‘Murder’s In The Heir’ opens at Shrine HS
Secret ballots will be cast at Shrine High School as their theatre department put on “Murder’s In The Heir” this weekend.
The stage play of the murder who-done-it allows the audience to vote during intermission as to who the killer may be. The stage lights come on at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11, and Saturday, Nov. 12, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13.
Royal Oak theatre veteran and Birmingham elementary teacher Jerry Haines is guest directing the play and it’s one of the best he’s been a part of. Once he read the show, he was all in.
“I’m usually with Stagecrafters in Royal Oak and I met Julie Malloy from Shrine and we became friends and she asked me to come,” Haines said. “It’s been great. It’s a comedy and part mystery and I thought the kids would all get into it.”
With the audience controlling the second act, each possible murderer actor had to learn a separate set of lines as the killer. Helping “solve” the murder is senior Obi Alba, in her 13th stage
production, who plays detective Mike Davis.
“It’s been like one of the most relaxing and it’s a role I can be myself in,” Alba said. “Funny, monotone and I get to go with the flow. Every night the audience gets
to vote on who the killer is and it gives each one a chance to show off who their character really is. It’s an unfinished play so there may be some ad libs.”
Angie Nguyen plays lawyer Lois Van Zandt and is in her first show ever.
“It’s a bit more relaxed and it’s a small group but I feel like that has helped me,” Nguyen said. “I’m excited
for this.”
Potential “murderer” Emily Reece brings stage life to Fiona Starkweather. In her third stage show, she is reveling in her stage role.
“The energy is nothing like I’ve seen here before. We all work together in a way where we understand each other,” she said. “We get to improv and I feel like the cast really understands
that and it elevates the show to a whole nother level.”
Tanner Orvis is in his first show on stage and the “could be murderer” portrays Jordan Starkweather.
“The lights are really bright but it’s been a lot of fun. Everyone has been supportive and help me work through my lines. And our director has been really
helpful,” Orvis said. “I’m on the (murderer’s) voting list. “We are trying to be as suspicious as possible.
Tickets can be purchased at ShrineMusic.org or at the door for $8. All seats are general admission. The play will be live at the school’s Sanders Auditoriumm, 3500 West 13 Mile Road in Royal Oak (across from Beaumont Hospital).