Merrill High School will present its fall play, Ax of Murder, Oct. 29-31. The curtain goes up at 7 p.m. each night in the MHS auditorium.
Everyone’s heard of a haunted house. Probably even a haunted theater. But a haunted play? Could it be haunted by the spirit of a man who recently died at the theatre?
No… it’s not possible! At least, that’s what theater director Bonnie Bagwell tries to convince the other members of the troupe as writer Colin Chambers hints at the trail of horror that has cursed his script, Ax of Murder. Unfortunately, curiosity gets the best of the actors and, despite Colin’s adamant warnings, they open the script and start reading the play. It soon becomes apparent the play is mirroring their theater and even the specific actors.
“The play changes with each performance,” Colin intones, though he’s not taken seriously. But when a police sergeant shows up on cue stating he was called in on a murder, people begin to wonder. Wonder turns to fear when someone IS murdered onstage! And it seems as if no one could have done it. No body, that is, but perhaps a ghost.
The audiences won’t know who or what to believe. Characters show up in all areas of the theater, running down aisles and then disappearing. Murder weapons disappear and then show up in the worst of places. Beware the twists and turns of this play. You never know what will happen next when you see Ax Of Murder.
Ax of Murder Cast List
Taylor Merridew – Haley Daigle
Lucille Beddoes – Ava Gruetzmacher
Darlene Thompson – Olivia Wheat
Bonnie Bagwell – Sierra Severt
Colin Chambers – William Leischer
Delia Mondaign – Maggie Holdorf
Brady Parks – Jerry Boquist
Phaedra Parks – Emily Schroeder
Phil Jenkins – Abe Akey
Midge Sparrow – Makayla Taylor
Sergeant Mike – Cole Severt
Marilu O’Connor – Shana Riehle
Cassandra Tyree – Jayda Bushor
Billy Bob – Adam Hoy
Sue Poindexter – Elizabeth Weix
Anderson – Matthew Strebig
Sanchez – Mason Cleveland
Malone – Bailey Iwen
Tam Crawley – Rick Smith
Rafferty – Jacob Lane