Luverne High School one act play cast members are using a MacGuffin in their production of “Life and Death in an Empty Hallway,” by Christopher Evans in competition on Saturday, Jan. 24.
Students will perform at the Section 3A Subsection 10 Tournament at the Pipestone Area High School. The competition begins at 10 a.m.
Director Joseph Stearns said the play’s plot centers on a school shooting using a MacGuffin to get to the heart of the play.
“The school shooting is a MacGuffin and sets up the event, but the story is really about the main character’s self-reflection and growth,” he said. “The play is loosely based on ‘A Christmas Carol.’”
A school shooting leaves the main character on the verge of death, at which point she receives visits from individuals in her past, present and future.
Senior Rebecca Hoogland portrays the main character, Rachel, as she finds refuge in the school hallway after being shot.
While there, she receives visits from senior Shane Travis, who, portrays Marley and leads her through the visiting characters. Travis also portrays the paramedic.
Other characters and (actors portraying them) include:
•Journey (freshman Arlo Hogan) leads Rachel through the various visitors and guides her self-reflection.
•Elizabeth (senior Makayla Oechsle) is one of the shooting victims.
•Beth (sophomore Natalie Berning) represents a person from Rachel’s past.
•Kelly (junior Paige Kubesh) represents the present and is Rachel’s sister.
•Brittany/announcer (senior Leigha Ehlers) is Rachel’s future child.
Senior Thomas Held and sophomore Lucas Hoffman are on the production crew and operate sound and lights respectively.
Stearns said he is excited about the interest this year’s one act play production has created among the students new to the stage.
“This year we have some veterans to one act graduating, and I don’t want to discount their participation,” he said.
“I am most excited about interest from new students who haven’t been involved before, which sets us up to have an experienced cast for future seasons.”
The top two schools from Saturday’s competition move on to the section tournament on Jan. 31 at the Russell-Tyler-Ruthton High School in Tyler.
The top school from the section tournament advances to the state tournament Feb. 5-6 in St. Paul.
By Mavis Fodness, Rock County Star-Herald