Murder and mystery: Mt. Pleasant High School Drama Department presents ‘Witness for the Prosecution’

MT. PLEASANT - Who killed Emily French? The mystery of her murder drives the plot of Mt. Pleasant High School Drama Department's fall play, 'Witness for the Prosecution,” a classic by Agatha Christie.

Set in 1950s London, 17 students will bring audiences back in time, transforming the Heatilator Performing Arts Center into an English courtroom and bring the drama and spectacle of a high profile murder case.

Under the direction of Mt. Pleasant High School's vocal music teacher Marlene DePriest, the ensemble is tapping into a brand-new set of acting skills, including accents and sometimes challenging characters.

'This one has been challenging for them,” DePriest said.

'Being in a courtroom, they have to take on that persona … it's not just a conversation back and forth, which can be pretty easy. With this one, with lawyers and judge and everybody … they have to think about how a lawyer thinks and redirects,” she added.

'I think they always like the challenge of something new and different,” the director noted.

DePriest explains that audience members will be in for a wild ride and should look forward to 'the twists and the turns.”

'One of the reasons I chose this [play] is because it caught me off guard. I thought it was fun to read.”

Luke Ryon, a 16-year-old junior who plays Leonard Vole, the main suspect of the murder, said his favorite part of playing his character will be watching how audiences react to his actions.

'My character sometimes gets very emotional. There are a couple times when the plot changes a little and my character reacts in a somewhat surprising way and I think it'll be fun to see how the audience reacts to different character twists and character development,” Ryon said.

'Hopefully, I'll never be on trail for murder but if I ever am, I kind of know what to expect a little bit,” Ryon playfully articulated about what he's learned from reading and acting in the play.

'If in your mind, you have a different story, be sure you have a chance to explain your side of the story. Don't let people make up their mind about you without hearing your side,” the junior added.

Logan Lee and Andrew Rauenbuehler, who play Sir Wilfrid Roberts and Meyers,the counsel for defense and prosecution, explained that the rivalry and back and forth dialogue between their characters make for a fun time on stage, especially because they're good friends in real life.

The pair also reiterated the fun of the twists in the play.

'I think the twist is really unexpected. And the way you think a drama is going to end, it's completely different. It's an interesting play to watch. The [audience] isn't going to say, ‘I know how this is going to end,'” Rauenbuehler explained.

'It leaves you wondering what's going on until right at the end, and it's a great ‘aha!' moment,” Lee added.

The cast of 'Witness for the Prosecution” will take the stage at the Heatilator Performing Arts Center in Mt. Pleasant on Friday, Nov. 15 through Sunday, Nov. 17. The play will begin at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, with a matinee show on Sunday, beginning at 2 p.m.