Lac La Biche and area teens were ‘Cruising for Murder’, at a recent fun night, taking part in a ‘who-dunnit’ play put on by Lac La Biche’s Teen Chillzone program. The event featured a live-action murder mystery played out during a supper and social night out for area teens.
The Chillzone programs are for youth aged 13-18 and is sponsored by Lac La Biche County FCSS. The program allows teenagers to socialize and take part in various activities. Teen Chillzone activities take place twice a month.
As the name implies, Friday’s ‘Cruising for Murder’ mystery story took place on a luxurious cruise ship. The story line was that it was the last night for the week-long cruise and the captain was hosting the famous “Captain’s Cocktail Reception” to give them a proper send off.
“There is also a pageant going on to decide who will be the ‘Ambassador-ess of the Cruise Line’,” explained Christine Martin, a community outreach worker with FCSS. “There are many storylines that are going on with all of the passengers – there is deceit and lies at every turn, so there will be possibilities for who will be murdered and who could be the murderer.”
Characters were played by a large cast-list of 55 community teens who signed up well in advance of the show. Martin said a waiting list had to be put into place to handle the interest.
The night wasn’t open to a community audience – it was by the kids and for the kids, said Martin, adding that a public showing might be something the group does in the future, if they want to.
“We don’t have audience members at this point, but that is something we may look at in the future. So, it’s just the teens that sign up that participate.”
In a way, though, Friday’s event used its own actors as an audience, she explained, saying that the teens who signed up knew their roles — but little else — until they arrived. And even then, many learned about plot twists as they happened in real-time during the play.
“Someone will be “murdered”, and someone will be the “murderer” but no one — except me — knows who,” Martin said, with a grin. adding that participants will get more information when they arrive at the event and throughout the evening.
Onboard for a mystery
In preparing for their performances, each teen was given a pre-made character sheet which gives them a bit of a back-story on their character and a brief glimpse of what they should expect at the Cocktail Reception. As Martin explains, this sheet even told them how they could dress, if they wanted to.
“Some kids really go all-out and dress up and really get into their characters,” she said. “Others might sit back a bit and take more of a back seat role, but there is room for absolutely every personality type.”
The supper is worked into the life-sized game of Clue. In fact, the meal is served as the murder is committed, said Martin, giving the teens some mystery to digest with dinner.
“We all have a nice supper as well…in fact, supper happens half-way through the night and is when lights go off and someone suddenly falls to the ground and the crowd realizes the murder has occurred,” she said.
At the end of the night, they all take their best guess at who they think the murderer might be. The participants also cast their votes to decide who among will receive the award for ‘best dressed’ ‘best actor’ and the ‘best villain.’
Production challenges
Martin said FCSS staff decorated the McArthur Room at McArthur Place to make it “ship-shape” with the help of a J.A. Williams High School work experience student.
It’s a team effort, Martin said.
“It’s great to see such a wide variety of teens with all kinds of backgrounds and personalities take part and enjoy the evening.”
For lots more photos from the who-dunnit night, go to www.lakelandtoday.ca
