Murder in the chair

Dave South Posted May 1, 2010 4:00am Sky View Theater and Musicals

Image: The thirteen chairs — The thirteen chairs (Dave South)

Sometimes high school is just murder. Especially if you are one particular Sky High Player in The Thirteenth Chair. As the last of the three plays put on by the players, the Chair isn’t a comedy like Meet Me In St. Louis although it has it’s funny moments nor is it a drama like 12 Angry Women but still has dramatic tension. Instead, it’s a good old-fashioned whodunnit.

The play opens in the Crosby home where Will Crosby (Gabe Walker) is proposing to Helen O’Neill (Kelby Partridge). Family and friends all welcome the engagement except for Mr. Wales (Grant Fuller) who said he cannot accept it and will explain why the next day. As the evening progresses a fortune teller, Madam La Grange (Melinda Potts) arrives and turns out to be O’Neill’s mother. A fact that they keep secret for the evening. Soon there is a seance where everything ends up terribly wrong and a person is murdered. The room was locked, the murder weapon is missing, and no one knows whodunnit.

Each student actor performed as true characters in the show. The nervous Mr. Trent (Brock Wilson) who just wants to get out of there. The impatient siblings of Mr. and Miss Standish (Will Sorenson and Kensie Migilori). The adversarial Mrs. Eastwood (Shellie Lusk) who completely distrusts La Grange. Detective Donohue (Max Benson) who pushes each person to their limit to see if they will crack and confess the crime.

But it’s Melinda Pott’s portrayal of La Grange that really sells the show. During the seance when the audience and cast are in the dark she gives the creepiest vocal performance. “It gave us chills,” said director Michael Bryson. “She did a good job.”

Pott goes on to play the pivotal role in dealing with Max Benson’s determined detective and the suspicions of the others.

To go on would be a crime. Find out whodunnit yourself. Attend the last showing of The Thirteenth Chair on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. at the Sky View High School. Maybe you, too, will think twice about shutting off the lights.

The Thirteenth Chair

Mr. Crosby: Colton Iverson
Will Crosby: Gabe Walker
Mr. Wales: Grant Fuller
Mr. Trent: Brock Wilson
Mr. Mason Tyler Jones
Pollock/Butler: Shawn Taylor
Donohue: Max Benson
Sergeant Dunn: Ashley Larson
Doolan: Heather Wood
Helen O’Neill: Kelby Partridge
Mrs. Crosby: McKinzie Moore
Mrs. Eastwood: Shellie Lusk
Helen Trent: Brianne Cannon
Mrs. Erskine: Kassidi Thain
Mrs. Standish Kensie Migilori
Mr. Standish: Will Sorensen
La Grange: Melinda Potts
Policeman: Dillan Bennett

The cast — The cast of The Thirteenth Chair — Heather Wood, Policewoman Doolan; Dillan Bennett, Policeman; Kensie Migilori, Miss Standish; Will Sorensen, Mr. Standish; Shawn Taylor, Pollock the butler; Brock Wilson, Mr. Trent; Brianne Cannon, Helen Trent; Tyler Jones, Mr. Mason; Grant Fuller, Mr. Wales; Kelby Partridge, Helen O’Neill; Melinda Potts, La Grange; Gabe Walker, Will Crosby; Shellie Lusk, Mrs. Eastwood; Colton Iverson, Mr. Crosby; McKinzie Moore, Mrs. Crosby; Kassidi Thain, Mrs. Erskine; Max Benson, Detective Donohue; Ashley Larsen, Sergeant Dunn. (Heidi Fitzgerald)

La Grange — Melinda Potts as Madam La Grange (Heidi Fitzgerald)

Your future — La Grange (Melinda Potts) telling the future of her daughter, Helen O’Neill (Kelby Partridge). (Heidi Fitzgerald)

Suspicious — Mrs. Eastwood (Shellie Lusk) is suspicious of La Grange (Heidi Fitzgerald)

Lock the doors — Mr. Standish (Will Sorensen), Mr. Mason (Tyler Jones), Mr. Crosby (Colton Iverson), and Mr. Wales (Grant Fuller) discuss how to secure the room. (Heidi Fitzgerald)

Seance begins — La Grange (Melinda Potts) holding Will Crosby (Gabe Walker) and Mr. Crosby’s (Colton Iverson) hands as she begins the seance. (Dave South)

Investigation — Detective Donohue (Max Benson) of the police interrogating Mrs. Eastwood (Shellie Lusk) while La Grange (Melinda Potts) and Mr. Mason (Tyler Johns) listen. (Heidi Fitzgerald)

Worried — Will Crosby (Gabe Walker), Helen O’Neill (Klby Partridge) and Mrs. Crosby (McKinzie Moore) worry about the crime committed. (Heidi Fitzgerald)

No agreement — La Grange (Melinda Potts) arguing with Dectective Donohue (Max Benson). (Dave South)

Comfort — Will Crosby (Gabe Walker), Mr. Crosby (Colton Iverson) and La Grange (Melinda Potts) try to comfort Helen O’Neill (Kelby Partridge). (Heidi Fitzgerald)

Surprising development — Detective Donohue (Max Benson) discussing with Mr. Trent (Brock Wilson) and Mrs. Helen Trent (Brianne Cannon) a surprising development in the case. (Heidi Fitzgerald)

Mr. & Mrs. Crosby — Mr. and Mrs. Crosby (Colton Iverson and McKinzie Moore) (Heidi Fitzgerald)

Mr. Wales — Grant Fuller as Mr. Wales (Heidi Fitzgerald)

Butler did it? — Pollock the butler (Shawn Taylor) (Heidi Fitzgerald)

Need a break — Mr. Trent (Brock Wilson) (Heidi Fitzgerald)

Crosby’s — Will Crosby (Gabe Walker), Helen Trent (Brianne Cannon), Mrs. and Mr. Crosby (McKinzie Moore and Colton Iverson) (Heidi Fitzgerald)

Mr. Mason — Mr. Mason (Tyler Jones) (Heidi Fitzgerald)

Police! — The police – Doolan (Heather Wood), Sergeant Dunn (Ashley Larson), Policeman (Dillan Bennett) and Detective Donohue (Max Benson). (Heidi Fitzgerald)

Siblings — Siblings Mr. Standish (Will Sorensen) and Mrs. Standish (Kensie Migilori). (Heidi Fitzgerald)

Marry me? — Will Crosby (Gabe Walker) pops the question on Helen O’Neill (Kelby Partridge) (Heidi Fitzgerald)

Disagreement — Helen O’Neill (Kelby Partridge) and Mrs. Eastwood (Shellie Lusk) (Heidi Fitzgerald)

Real motive? — Detective Donohue (Max Benson) suspicious of La Grange (Melinda Potts). (Heidi Fitzgerald)

Directors — Nanette Wharton (played by herself) and Mike Bryson (played by himself) at rehearsals. Wharton directed Meet Me In St. Louis and 12 Angry Women. Bryson directed The Thirteenth Chair. (Dave South)