MVHS drama performs ‘Ax of Murder’

By JENNA RHUDE

Moapa Valley Progress

The Moapa Valley High School Theatre Department impressed audiences once again with their talents as they presented their production of “Ax of Murder” by Pat Cook. The play was staged on three evenings last week to large audiences. It ran November 13-15.

The play begins with a troupe of actors on a theatre stage looking for a play to perform. It is then the director who addresses the audience. The interactions and inclusion of the audience were one of the endearing features of the play.

The actors used the entire theater space as their playground. Running around, chasing each other, jumping on stage, and murder, kept the audience guessing what would happen next.

As the play progresses and actors die one by one, we find out it was all an elaborate scheme to get a killer to confess to a previous murder that had occurred at the theater in the past year.
As it ends, the audience discovers no one really died, the killer confesses, and the police are pretty good actors.

MVHS senior Kelly Robison shined as she played the director. Her facial expressions and energy truly entertained the audience.
Eirik Monsvoll, an exchange student at MVHS, provided his character’s dry humor with ease to the delight of those in attendance.

All the students performed well. The play was fast moving and very entertaining and it kept the audience engaged.
“A delightfully cute performance,” said Moapa resident Dr. Shari Lyman who was in the audience. “It made my evening!”

“The students choose the play they want to perform,” said MVHS drama teacher, Anjie Lee. “They are all from the advanced theater program and they must audition for the play.”

In addition to the actors, there are many other positions that need to be filled in order for the play to be a success. “Our tech kids divide the responsibilities,” explained Lee. “Some work the front of the house and others work with set design and lighting.”

Such an entertaining and well-acted show! These kids did not disappoint.