Murder, mayhem and intrigue generally aren’t associated with the season of joy and good cheer – but when it comes to teenagers, the theatre . . . and superstitious days of the calendar, anything goes. So, on Friday, Dec. 13, a group of youth from the Lac La Biche area will be trying to solve a classic whodunnit during a live-action murder-mystery evening called ‘Crime at Christmas Time’.
The event, put on by the Lac La Biche FCSS Teen Chill Zone, will be held at McArthur Place from 4-8 p.m. and includes a free meal.
A casting call to fill all of the roles in the performance is now in progress.
Christine Martin, a community outreach worker with FCSS, says the premise of the story and is a whodunnit set at a holiday party.
“This year, participants will be treated to a fabulous night at the “Baxter Holiday Bash,” which will be held in a magnificent Bel Air Mansion,” Martin explained, stepping into the role as the narrator of the murder-mystery. “But all is not as it seems as scandals are swirling, and no one can be trusted.”
Young actors needed
For the past five years, local youth in the popular Chill Zone program have taken part in a Christmas-time murder-mystery event. Last year’s evening of murder and intrigue was called ‘Cruising for Murder’ that was set on a fictitious and frightening cruise ship. Other mystery settings have included a Mardis Gras party, a school prom night and a Hollywood Oscar Awards night gala.
Last year’s ‘Cruisin for Murder’, Martin said, was the Teen Chillzone’s biggest murder mystery ever.
“It turned out to be a great evening full of twists and turns set on a cruise ship of sketchy characters,” Martin said, explaining that roles, scripts and costume ideas aren’t sent out to the young performers until a week before the show. She hopes to draw as many teens as possible to the cast list this year. Many of the characters have taken part in Teen Chill Zone events held throughout the year. Others, Martin said, will hopefully be drawn out for a fun, family night out.
“We will check with each teen to see if they would like a “big role” or a “small role” and try to accommodate as we want the evening to be as enjoyable and stress-free as possible,” she said.
Local youth who are keen to become sleuths for an evening for the ‘Crime at Christmas Time’ event are encouraged to register through the FCSS department, at the Bold Center or to text Martin at 780-520-7183.
Over the years, Martin said one thing that has never been a mystery is how engaged the teens are, and how creative they can be with the story.
“It always amazes me how clever these teens are because many of them ended up figuring out who the murder was at the end,” she said.