In a forgotten California town, the theater whispers lines no actor remembers rehearsing. The play changes nightly. Once you perform it, you become part of the script forever.
Cal High’s theater class is kicking off the year with “Trap,” a thrilling production set in a haunted California town where the script seems to write itself.
“The students working on the play are amazing. They’re super talented,” theater teacher Laura Woods said. “They’ve been very creative and have been working super hard.”
The 90 minute play will run from Oct. 29-30 at 7 p.m. in the school theater. Tickets are $12 for students and $15 for adults. It has a 13+ rating because of its suspenseful themes.
“Trap” begins in a small town, where a high school production mysteriously goes wrong. The shocking events that follow take the audience through a multi-layered mystery that leaves a detective to figure out what happened and why.
But every clue leads to more confusion, and soon it’s clear that the real trap may not be the play itself, but the people inside it.
Junior Talia Campbell plays the detective, the character at the center of the mystery. Even as an actor playing a detective, Campbell is drawn to the show’s uniqueness.
“I like how it’s so mysterious,” Campbell said. “I like how much it switches up and includes the audience instead of it being its own show.”
Throughout the performance, the audience “helps” investigate the mystery. This makes the audience feel like they are not just watching the story unfold, but are also a part of it as well.
“It’s very spooky and eerie,” senior cast member Juleana Tung said.“And a lot is going on.”
Tung plays another important character, Angela. Her character goes through a lot during the show, but may not be seen as an important character until the end of the play.
According to the Concord Theatricals description, “Trap” is structured like a documentary, using interviews and reenactments to tell its chilling story.
“I’m excited,” set designer Gabriel Buehler-Robert said.“The idea of a horror play is new. I’ve never seen one or heard of one before.”
But it seems fitting considering the play will be performed in the days leading up to Halloween.
As set designer, Buehler-Robert is responsible for creating the set, ensuring deadlines are met and making sure his crew stays safe.
“Trap is a scary show, and I think the school is going to really enjoy it,” freshman Katherine Dreyfuss said.
Dreyfuss said she watched Iron Horse Middle School’s advanced drama program present the play a few years ago.
“Trap” is a play that stands out from the rest, with its thrilling and spooky tone, it sets itself apart from anything Cal High has done recently.
