COLD LAKE - Mayhem, laughter, and a whole lot of mystery unfolded on the Cold Lake High School stage from May 1 to May 3, as the student cast delivered three lively performances of ‘Everybody Wants to Be the Villain’, a unique murder mystery where the audience held the casting power.
Performed in front of audiences at the CLHS theatre, the interactive play allowed attendees to vote on which actors would take on the roles in the second act, a format that led to a different performance each night. This structure highlighted the adaptability of the student cast and the flexibility of the script.
“This show came directly from an idea I was discussing with my sister after last year's show. We did ‘Stars Over Arkham’,” said Dana Schwab, English and Drama teacher and the play’s director.
“It was like big, complex, lots of sets, lots of props and we thought about all the things that were successful about that show but also all the things that were really difficult to deal with like lots of costumes, lots of different props and we thought how could we improve on that and make life easier - and we also thought of a really funny idea and so the main story for this show came out of a joke that we just thought would be hilarious and there was enough substance to it to make a story.”
In ‘Everybody Wants to Be the Villain’, students played actors auditioning for a play within a play, an ambitious comedy centered around the assistant director Billie, who dreams of getting into the Kingsbridge Institute of Fine Art, while navigating the chaos of difficult auditions and backstage drama. Act One featured the faux auditions, and during intermission, the audience cast the roles for Act Two.
“All of my actors are prepared to play the roles that the audience casts them in,” she explained.
Each performance is unique because, while the script stayed the same, the actors infused their roles with their distinct personalities, meaning a cheerful pirate character might bring that same energy to playing a detective, butler, or lawyer, depending on how the audience voted, said Schwab.
Schwab praised the student cast.
“They are doing an incredible job. I have a combination of kiddos that range from experienced Grade 12s . . . all the way to kids who have never performed in front of a live audience before.”
She added, “Everybody has worked together so well. There's been a real team camaraderie.”
Despite challenges like last-minute cast changes and pre-show nerves, the student performers rose to the occasion.
With heartfelt appreciation, Schwab acknowledged the community’s ongoing support.
“I would just like to thank Lakeland for continuing to support what we do. Through Royals Timeout this year and through audience attendance the money that we make this year, it funds our drama program.”
The production wasn’t just a play, it was also a valuable learning experience.
“One of the things I pride myself on is not organization. I'm not very organized. I change things at the last minute. I'm really forgetful. But I pride myself on casting decisions and knowing that the kid who I've put in a role is going to do an incredible job with that role,” said Schwab.
