Moonshine Murders
at Woodgrove High School

Reviewed on December 18, 2020

Diana Altenhof
Stone Bridge High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News

You! In the alley! You'd better run the other way; Snowy Fox's joint is getting the look-over from cops! No time to lounge when the lounge-singing crowd's in danger, but you can hear them whistle when you tune into Moonshine Murders from Woodgrove High School.

Woodgrove's Moonshine Murder, first shown as a drive-in special at The Family Drive-In Theater, was a collaboration between Stagecoach Theater Company and Woodgrove's The Grove Theater. Adult adaptive playwriting and directing were matched by student writing, producing, musicianship, videography, and all other technical elements (save for a joint student-professional editing team.) The multi-cut, film-style play was a result of taping actors both onstage and at home.

When young 60s singer-songwriter Violet (Eliza Prymak) feels lost in her songwriting process, her mother turns to the tale of grandmother Violet Sanata (Emily Reeps) and her life as a singer in a 20s D.C. mob-circuit speakeasy, owned by the illustrious Snowy Fox (Samantha Huffer.) When high ranking frequenters are targeted, the livelihoods and safety of the speakeasy crew are turned upside down.

Moonshine Murders offered a stand-out group of singers. Prymak, Reeps, and Huffer demonstrated excellent vocal technique and embraced tones unique to their respective eras, which emboldened their personas beyond non-musical scenes. Scarlett Star (Hailey Grieve) took the crooner approach and reached into her physicality for her solo song, "Red Glitter". Complementing the singing staff is patron Bugsy Moronski (Luke Murtaugh) and bodyguard Curly Moe (Matthew Murray). Their rapid-fire banter lightened the crowd and pushed the plot forward in pivotal moments.

What could a speakeasy be without its lively regulars? The ensemble kept their accents and mannerisms consistent with the Prohibition era, lending their hand to an immersive experience. The Costume crew (Murphy, Kunkel, Matic, Hardy) and Hair and Makeup crew (Grieve, Allen, Huffer, Smyth, Hardy, Reeps) teamed up to outfit these personalities, making sure that fine details like pearls and feathers made their mark on the production.

When ousted from the idea of a play live on stage, Woodgrove turned to digital effects to complete their vision. Making comprehensive sets and backgrounds that could reach from stage to screen required talents from both production and post-production. Scenic Design and Construction (Cooke, Matic, Siemer) cooked up and built the smoky, on-stage speakeasy. Sound (Phan, Siemer), Lighting (Buhler, Cooke, Rubalcaba, Phan), and Editing (Buhler, Fratterola, Folks) helped mesh Moonshine Murder's "home-base" scenes with at-home scenes. Aesthetic and ambiance choices down to the typewriter font of title cards made for an all-around enjoyable viewing experience. In place of a mounting score or projecting from actors, cuts between different actors and angular choices from the Videography crew (Buhler, Gannon, Huddleston, Siemer, Burroughs, Siecinski) paved the way for audience focus points.

Bowler hats off to the company of Woodgrove High School's Moonshine Murders. A bullet can stop a mobster dead in his tracks, but a pandemic can't stop the spirit of theater. With a tune for everyone and era-unique charm, Moonshine Murders gives this round on the house.

Carolyn Saxe
Thomas Wootton High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News 2

With a crash of thunder, a murder mystery begins; jazz, booze, and drama overrun the cramped speakeasy from Woodgrove High School's film adaptation of Moonshine Murders by Terry Smith.

Originally produced 2 years ago, this play with music features Violet Sanata, a singer in a classic 1920s speakeasy grappling with the murder of her betrothed, Bugsy, a member of the local mob in Washington D.C. Presented by Violet's daughter Maggie, she tells the tale of their family's past 40 years later to her own daughter, a young singer/songwriter also named Violet. In the 30-minute preview, the mystery is left unsolved, a compelling incentive to see the whole show.

Working actively with the playwright, many students stepped up to the challenge to not only adapt the play for the screen, but to expand upon the original script, seamlessly allowing more students to join in. Every new song and character fit in so well it was surprising to learn they weren't from the original script. All the actors were right at home in the 20s with their mobster accents and flapper mannerisms, unimpeded by the clear plastic face masks they wore.

Many actors caught the eye in the short time they all were on screen. Emily Reeps played Violet Sanata with much tact and grace, and her voice complemented those she sang with very well, like in the duet with Bugsy (Luke Murtaugh) "Turn Off Your Light, Mister Moon Man." The other Violet, played by Eliza Prymak, effortlessly sang a song she wrote herself titled "like music does," strumming along on her guitar. And though she was just another one of the showgirls, Scarlett Star (Hailey Grieve) truly embraced her role, crooning and swaying along to her own lyrics, filling the small singer's stage with her personality.

All the speakeasy's performers got a chance in the spotlight in the penultimate song of the show, a recap of the preceding events in beautiful yet bittersweet harmony accompanied by student-directed choreography. Back in the 60s, Violet's new understanding of her namesake in the finale allowed her to complete her song, and she and Violet Sanata sang a sweet duet together on the speakeasy's golden stage as their connection to music transcended time and united them.

Despite the number of people in the speakeasy, the videographer team managed to capture everyone on stage at once in well-composed long shots, and it was rarely noticeable that some actors were in fact recording from home. The editing presented a coherent, fluid plot despite being only a quarter the length of the whole show, though occasionally choppy, and the inclusion of timely, typewriter font title sequences and transitions enhanced the 1920s film aesthetics. From sound, their striking effects aided the transitions and allowed tension to be sustained. The costumes team (Casey Murphy, Wyatt Kunkel, Mila Matic, and Ella Hardy) outdid themselves with incredible outfits; each showgirl had her own detailed, color-coordinated flapper dress, while the men in the mob had sharp suits and fedoras befitting their station, staying safe all the while by disinfecting each costume between rehearsals.

When you watch the show, you won't be asking Mister Moon Man to turn his light off until you get a confession.
.

Molly Manhoff
Oakton High School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com

Extra, extra! Bugsy is bumped!

Woodgrove High School's virtual production of Moonshine Murders was a heart-stopping, spell-binding musical of murder, mystery, and of course, love. Nestled in an underground speakeasy in the late 1920s, both cast and crew paint a vivid picture of the infamous Jazz Age. With a jazzy score and bootleggers galore, a young girl in the 60s is regaled with the story of her grandmother, Violet Sanata, and her tales amidst the chaos of mobsters and music.

In a cast filled to the brim with lively, vibrant characters, Scarlett Star (Hailey Grieve) certainly lived up to her name. Adorned in the classic flapper dress with a scarlet boa draped across her shoulders, she waltzed up to the vintage microphone and stole the show. With her fluid, alluring movements, particularly during her solo "Red Glitter," Grieve was a brilliant, shining presence; a true 20s showgirl diva. Of course, Violet Sanata (Emily Reeps) and Bugsy Moronski (Luke Murtaugh) were unforgettable in their own ways. Not only was their chemistry phenomenal, shared in soft smiles and gentle pushes, but they were also magnetic. Reeps was charming and bubbly, a joy to watch, with a perfect spoonful of naïveté for her character. Her despair at Bugsy's murder was poignant and heart wrenching, especially after just witnessing how well the duo clicked. Murtaugh was charismatic and genuine, his lines drenched in the twang of a classic New York mobster. Even though their romance was bittersweet and cut short, they captured hearts with ease.

Of course, what are the Roaring Twenties without fashion? The actors seemed to be plucked right out of a photograph. In stunning colors and classic suits, the costume crew (Casey Murphy, Wyatt Kunkel, Mila Matic, and Ella Hardy) truly outdid themselves. Starting with the showgirls, each had their own unique dress and color scheme, ranging from deep violet to emerald green to vibrant crimson, they flooded the screen with color. No detail was missed: Feathers and furs dangling from their elbows, pearls strung across their necks, sequins twinkling behind layers of satin and lace. The detectives and mobsters dressed in sharp-cut suits, collars popped or deftly tucked behind ties. Even the makeup and hair, run by Hailey Grieve, Tori Allen, Samantha Huffer, Ashton Smyth, Ella Hardy, and Emily Reeps, was right out of the history books. Whether through the scarlet lipstick, smokey eyes, or ringletted bobs bouncing with every step, all these tiny details brought the show to life. Classic 20s fashion, all neatly wrapped up in a glittering bow.

Finally, no musical is complete without music. Moonshine Murders was chock full of original music, spearheaded by Hailey Grieve and Bethany Folks. One unforgettable number had to be the Finale. All the showgirls lined up, singing a montage of all the show songs to a captivating orchestration. With the myriad of melodic shifts and a minor key, it drew upon the murder mysteries of old and spun it into something new. Violet and Bugsy's duet was another song to draw the ear. Playful and romantic, "Turn Off Your Light Mr. Moon Man" was a snapshot in their love story, and their harmonies were lovely. Finally, "Like Music Does" was a sweet, indie original from the mind of Eliza Prymak, the Violet from the 60s, to whom the story is being told. Prymak's lyrics were simple and heartfelt, all underscored by her own guitar.

Moonshine Murders was a clever, dramatic romp in the damp recesses of Washington D.C. With a score to die for and a stellar set of costumes, Woodgrove has certainly outdone themselves.

Charlie Williams
Oakton High School
Submitted for publication to Loudoun Now

The Roaring 20s were long romanticized as a time of lawbreakers, lovers, and crime stories that still thrill to this day. Woodgrove High School capitalized on this rich history in the best way with its production of Moonshine Murders, a show as clear and fiery in its delivery as its title suggests.

The play follows the tumultuous story of Foxy's Den, a speakeasy plagued by mob violence and corruption in 1928. Amid the drama of a secret moonshine operation burns the affair between singer Violet Sanata and mobster Bugsy Moronski. Everything is thrown into chaos with Bugsy's shocking murder, and as the mystery continues to grow, patrons of Foxy's Den find themselves at risk of losing much more than their access to illegal liquor.

Anchoring the plot of the show was Emily Reeps as Violet Sanata. Commanding the stage with her soft yet soulful voice, Reeps brought the lovestruck songbird to life in songs like "Turn Off Your Light Mr. Moon Man," sung tenderly with Bugsy (Luke Murtaugh) just a few scenes prior to the latter's death. Violet's character was a foil to the harsh world she found herself in, and Reeps delivered her role perfectly.

By comparison to Violet Sanata, Scarlett Star was a chiseled caricature of what a speakeasy showgirl is imagined to look and act like. Crude, cocky, and masterfully portrayed by Hailey Grieve, Scarlett was an early nod in the show to the antiquated roots from which its story was pulled. Grieve sang alluringly over smoky instrumentals, her entire persona acting as the introduction into the dark and dangerous setting of Foxy's Den.

Much of Moonshine Murders' magic comes from the special effects of the play, effects that might not have worked in a non-COVID setting. Head of cinematography Makenna Buhler worked to make the audience feel as if they were there in that Roaring 20s world, and her work paid off in subtle ways. Scenes with time-lapses featured an impressive clock face superimposed across the stage. The romantic moonlit ballad between Bugsy and Violet was accompanied by the faded image of an antique record player and the scratchy music of the times. This aesthetic was a key facet of the production, and such cinematic tricks were essential in making the 1920s setting seem as real as possible.

Another major aspect of the show's success lay in its lighting effects, also headed by Makenna Buhler. It was a stark change of style when the lighting changed from the warm glow of the speakeasy to a moonlit setting that was practically silver-screen quality by contrast. Buhler's work built upon the idea of cinema from the 1920s being entirely in black and white, and such styles were given homage in the production.

Dark, humorous, and surprisingly touching, Woodgrove High School's rendition of Moonshine Murders boasted a talented cast and effects crew that successfully told a story as beautiful as it was thrilling. With Mr. Moon Man's light casting a silvery glow upon the production, it wouldn't have felt out of place in the real Roaring 20s so long ago.

Anaika Korath
Stone Bridge High School
Submitted for publication to Loudoun Times-Mirror

The roaring 20s was a great time to be a mobster until it wasn´t. This filmed play followed COVID guidelines by taping actors both onstage and at home and using face shields when actors were near each other. Woodgrove High School´s adaptation of Moonshine Murders, in collaboration with Stagecoach Theater Company, contained student writing, producing, composing, and filmmaking. Along with a joint student and professional editing team. The technical aspects of this production helped bring both the story and the characters to life.

When Violet (Eliza Prymak), a singer-songwriter from the 60s, feels out of touch with her songwriting, her mother (Kimmy McCann) tells her the story of her grandmother Violet Sanata (Emily Reeps). Violet Sanata was a singer at a Washington DC speakeasy in the 20s. The mob-frequented speakeasy, owned by Snowy Fox (Samantha Huffer), is turned upside down when one of the high-ranked mobsters is murdered.

Talented actors connected with both each other and the audience, despite having to act to a camera and filming multiple cuts. Emily Reeps, who played Violet Sanata, and Luke Murtaugh, who played Bugsy Moronski, had great energy and chemistry during their duet, Turn Off Your Light, Mr. Moon Man. Hailey Grieve, who played Scarlett Star, had great physicality and presence during her solo ¨Red Glitter¨. Her voice matched well with the 20s inspired show. The hilarious banter between Curly Moe (Matthew Murray) and Kuper Kopper (Grayson Carnall) brought a lightness to the show. Bethany Folks´ (Blue Singa) voice took up the stage as she projected the signature sound of the 1920s. The show's finale starring the speakeasy singers was excellent. From the choreography to the harmonization, it brought that jazzy feel of the speakeasy to life. Eliza Prymak´s (Violet) Like Music Does (written by Eliza Prymak) was soothing and lilting, capturing the musical spirit of 1968.

Technically speaking the show was amazing. The editing team, Makenna Buhler, Julian Fratterola, and Bethany Folks did a fabulous job of blending scenes and fading images in and out that set the tone for the show, such as the clock or the gravestone. Costumes were intricate and detailed, matching the era of both the 20s and the 60s. The scenic design team (Austin Cooke and Mila Matic) did an amazing job in creating the underground speakeasy, which looked only too realistic. The camera angles did not distract from the production, instead, they helped see characters in different ways, which would not have been accomplished during a live performance. Although the piano was a bit loud during some songs, the original music was impressive.

Despite having to adapt to COVID guidelines and shorten their production for Cappies, Woodgrove High School´s adaptation of Moonshine Murders was intriguing and enjoyable to watch.