Flagler College Performing Arts to kick off theatre season with murder mystery

Elaina Wahl-Temple, faculty Director of ‘The Game’s Afoot’ said the students are confident that this year’s productions will continue to prove the excellent caliber of Flagler’s Theatre Arts program.  

“It’s just so nice to see that kind of enthusiasm,” she said.  

Flagler’s Theatre Arts program aims to create a well-rounded experience for students that, preparing them for careers in any niche of the theatre world. The upcoming productions are no exception to this intentionally curated student experience. 

“We're really focused on is creating a well-rounded theater artist so that when they leave here, they have a complete understanding of what it is to produce and to create theater,” Wahl-Temple said. 

For more information about the upcoming productions or to purchase tickets, visit the Theatre Productions webpage.  

 

“The Game’s Afoot” 

Showtimes: 
Oct. 19-21 | 7:30 p.m. 
Oct. 21 & 22 | 2 p.m. 

“The Game’s Afoot," set in 1936, follows Broadway star William Gillette (based on the actual actor) and a group of his high-class guests through a lively Christmas Eve dinner party and weekend at his castle in Connecticut.  

Much like the recently popular series “Knives Out,” Director Elaina Wahl-Temple describes “The Game’s Afoot,” as a murder mystery farce. This takes on a double meaning as Gillette’s most famous character role was Mr. Holmes in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s production of “Sherlock Holmes.” 

 A farce is typically defined in theatre as “a type of comedy that places exaggerated characters in improbable situations where they face a number of outrageous obstacles.” 

“We try to rotate things, so students have a chance to do different types of production,” Wahl-Temple said. “And we haven’t done a farce here in a long time.” 

The cast for this production is just eight students, compared to the 23-person-cast of last semester’s “Cinderella.” Wahl-Temple said this smaller cast gives her a chance to work “one-on-one" with the students. 

“I think it gives a much richer experience,” Wahl-Temple said. 

Wahl-Temple has also been able to utilize her expertise in costumery in curating a specific aesthetic for the characters, using materials that upper-class actors of the time would have worn like gowns of shimmering satin and white-tie tuxedos.  

From the intricate costumes, to elaborate stage design and fake weapons for action scenes, Wahl-Temple said this production has “a lot of moving parts.” She said these dynamic elements of a murder mystery have made this an exciting yet complicated production for the students.  

“So, it's not just the acting that's important, but the set and set design, the props, the costumes, everything has to feed into the illusion and the confusion that happens on stage,” she said. “It can be very tricky.” 

 

“Almost Maine” 

Showtimes: 
Nov. 16 & 17 | 7:30 p.m.  
Nov. 18 & 19 | 2 p.m. 

Each year, third-year Theatre students convene to decide on their senior capstone production. From the spring of their junior year through the fall of their senior year, theatre students work on every aspect of their chosen capstone production.  

“As seniors, they’re responsible for publicity, directing, acting, costuming, the sets, all of it,” Wahl-Temple said. “They fully realize the production, which I think is a really neat concept.” 

This year’s chosen senior capstone production is “Almost Maine,” a contemporary play with tones of romance, drama, and comedy.  

“I know several plays were put forth [by the students], but I think that one works really well with the actors that they have in the class, and it plays to the abilities of the designers as well,” Wahl-Temple said. 

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