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THEATER Teen Mystery Theatre serves up foul play and fun Comment By Laurie Heuston Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Laurie Heuston Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 7, 2015 at 12:01 AM By Laurie Heuston Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 7, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News "Birds of a Feather," the eighth annual Teen Mystery Theatre production, evokes images of private detectives, capable gals, hoodlums and femme fatales from such noir-style films as "The Maltese Falcon," "Double Indemnity" and "The Big Sleep." The play is set in the summer of 1944 in Los Angeles, and all seems well at a popular Hollywood nightclub, The Birdcage, until a singing nuns' act, The Songbirds, is interrupted by someone's death. Private detectives Gail Bennett and Rita Miller are on the case to investigate whether the victim's demise is the accident it's claimed to be or if foul play is at hand. Everyone begins to look suspicious as the detectives delve into the case, revealing more questions than answers. Filled with intrigue and conspiracies, suspicious characters and Hollywood stardust, this tumultuous and entertaining ride takes audiences back to the world of black-and-white films on a trail of laughs. Presented by Ashland Children's Theatre, "Birds of a Feather" will begin at 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, and 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9, at the Ashland Community Center, 59 Winburn Way. Advance tickets cost $10, $5 for students, and can be purchased at Music Coop, 268 E. Main St., or Tree House Books, 15 N. Main St. Tickets at the door will cost $12, $6 for students. See www.ashlandchildrenstheatre.com , email info@ashlandchildrenstheatre or call 541-414-8676 for information. Eve Smyth directs and writes scripts for Ashland Children's Theatre and Teen Mystery Theatre. She begins each script with a general idea of what she wants to write, then quickly finishes the work as the cast comes together. "It's because I keep the kids specifically in mind while I'm writing," Smyth says. "Out of the 13 kids in the cast this year, five are new and the others are returning. One actor, Alex Webb, is a nice guy, so I've always written nice parts for him. This year, he wanted to play a villain, so I wrote him as a bad guy." Returning Teen Mystery Theatre actors are Webb, Henry Alexander, Nicky Clary, Pearl Davis, Madi Kim, Bailey Mustard, Cora Stonewood and Aidan Zyth. They're joined by new company members Mason Decker, Ayla Jessup, Callie Skuratowicz, Liam Sturgill and Luna Vogel. "It's cool to be able to ask the actors what their interests are, what characters they would like to try out, and then work the script into something fun around those ideas. I know some of the kids' strengths and what things might challenge them to do something different." Smyth says she's drawn naturally to the genre of film noir. As she writes — thinking of the young actors and seeing them in their roles and on the stage — her work dissolves into a cinematic black-and-white picture with adults in the roles. "I start seeing Humphrey Bogart and other noir actors in my head," she says. "It's super fun. Before we start rehearsals, I email the cast members a list of movies to watch as homework. That gives them a point of reference for the style, and a common reference." During rehearsals she can refer the cast to certain personas familiar from the films, as well as examples of slowing down their pacing and using timing to add suspense to their lines. Ashland Children's Theatre co-director Kate Sullivan manages all other aspects of the productions. She designs sets, gets props together, coordinates costumes, hair and makeup and makes sure the teens and parents are in the loop. By Laurie Heuston Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Laurie Heuston Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 7, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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