DHS brings 'Mirth and Mayhem' to stage Halloween weekend

Members of the Dyersburg High School Trojan Drama Club will bring a little 'Mirth and Mayhem' to the DHS Little Theatre this weekend, with the school's fall play set in an abandoned old house on Sinister Street. Opening night is set for 7 p.m., on Thursday, Oct. 29, with performances also scheduled at 2 p.m., on Saturday, Oct. 31 and Sunday, Nov. 1, and 7 p.m., on Monday, Nov. 2. Tickets are available at the door for $6 for adults and $5 for students.

On the anniversary of three horrific murders, an abandoned house on Sinister Street draws two very different groups of people. The first, several young women who have agreed to stay in the house overnight to prove they are brave. The second, a terrifying group that the ladies are unaware are actually the cast of a television horror show.

Fast action, humor and total confusion abound in Dyersburg High School's upcoming fall play. But just when the facts seem to be sorted out in this sure-fire suspense thriller, another murder occurs!

Members of the DHS Trojan Drama Club invite the community to share in a little "Mirth and Mayhem" this Halloween weekend with four performances of their fall play, set Thursday, Oct. 29 through Monday, Nov. 2, in the DHS Little Theatre.

"I picked this play because we knew it was going to be set on Halloween weekend," said DHS drama teacher Chris Solmon. "I wanted something funny with a confused personality and a large cast."

The three-act play, written by Peter Walker, features approximately 20 cast members. The eerie setting and both sinister and humorous storyline create the perfect Halloween treat for local residents.

"I play Mike," said senior Tré Mosley, son of Thomas and Lou Ann Arnold. "Mike and Liz are setting up this whole scare to scare this group of girls. Then a camera crew shows up and people are appearing and disappearing and things are appearing and disappearing."

"My character's name is Liz," said senior Sanibel Wilson, daughter of Johnni Woods and Daniel Wilson. "I'm in cahoots with Mike and are trying to scare the girls and we all get confused. It's a circle of trickery."

"I play Julia," said junior Sarah Reaves, daughter of David Reaves and Angela Reaves. "It's not a very deep role, but it's quite funny."

"I play Janet, she's part of the film-production crew that comes in to shoot the movie," said senior Anne Marie Hyman, daughter of Darla and Jamie Davidson and Stan Hyman. "I play Lana," said sophomore Jessica Kimbrell, daughter of Tammy and Jimmy Kimbrell. "I like the play because I get to play a reporter."

"I'm actually undercover as an actress, Alice Bilson," said senior Susan Merryman, daughter of Shelby Merryman, who portrays police detective Sgt. Ann Webster in the play. "The other plays I've done were more dramatic, like the last one. And in every play, I have a gun."

"My character's name is Millie," said junior Regina Falconer, daughter of LaNaya Falconer. "My favorite thing about my character is that I get to hide in the coffin."

"This is the first play I've acted in that is actually a full play," said Hyman. "The others have been one acts. There are a lot more rehearsals, more lines to memorize. It's more stressful, but it's fun and I like it."

"It's a real good play," said Mosley. "I like it because of the whole Halloween theme. It's comical and funny how they all have different characters and how they all fit into the plot. It's very funny."

"I like the play because it starts on a very comedic note about something that's not so funny - a murder," said Reaves.

"I want people to know there is a big secret to my character," said Hyman. "But they have to come to the play to find out what it is."

"I just really like the play because it's so fun," said Falconer. "In a sense, it's so innocent because no one knows what's going on and everyone is kind of confused because of that."

"I like the fact that I am supposed to be a bad actor and I end up forgetting a lot of my lines in the play," said junior Rick Van Sant, son of Marcia and Bill Van Sant. "In this play, there's a murder involved and it's ironic that the murder happens every 50 years and it is supposed to happen in 2009."

"I think this play is different from other plays because high schoolers can relate to it," said senior Deanna Plewa, who plays Vicky. She is the daughter of Rita and Stan Plewa. "It's creepy, but cool and it's a lot of fun."

"I think it's good we chose this play for Halloween," said Wilson. "I think that once we start overacting - everyone wants to add a little embellishment - it will be fun!"

"The play has lots of scary parts and you can overact in it," said senior Brittany Butler, who plays a television actress in the play. She is the granddaughter of Barbara Butler. "I think it's cool how the play opens around Halloween and it has a haunted and scary theme."

Each DHS play is a team effort, from the lead characters to the many, many workers behind the scenes.

"I am the producer and, basically, the brains of the action," said senior Mary Whitnel, daughter of Carol and Charlie Whitnel. "I like putting everything together. It's a challenge sometimes, but then we get everyone together and we figure something out. That's what I like about it. And that you have to put a lot of creativity into it."

Makeup artist Leigha Townsend has her work cut out for her turning the thespians into a ghoulish group for "Mirth and Mayhem".

"Last year, I just had to make someone look sleep-deprived," said sophomore Townsend, the daughter of Wanda Townsend. "This play, I'm going to have to make people look like zombies! What I love most about my job is that I get to watch (the cast rehearse and perform)."

Usher Tommy Maier does not expect his job as usher to be as intense as it was following the drama club's play "Comedy - Tragedy" last spring.

"After the last play, there were a lot of people who were crying, so I felt like I did something good," said Maier, the son of Melissa and Patrick McCoy, who had to choose something for the first play that he could do with a broken leg. "I am ushering this year again. I get to greet people at the door and, basically, wait for intermission. It's worth it afterwards, though."

Performances will take place in the DHS Little Theatre at 7 p.m., on Thursday, Oct. 29; 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 31 and Nov. 1; and at 7 p.m., on Monday, Nov. 2.

Tickets are available at the door for a cost of $6 for adults and $5 for students.