McCarthyism at its finest…
by Jillian Surla, editor-in-chief
FAIRHOPE, Ala.— On November 15 and 16, The Pelican Players of the Baldwin County Virtual School performed Clue in the Fairhope High School Black Box Theater. Directed by Katie Denton, Molly Hughes and Ziggy Murphy, the actors and actresses brought the 1954 show to life.
With 14 scenes and no intermission, the high school edition of clue required cast and crew to practice for three months, driving hours to fit in more time to get it perfect.
“A lot of stuff, like—parents helped make it and teachers helped make it,” said Mabel Burch, clue crew. “We put the fabric up on the library set, and we painted some stuff, so I wasn’t as involved in set creation, really, but . . .There were a lot of different people that went into making this. It took months, but I’m proud to say I helped a little. “
Behind the scenes, actors and crew enjoyed each other’s company and even made new friends and memories. Whitley Hale, Miss Scarlet, said she loved when she and Lexi Shirley, Mrs. Peacock, got married during a dress rehearsal.
“So, we were trying on our costumes and there was a top hat,” Shirley said, “so naturally I put the top hat on, and then [Whitley] was trying on a dress that was really long and it looked like a train, and so naturally, we got married. It was meant to be. We had a ring but we lost it. Pretty sure it’s a nose ring, though.”
Though the show created memories, some events stressed the cast and crew out. During the first night on stage, crewmates faced a difficult situation where their table broke during the play.
“We just heard it crash down and we were just like ‘what was that’ backstage. It was our table breaking,” Burch said. “So, we had to get a new table today—I don’t really know how we did it. One of the directors brought it off the side of the road, I think.”
Even through the tough times, actors still enjoyed the experiences. Rachael Goodrich, Wadsworth actress, said it was difficult to pick a favorite part of the show, as the chaotic flow of everything tied all of it together.
“But I think the scene where I’m running around and explaining everything and my reveal is just amazing—even though I’m out of breath at that point. I literally sit down on the stairs and [pant]. I have to regain my composure before I go out again,” Goodrich said.
Being from a virtual school, castmates expressed, makes it difficult to form connections. With this show, Goodrich said she could grow closer to everyone, and that was what made it worth it.
“It makes friends, I think. It grows us closer together—as friends and as castmates as well,” Goodrich said. “We get to learn more about each other throughout the process. We don’t really see each other that much, so having this experience is really great.”
As the curtains fell and everyone said their farewells, the memories and friendships lingered. Though saddened that it is over, the cast and crew are happy to have shared the show that they poured their hearts into. With that, they thanked everyone for attending and hoped the audience felt the love they had for both each other and the showcase.
