The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
by Dessa Rodeffer, Quill Publisher/Owner
The West Central Middle School's third and final night of their production "Be My Ghost" was about to begin and I'm wondering, as the room darkens, and the sound effects mimic a hard rain, lightning, clashes of thunder and flickering and dimming of stage lights, just what my reactions might be to ghosts, murder and a questionable Inn one wouldn't dare stay at alone. Especially one called "the sinister Black Raven Inn" located in a remote rural area of New Hampshire.
Main character George Travis, played by Drake Vancil, is a writer of horror stories, but has writers block. He brings his fiancée´ Betty (Zoey Kriz) to the inn as George is to become the owner of the Black Raven Inn as his aunt Julia, whom he had never met, has willed her estate to him.
Coming in out of the storm, George and Betty are greeted by Billy, an odd boy who likes frightening people, barking and growling as a mean dog (Mason Schaley). The innkeeper introduces herself as "Mrs. Shrivel" (Payton Link). Strangely, George and Betty were the only guests for the night, but that was soon to change. His Aunt Julia's attorney arrives and tells him he has inherited the Inn with one stipulation– he must spend the night in the "Murder Room" by himself in order to inherit the inn!
At first, George thought his aunt had a good sense of humor and must have requested this to spice up his stay. This sounded like fun and he wished he had met her.
George's pushy literary agent arrives Zola Lewellyn (Jainy Nicholson) who kept trying to get George to write. She spun a lot of humorist satire throughout the play. Everything seemed to be happening, from ghosts and spirits moving about, a murder and a disappearing body to a robber looking to recover his stolen loot, and the sheriff saying the rising waters is making the bridge unsafe, warning that no one was to leave the Inn until morning. Then a seance of meditation and loud humming in hopes to talk to the dead.
Billy, as a mad dog (Mason Schaley) and a walking mummy (J.T. Hurka) did a convincing job lurking throughout the play, keeping screams alive, even walking through the audience to spook the crowd. A surprise twist to the ending kept folks guessing throughout the hour and a half evening of entertainment.
Twenty WCMS students 6th through 8th grade did an excellent job of making characters come alive under co-directors Lisa Lox, Lisa Miller aided by Deb Eckley, Pat Gray, Jeff Miller and others.
Cast Members: 8th Grade- Drake Vancil, Lily Bailey, Jainy Nicholson, Jackson Spence, Josh Covert;
7th Grade- Payton Link, Zoey Kriz, Cora Kaup, J T Hura, Carly Craig, Corri DeMent; 6th Grade- Mason Schaley, Jaxon Endress, Caylynne Bailey, Izzy Koch, Irelynn Boyle, Abby Purchase, Ethan Bullen, Shawn Craig; 5th Grade- Islia Rodeffer, with Co-Directors: Lisa Miller & Lisa Lox, Deb Eckley.