Twin Lakes Secondary School (TLSS) students are putting the final touches on their new theatre production, set to begin its three-day run next month.
Opening night for Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express is April 10 at 7 p.m. in the school cafeteria. The cast of 14 students will also take to the stage on April 11, and 12.
Drama teacher Sally Holdsworth says staging a major production has been a tradition at TLSS for over 50 years.
"It's something we really value here," she said. "I think it's important for not only the students who love to be on stage, but also for the wide variety of involvement opportunities for students."
The set was built by construction students and painted by art students. Countless other students have been involved with lighting and props.
"It really is a full school effort," Holdsworth said. "I'm the director of the show, but there is a huge number of staff and students working hard behind the scenes."
Murder on the Orient Express is a story about a famous Belgian detective who is called to investigate a murder on a glamorous train bound for France.
"All of the travellers become suspects," Holdsworth explained. "He's tasked to find out who done it."
The crew started rehearsing in November and they have been practising three days a week since. Holdsworth promises the show to be suspenseful, engaging, and funny.
"It's a crowd-pleaser and a really fun show," she said. "The students have done a fantastic job and I think our audience is going to be really entertained."
McKenna Carter, a Grade 11 student, has been involved in theatrical productions at the school during all three years of her high school tenure. She's always worked behind the scenes and this year is serving as the stage manager.
"It’s an awesome way to be involved without having to put myself out there in front of an audience," she said. "I love helping backstage and working with the props and costumes."
Carter says this year's production is "prop heavy" and includes a lot of old-fashioned costumes.
"There is a lot that goes into it," she said. "It takes a lot of work and people to organize things."
Carter says being a part of the play is a "big commitment."
"I love theatre and productions," she said. "I love watching it all come together which makes it really pay off."
Jack Mccague, a Grade 12 student who plays a supporting role to the main character in the production, has been involved with productions at the school for three years. He says he enjoys the imagination that goes into playing a character.
"I love embracing the role and getting into it," he said. "I love the thrill you get when you are on stage. It really gets the heart pounding."
Even when Mccague isn't at school, he spends countless hours going over his lines and working on perfecting his character.
"It gives me something to do and a community to be a part of," he said. "Once you kind of do it, it becomes a part of who you are."
For a high school play, Mccague believes Murder on the Orient Express is going to be a "terrific" production.
"There are a lot of longer scenes in this one," he said. "It's a really good play to demonstrate the potential of the people who are a part of it."
Mccague admits he is "very nervous" for opening night.
"It's one of the more challenging scripts I've worked with," he said. "I'd say we are working really well together though."
Tickets cost $10 and can be reserved by calling TLSS at 705-325-1318.
"The money goes back to funding the production because every show has a budget," Holdsworth said. "We re-invest our profits into our facility and every year we add new lighting or different aspects backstage to help the production."
