An English Theatre Production for Year 9
On September 29, as you might already know, there was a theater performance at our school. It was inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s famous short story “The Murders in the Rue Morgue.” The original story follows a mysterious case involving the deaths of two women and an orangutan, but some details were changed in the performance.
The Strange Case of Hotel Morgue
The story takes place at the Hotel Morgue, where a series of mysterious deaths occur. After her husband dies, an aunt invites her “intelligent” nephew to help investigate the case because she is frustrated by the police’s inability to solve it. Although he is neither a detective nor a police officer, he tries to solve the mystery himself. Many people doubt his ability to solve the case. As the investigation continues, more suspects and unexpected events appear, making it difficult to discover the truth.
SPOILER ALERT: In the end, it is revealed that the doctor is the werewolf who has been killing people at night and acting innocent during the day.
Acting and Atmosphere
I really enjoyed the performance, especially the way the actors portrayed their characters. Their acting was convincing and brought the story to life. I also liked how the music and prerecorded scenes helped create the atmosphere. The lighting was particularly impressive, changing to match the mood of each scene. The stage sometimes became dark or was illuminated in red, which made certain moments feel mysterious and even a little frightening.
A Funny Moment - Volunteers on Stage
Another highlight was the scene in which the sailor invited three volunteers from the audience onto the stage. They dressed up as sailors and took part in a celebration in honor of the aunt’s soul. This moment was especially funny and added some humor to the story. The volunteers also did an amazing job.
An Entertaining Performance
Overall, I found the performance entertaining, creative, atmospheric, and engaging. The combination of great acting, music, lighting, and unexpected twists made it a memorable experience. I really enjoyed watching it and hope other ninth graders will too…
Ana Tavshavadze 9c - with the help of Shayna Tajik 9c