The Sturgis Composite School performed Murder’s in the Heir in front an audience of their peers, teachers and guests on June 7.The play was written by Billy St. John.
Cast members were, Eden Antoniuk, Jamie Messenger, Joey Federuik, Tate Bayer, Alyssa Stittle, Kaeleigh Folk, Tyler Antoniuk, Rayanne Westermann, Eloisa Vicente, Alecia Shuba, Peyton Fullawka, Bailey Kozmeniuk, Hannah Gerbrandt and Peyton Secundiak.
Zanthany Olson was responsible for lighting and Kurtis Gerbrandt was the stage crew.
Meghan Hurlburt was the teacher and director.
Almost every character in this hilarious mystery has the weapon, opportunity and motive to commit the unseen murder, said the play’s website. And it’s up to the audience to decide who actually did it. Each of the heirs to the tyrannical billionaire Simon Starkweather has the means and the motive to do away with him.
Starkweather gathers his family and employees to announce the contents of his will. His lawyer, Lois van Zandt, reveals that he has bequeathed vast fortunes to his befuddled niece Fiona, her playboy son Jordan, his great-niece Paula (a Southern belle) and his grandson Simon III, as well as to his many servants.
Then Lois delivers the bombshell. Within hours this will becomes invalid. Of course, the rejected heirs are not pleased, so it’s not surprising when they roam the old mansion carrying items such as an axe, a gun and poison.
Predictably, the lights go out, and Simon is discovered murdered. Simon III (played by the same actor who plays the elderly Simon) was determined to find his grandfather’s killer, with the help of detective Mike Davis.
The play’s unique ending utilizes secret ballots gathered at intermission from the audience. At the conclusion it was determined that the killer was the niece Fiona who used pills to poison Simon Starkweather.
