By Trent Robison

Mack Lyon Student

Mack Lyon Middle School drama students performed A Winter Night of Theatre on December 15-16 in the school auditorium. The students performed three short amusing plays on each night for the entertainment of an appreciative audience.

The drama troupe, consisting of 24 students from the seventh and eighth grades began the evening with ‘Murder at Brantley Manor’.

When the Lord of Brantley Manor turns up dead, a clever detective, played by Evan Hernandez, is dispatched to solve the mystery. Puzzled by a houseful of suspects, the detective questions the entire staff of entertaining characters and finally determines that the Reverend Godly (played by Jason Brill) was the one who did it.

Next to take the stage was another mystery/comedy entitled “Ghost For Rent”. A group of kids (played by Spencer Baker, Brandon Jackson, Andrea Leavitt and Brianna Porter) answer a newspaper ad to help attract troubled ghosts into the home of the widow Margaret (played by Carlie Evans). The widow says that she wants to be of service to the lonely, wandering spirits. But the four find out that Margaret has ulterior motives to get rid of houseguest relatives played by Charlie Hoy and Chelsea Mackert.

The finale of the evening was the seasonal play, “CSI: Christmas Scene Investigators”. Ms. Dickens, played by Phina Romero, and her choir students are missing a statue of Santa at their holiday concert. A team of investigators played by Janell Delafrance, Carlie Evans, Evan Hernandez and Jonathon Nelson are called in to help recover the important decoration. The four question the students and faculty at the school and finally find the stolen statue while, in the process, uncovering the true meaning of the holidays.

Stage manager Ashlie McCafferty had the stage decorated in the spirit of Christmas and Sierra Higgins and Mikaila Tafoya worked the lights and sound effects.

Eighth grader, Joe Garber became a perfect host in between productions. During intermissions he sang Christmas Carols to the audience’s amusement and enjoyment.

“The plays were superb,” said Drama Teacher Ms. Bradley. “They weren’t perfect. But the drama students played as a team. When you play as a team mistakes aren’t just mistakes but an opportunity to become better.”