This Interview Was Staged - Part One

Isaac MB

Have you ever seen a play where every character was insane? Have you ever wanted to? Coming to Collier on November 20th, This Murder Was Staged is a fourth-wall-breaking murder mystery and dark comedy where almost everybody has a few screws loose. In it, the audience follows the cast and crew of a stage play after they discover that the world’s most despised director has been murdered. This director hasn’t just been murdered, though; his body has been dumped right on the stage for his actors to find. And they certainly do find it… during the most important part of a brand-new play, in front of an entire audience! In any normal situation, somebody would have called the police. Fortunately, there’s already a brilliant and dramatic detective in the house, and she won’t let anyone leave until this case is 100% solved. Except…everyone, including the audience, has a possible motive. When there are so many suspects to search through and so many reasons to kill Sinclair, how will this murder ever be solved?

On October 15th, I was able to speak with three of our very own lead actors about 80’s-inspired costume troubles, love-hate relationships with their own characters, and the emotions that come with big productions. Dear reader, I present to you: Ella Madden, Ruby Phair, and the leading lady herself, Essence Nero-Davis!

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To make things easier to read, my questions and comments during the interview are all bolded, like this. I’ve also listed Ella as EM, Ruby as RP, and Essence as ED.

Alright! I am here with Essence, Ella, and Ruby. How are you guys feeling today?

ED: Oh, I’m okay today!

RP: Yeah, pretty good!

EM: I’m hungry.

[laughter]

Okay-

EM: I’m so hungry.

Fair enough! So, just to start… What characters are you guys playing? Their names? What’re their jobs? What are we doing?

ED: My character is Detective Kendra Drake, and she is… has been brought in to figure out who killed Sinclair Hemmings!

Alright, nice! Ruby?

RP: I play Keira, and she’s, like, the leading lady in this play… The play inside of the play. And she’s kind of a… My character’s kind of a [     ]. And… I don’t know, I like her! And she says at one point, “I’m Keira.” Like in Death Note.

[laughter]

RP: And it makes me smile every time.

EM: I’M KIRA.

RP & EM [quoting Death Note]: And I’m gonna take a potato chip! And I’m gonna eat it!

[laughter]

So, you guys are all in lead roles. Do you all have backgrounds in theater? Have you been in a lot of plays before?

ED: I have, personally. Have you two?

EM: I went to a community- I did a community theater when I was in- when I- [stammering]

[laughter]

ED: Woah, woah, woah. Try that again!

EM: I went to a community theater in 8th grade, and that was really it, and then I’ve done every single show since I’ve been here.

Awesome! That’s cool.

RP: I’ve done, like, three shows here, I believe.

ED: I’ve been doing dance, theater, and singing since I was in elementary. Um, I dance competitively. I do community theater, I do community dance. I also sing and dance for church.

Oh! That’s awesome! So you guys all have, pretty, like, storied backgrounds within theater, which makes sense as to why you guys would end up in these really good positions. You, Essence, specifically… once you get on stage, you do not get off of stage.

ED: Yup.

How does that feel?

ED: It’s… nerve-wracking.

Yeah.

ED: But also… I don’t wanna say I’m an “adrenaline junkie”, but, like, I love adrenaline, so it’s exciting! I’m excited about it.

EM: You were kind of mostly on the stage for Ride the Cyclone.

ED: Yeah, I didn’t really leave for Ride the Cyclone, either.

EM: You got, like, two breaks.

ED: So, honestly, I’m… nervous about it, but excited, and I’m honestly ready for it. ‘Cause I’m used to it.

Yeah, that makes sense. So how do you two feel? ‘Cause you guys are also on stage most of the time. You have some parts where you’re off, but, like… How does that feel for you guys?

EM: Me? I’m actually kind of excited- I just cracked my neck- because I don’t have to wear any uncomfortable clothing. I am in my black shoes, black outfit, everything- everything black, black-

EM, ED, & RP: Everything, everything, black, black-

[laughter]

RP: I have a really bad habit of not looking over my lines until, like… two weeks before the play, so, I like… I always pull through,

ED: Always.

RP: But it’s very stressful. And it’s avoidable, I just don’t feel like it! Um, but I’m excited, and I like that I get to go offstage sometimes so I can look at the script.

EM: I feel the same, but Trudy has, like, such small lines, and I’m like… This is nice.

ED: Also, we didn’t get to hear about Trudy’s character!

I’m so sorry! I’m totally scatterbrained!

ED: You’re good, I just thought about it!

EM: So, Trudy… Well, how do I put this? She’s the stage manager…

ED: She’s cold-hearted…

[laughter]

EM: She’s kinda like… me… she’s sarcastic, but honest, is what the thing said. But I think she’s just a-

I mean, they can go hand in hand.

[Ella starts touching Ruby’s face.]

We… you got into- okay. Ella, you got into talking a little bit about the costumes. Have you guys all had a chance to see what your costumes are gonna be yet, or do you have any ideas?

EM: Black.

ED: Yes.

Well, you’re in all black, because Trudy is a stage manager.

EM: I can wear whatever I want.

ED: I wasn’t planning on saying anything about my outfit, because I really think everyone’s gonna love it, but… you know what? Screw it! So, I get to have a hot pink trenchcoat…

Oh?

[Editor’s note: Right here, Essence went into a big rant about her costume, and honestly, it sounded fabulous. Unfortunately, dear reader, we’re already telling you far too much in this one interview. If you’d like to see Essence’s fabulous costume, hot pink trenchcoat and all, you’ll just have to see the show!]

ED: …So, yeah, I’m really excited about that!

That’s incredible, I love that!

EM: [Looking at Ruby]: You get to wear the costume you might’ve worn last year…

Yeah, Ruby, what’s your costume going for?

RP: Every year they put me in a two-piece, like… Ugly, horrible, 80s-patterned set with shoulder pads? And I said to them, I’m like, “Oh… Um… Maybe we could like, change it to something different? I can buy my own costume…” and they said, “No, this is fine.” And I said, “Okay..!”

That’s… interesting!

ED: I think you can protest if you don’t like your outfit!

RP: I know, but I don’t like when they’re mad at me.

ED: I’ll do it for you, how about that?

RP: Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you.

Oh goodness. Alright. So… You guys have had pretty significant rehearsals thus far. Especially you, Essence, but really all of you. Do you guys have a favorite thing about playing your character so far?

ED: Absolut-

EM: EATING CHIPS! I LOVE EATING CHIPS!

ED: Just… eating chips, for her.

Of course!

ED: The pure drama that I get to display in my character is gold. My character is kind of like, in every day, me, a little bit. Just, like, a little more spice. A little extra spice. So it’s like, I’m not changing too much of my personality. And also just… Feeding off of everyone’s… Being able to kind of, I guess, what’s the word? Play with how I want to display my energy based off of how everyone is displaying their energy, if that makes sense? It’s really fun.

I can imagine, yeah.

RP: My character… like I said before, she’s a [     ]… So I just kind of get to play myself…

[laughter]

RP: So it’s really easy! Yeah, I don’t know. I would probably hate her in real life, but I like playing her!

I think that’s how a lot of people here feel about their characters!

RP: And I get to be really close to Essence in most scenes, and it makes me really happy.

Aww.

EM: I get to eat chips.

ED: That’s the only thing you like?EM: Um…

ED: Eating chips? That’s it?

EM: Yup!

ED: Okay!

Alrighty! Fair enough!

ED: Okay, Rudy.

[laughter]

We only have about a minute, so we’ll just end this on… In this play, is there anything at all that you’re most excited for?

ED: Me, specifically, it’s, like, stupid… This is not the only thing that I’m excited for, but as of right now, it’s like the main thing.

[Editor’s note: Sorry again, dear reader, but Essence got a little too into describing her entrance to stay behind the “spoiler line”! I will give you a hint, though: When you hear Essence’s voice, keep your eyes under the stage. Just another reason for you to come to the show!]

ED: Also, being able to like, sit downstage left or whatever, wherever she put me, literally being able to just sit there on the stage and not do anything while flashbacks are going on.

You’re watching the play, almost, in a way.

ED: Yeah, yeah. And I have to act like, I’m, like… writing stuff down, but, like, honestly? I’m enjoying that so far. I’m excited about that.

That’s fun!

EM: I think my favorite part is, uh… seeing my little brother.

ED: Huh?

EM: Seeing my little brother watch the show! That’s my favorite part!

ED: Really?

EM: When I see Cole!

ED: Aww, that’s actually cute.

Aww. That’s sweet!

RP: I have a part I’m excited for, but I can’t say, because this is on tape… I like the comradery!

EM: Comradery?

RP: Like, a comrade, like… you’re a team. [salutes]

ED: I also think… Because me and Rube are seniors, there’s so much…

RP: It’s gonna be our last play!

ED: So much, like, raw emotion behind it, but it’s really exciting for me.

RP: You think you’re gonna cry?

ED: For sure, I’m gonna cry. It’s a given. I cried last year.

That’s very sweet! Thank you guys, all three of you, so much for sitting down with me!

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Unfortunately, my interview with our lovely leads was cut slightly short due to our lunch period ending. Fortunately, I’ll be interviewing them again a few days after the play!