A group of Similkameen students have chosen the darkest days of the year as the best time for murder — or at least a play about one.
The Little Theatre Company at Similkameen Elementary Secondary School is in rehearsals now for its winter production, Rehearsal for Murder by D.D. Brooke.
“Being that it is cold and windy outside, it is a suitable time to watch a cold-blooded murder take place,” said director Scott Tremblay.
The play revolves around a desperate playwright — Alex Dennison, played by Jenna Sipponen — trying to find out who killed her best friend, Monica Wells (Dominique Dupuis).
After Wells, who is also the leading lady in Dennison’s play, commits suicide, Dennison is devastated and becomes convinced her friend was murdered. One year later, on the anniversary of Wells’ death, Dennison gathers the cast and crew of her last play in an old theatre to work out what really happened that fateful night.
The production also features student actors Cherise White, Jamie Forner, Katie Frasch, Kelsey Mantle, Chris Best, Rebecca Webb, Zack Pijnnaken, Kyla Eglie and Erica Flynn.
“Rehearsal for Murder is a small theatre production, so it was a good choice for this cast,” said Tremblay, adding that the cast includes several Grade 8 and 9 students who are appearing on stage for the first time. “However, I have cast some students that have been in my productions before, so the more seasoned actors have helped the younger students with their parts.”
Their will be two performances of Rehearsal for Murder on Dec. 1 and 2 at 7 p.m. in the SESS elementary gym-theatre. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students. Tickets can be purchased at the door or from the cast.