Relatives try to find $20 million hidden in haunted mansion in 24 hours

Actors rehearse for the Dec. 2 show at Live Oak High School.
Photo by Marty Cheek

By Marty Cheek

The Live Oak High School Drama Guild invites South Valley residents to an evening of fiendish fun as they perform the comedy suspense play “Murder Most Fouled-Up.”

The show opens Dec. 2 at the school’s theater. The story is full of laughter as an assemblage of greedy relatives and servants explore an ancient mansion to find treasure, said Allie Long, 17, a senior who plays the role of “Barbara.”

“You’re constantly trying to figure out if they’re going to find the money, and there’s a lot of twists and turns in the plot,” she said. “Some of the characters find themselves not knowing what is happening.”

The play written by Nikki Harmon starts with a lawyer reading of the eccentric Ridgely Randolph’s will. It reveals $20 million is hidden in the house. Relatives have been murdering each other for years to obtain it and their spirits are doomed to wander through the passageways unless the mystery is solved. The will gives the living characters only 24 hours to find the money and the land grant, thus releasing the ghosts.

The humor ranges from witty drawing-room dialogue to all-out slapstick in the madcap romp, Long said.

“Everyone is trying to kill me throughout the full play,” she said.

Sophia Menbari, a Live Oak freshman, plays the role of the ghost “Cece,” a “prankster” who keeps interfering with the living characters.

Joining the high school’s drama guild and performing in “Murder Most Fouled-Up” has been a fun experience for her as it lets her meet new people and work as a team with them.

“I feel like it’s a great community. Everyone talks to each other,” she said. “We come to rehearsal and it’s a lot of fun.”

Live Oak senior Katherine Simmons serves as the show’s technical director. She led the crew in the construction of the theater set, a large drawing room with a revolving “brick wall” door that brings characters into secret passages.

Building the set from plywood and floor flats reused from previous shows has taught her how to lead other students in forming the team.

The task of set construction with a limited budget for materials lets Simmons develop her innovation skills.

“I like doing this because it’s really fun and creative to build something from nothing,” she said.

The play is directed by Brian Carmack, a theater arts teacher at Gavilan College. Recently earning a master’s degree, this is his first time directing high school students — and he’s loving the experience.

“They are super enthusiastic, super excited and very eager to learn,” he said.

Some of the show’s students have ambitions to find careers in theater and he sees the promise of blooming talent.

“They’re young actors but you can see the potential of where they can go in the future,” he said. “It’s a great learning tool for students and it’s a great learning tool for the director as well.”

The play is two hours long including an intermission. The show’s comedy mixed with a suspense story will attract an audience who want an evening of hearty merriment, Long said.

“It’s a good time to laugh,” she said. “Honestly, just after COVID it’s nice to take a break and sit down with your family and enjoy a good, funny show and also be on the edge of your seat, seeing what mischief happens.”