By: Elizabeth Ruckel

Last Friday night, Highland Home School put on their second annual play, “Murder in the House of Horrors.” Jaci Rials and her theater class have spent numerous hours working on this play since December.

The cast members worked hard to put on the show.

“It took a lot of hard work and dedication,” said junior Kaylan Martin, who played a main role: Lt. Dan Morrow, head of the homicide division. “The memorization of lines, piecing together costumes and props, and overall producing it…but it came through very nicely.”

“Murder in the House of Horrors” was set in a museum, on the night of a lecture on the discovery of an Egyptian pharaoh’s tomb. The archaeologist, Dirk Carlton (played by junior Alex Campbell), is  murdered. Along with the murder, a priceless jewel, the Eye of Uadjit, is stolen. Seven characters are framed as suspects, and the audience helps in apprehending the murderer and finding the jewel.

The cast consisted of three seniors, seven juniors, and five seventh graders.

Although the cast was young, the underclassmen stepped up to take leadership during preparation of the play.

“I’m so proud of the students and all the hard work they put into this play,” said Rials. “Even though there was a big age gap between some of them, they all became quick friends and did a great job working together. I couldn’t be any happier with the way it turned out.”

The cast members included seniors Haley Weeks, Treylin Kelly, Kylon Bell; juniors Kaylan Martin, Caitlin Stephens, Kaylee Lindsay, Alex Campbell, Amy Burgans, Ayr’erinessia Crenshaw and Aaron Stinson; and seventh graders Gracie Brown, Grace Dean, Bailey Ingram, Reagan McGough and Danielle Kaffy.

“It took a lot of hard work to remember our lines, but it was a fun experience,” said seventh grader Gracie Brown.

The Highland Home theatedr class will perform the play again on Friday, May 19 at 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. in the Highland Home School auditorium.