 4 PM, Selma High Drama hosted a live “murder mystery” show at the dining hall. Tickets to the performance included food, catered by members of the stage crew, and refreshments. The highlight for many in the audience was the thrill of trying to determine who was the “murderer.”
The production, called How to Host a Murder Mystery Dinner Party (In Fifteen Simple Steps), seemed to initially be set up as an informative presentation. The affluent and disconnected host, Miss Penelope Chrysler-Michelin, played by Anabell Rangel, introduced herself and the cast, which she claimed to have hired in order to demonstrate each step to the audience.
The eccentric characters had personal alluring and comical qualities which made them all likeable, but also equally suspicious. Of the cast included “Free Spirit,” played by Jasmine Cortez, a senior. Cortez’s character was described as being excessively giddy and a self-proclaimed “spirit of the universe,” but also as annoying and bothersome.
Andres Preciado, a senior, played the “Groundskeeper.” His character was humorous, as he maintained a Spanish accent, and seemed to simply be caught up in the show when the sole bridge to the estate was knocked out and was forced inside by the rain. Comically, the Groundskeeper continually returned to the scene with different tools, such as a scythe and a baseball bat. Finally, the character of Hernán Vásquez, a senior, “Inspector Charles Enigma,” was just that: appearing out of seemingly nowhere soon after the host was unexpectedly murdered just as she was preparing to move to the next step, claiming he was setting up a roadblock near the bridge which incited him to seek shelter.
The lights had gone out when Rangel’s character was suddenly killed, and Vásquez’s appearance as an inspector was timely. He began questioning the cast, determining who was in the room at the moment of the murder, as well as the audience. This allowed for some funny conversations with the unsuspecting participants as one quipped “it might be you next.”
“When I get to improv with the audience,” Vásquez recalled, “when I get to interview people, that’s fun because I never know what it’s going to be like or what they’re going to give me, but knowing that they’re going to play along. That part I really like.”
Vásquez plans on continuing acting in a community college but is not as interested in pursuing it as a career. He states he is currently thinking of attending a community college and transferring to a four year institution for chemical engineering.
On every table were envelopes labeled different “Documents,” as well as a paper to take notes, the back of which was a ballot to vote for who they thought the murderer to be. Each table also had two-liter sodas and plastic cups, later complemented by the serving of bread, spaghetti and desert. Alluringly, there was also a chair with a “Reserved” sign at every table. As it turned out, these were for members of the cast to interact with the audience, giving clues about who they thought the murderer to be, profusely denying guilt, and entering fun banter with spectators as they stayed in character.
This was particularly enjoyable to watch, as Cortez’s character proceeded to fight off that of Alexis Guzmán’s “Ladykiller,” named “Hugh Glover,” who was supercilious and haughty as he hit on the several females of the cast, and some members of the crowd.
“I would say go for it, have fun,” Cortez remarked about joining a production. “When I’m doing a production, or acting, it’s way more fun. We get to make so many memories and experience a bunch of different personalities.”
It proved a difficult, but exciting task for the audience, deciding who to blame. At the culmination, Vásquez, as Inspector Enigma, declared that, according to his convictions, the killer was Guzmán’s Hugh Glover, much to the shock of the audience. It turned out to be a comical take on the fact the character’s title is literally “lady-killer.” What aided that, however, was how, as spectators were casting their votes, the cast went about the room and many exclaimed “vote the Groundskeeper, why does he have all those weapons?” Preciado expressed much excitement at playing the part and partaking in the production.
“Coming out with different items,” he noted, still in his accent, “was very fun. It’s all a great experience.” He further implored those interested in theater to try it. “Join as soon as you can if you are even slightly interested. I do not have any information on the upcoming musical, but I will audition and hopefully be in it.”
“Keep an eye out,” Vásquez added. “There’s a musical coming up, called ‘Zombie Prom,’ auditions start January 27 and 28. Look at the bulletin, there is a lot of good information there, there’s a QR code to scan. Then, after Zombie Prom, there’s going to be a summer show, ‘Shrek.’ You may have heard of it. Follow our social media platforms @selma.high.drama on Instagram, TikTok and X.”
