SWAMPSCOTT – Halloween?s spooky atmosphere sets the scene for Swampscott High School?s production of “Murder by Poe,” opening Thursday night at 7 p.m.The play, written by Jeffrey Hatcher, features an ensemble cast with characters taken from a variety of Edgar Allen Poe short stories, like “The Telltale Heart,” “The Black Cat” and “The Fall of the House of Usher.” The student actors interact with each other in the House of Poe through tales of murder and mystery.View a photo galleryDirector and Swampscott High teacher Jim Pearse said he chose the script for the group of 13 students to challenge them by drawing them away from the usual lineup of comedies and musicals.?We don?t want the same play over and over again,” said Pearse.The students collectively described the play as a “gothic, psychotic dream sequence” in an interview on Tuesday while they waited to find out what their hair and makeup would be like for the show.?It was fun to get into the characters,” said sophomore Scott Walker, 16, who plays The Usher.Sophomore Claire Vaucher, 15, said performing outside of her usual fare of musicals was a challenge because there was no song-and-dance number to “save” her at the end of a monologue.Vaucher is playing The Black Cat. “As I read the script and acted more, I started becoming him on the stage and how crazy he is,” she said.The actors remain on the stage throughout the entire show, about one hour and 20 minutes, save for the intermission.The set doesn?t change, but lighting director and senior Thomas McEnaney, 17, said the LED lights will create an eerie, creepy dream-like state.With the “French cabaret” makeup and hairstyles that are planned, sophomore Luke O?Brien, 16, said the play will be like a “weird, circus sideshow.”From auditions to opening night on Thursday, the students have only had three weeks to put the play together.Vaucher said she went through many long nights of learning all her lines.Though the play is only running two nights, the cast will be editing the production and rehearsing it many more times for the Massachusetts High School Drama Festival competition in March. Junior Jared Soloman, 16, said gaining audience feedback will give Swampscott High School the upper hand to be a winner.?It?s been a crazy experience, but it?s been fun,” said sophomore Olivia Forman, 16. “We?ve gotten really close to everybody.If You Go? WHAT: “Murder by Poe” is playingWHEN: Thursday, Oct 26 and Friday, Oct. 27 at 7 p.m.WHERE: Swampscott High School Auditorium, 200 Essex St.TICKETS: $13 for adults and $10 for students and seniors.
Kait Taylor can be reached at [email protected].