Brutal Death of Brutaldeath
at Wakefield High School

Reviewed on May 20, 2021

Katie Wood
Centreville High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News

The ghost of the deceased turns the search for their murderer into a humorous case, uncovering upper class train passengers' true colors. Loosely inspired by Agatha Christie's timeless mystery, Murder on the Orient Express, Wakefield High School created the witty comedy, The Brutal Death of Brutaldeath. A beautifully executed production performed entirely on zoom to adapt to this year's theatre norms, Wakefield's theatre two class showed strength and unique innovation with both technical and physical aspects of the show.

The Brutal Death of Brutaldeath walked through the case of the unfortunate railroad murder of Brutaldeath, while interrogating and checking the alibis of other passengers with large personalities. The narrator and comedic ghost, Brutaldeath, was played by Rain Varela. Though the victim of the mystery, Varela brightened the ominous mood with her distinctive accent and ability to make comedy out of a theme as morbid as her own character's death.

Spiraling to the point of confession, Maria Derumer, played by Abby Berner, gave unexpected humanity and depth to a seemingly two-dimensional murder. Her frantic movements leading up to her breakdown revealed her guilt. Within her long monologue where she called her actions monstrous and explained her motive fueled by jealousy, Berner gave a moment of drama which contrasted the show's heavy comedy.

The performance showcased each actor's individual skills nicely, which greatly enhanced the many different character dynamics. The most prominent examples of this were in the interactions done between Detective Plaid, who was played by Andrew Egeland, and the rest of the possible suspects. Each suspect's various personas were defined by their nervous habits while discussing their knowledge of the murder. Whether that was observed through darting eyes and constant sipping of tea, or simply heard through tone and inflection in their voices, all were untrustworthy in the eyes of the detective. Martha Gebreslassie who portrayed Karen Smith was a noteworthy example of this as she consistently reacted to other's actions and showed her character's nerves for the show's entirety. Andrew Egeland contrasted all the suspects' nervous tells by embodying the intelligence and calm manner of an experienced detective who is resolved to solve a case.

The fascinating character relationships can be attributed to the fact that the theatre two class's students collaborated to write their own script for the production, which was impressively cohesive with enthralling building action to an eerily shocking climax. The script writing progressed in a manner that was engaging and easy to understand. Instead of forcing an audience member to ponder hard on who the murderer could have been while missing critical moments, it explained things in a clever fashion where the audience could find out the progressions in the case with the characters.

To aid the audience's understanding of the plot, which was constantly evolving, Abby Berner and Penelope Wagner created informative title cards and put scenes together with shifting focal points. The transitions between groups of people being highlighted was ambitious and flowed adroitly. Another technical aspect that immensely put the production's feel into perspective was the additional use of music. Giving off an old-fashioned movie vibe that was a dark and farcical combination, the music selection was impeccable.

Wakefield High School's The Brutal Death of Brutaldeath helped to close this school year's season of high school theatre with a memorable and quick paced show which encompassed the true meaning of a whodunit mystery.

Abigail (Abbie) Domingue
Tuscarora High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News 2

Choo choo! All aboard Wakefield High Schools' production of "The Brutal Death of Brutal Death". A virtual play that plays on the classic whodunit murder mystery, Wakefield's original take on the classic troupe is a can't miss show. Opening with the postmortem monologue of the recently deceased, Brutaldeath, eccentric first class passengers have to figure out which of their peers is responsible for the murder of the German poet. This comedy full of twists and turns left audiences stunned and wanting for productions from the creatively talented Wakefield High School's department.

The show opened with the recently deceased, Brutaldeath, commenting about his death, about the irony of his name and his death, and how he could not rest until his murderer was brought to justice. Portrayed by Rain Varela, Brutaldeath narrated and broke the fourth wall throughout the show, which fully immersed the audience into the production. Varela's accent and vocal commitment to her character really brought the character to life, even through the virtual setting. Valera's monologues throughout the show provided the audience with comedic breaks from the chaotic energy that the ensemble of train passengers brought. Varela's performance of Brutaldeath's irony and manic personality really made her performance a standout in this classic whodunit murder mystery.

Even through the virtual setting, the train passengers were able to create beautifully chaotic scenes and played off each other well. One passenger who stood out was Penelope Wagner's Elizabeth Jane Vain. Her attention to detail, like the use of the physical task of drinking tea, and her use of props, like the stuffed dog she used, brought her character to another level. Wagner's ability to play off her peers made the plot seamless and entertaining. Another passenger who brought different energy to the passenger scenes was Owen Andrews. Andrews' character John Wane Bundy, a mellow southern fellow, brought a good contrast of energy to the scenes. While a lot of the characters had large eccentric and chaotic personalities, Andrews' mellow persona brought an interesting contrast to scenes. His accent was slow, deliberate, easy to comprehend, and consistent throughout the entire show. Much like John Wayne, Andrews' ability to play off his fellow cast members made the play even more enticing and dynamic.

With the popularity of virtual shows, technical aspects are becoming more and more complicated and more demanding, however the theatre community has risen to the occasion. Wakefield's show consisted of several savvy transitions and time period accurate music that combined both the dramatic and comedic elements of the show. This is all thanks to Abby Berner and her video editing skills. Her skills made the show clean, concise, and easy to follow. Berner's essential role in the show helped highlight the talent of the many actors and actresses and make Wakefield's show even more professional.

Wakefield's original virtual show, "The Brutal Death of Brutaldeath" is a can't miss show. Written completely by the cast, the show takes the audience on a wild ride, filled with twists and turns, clues and culprits, and mystery and monologues. The cast understood the assignment and hit every mark, the ensemble's seamless work created chaotic and engaging scenes, every cast member was in the moment (even when they were not saying lines) and brought their all to this show. Wakefield's hard work and dedication to their craft was shown time and time again in this show, and they delivered a delightful (and slightly devious) original murder mystery.

Adella Bailey
West Springfield High School
Submitted for publication to Insidenova - Sun Gazette

The name "Brutaldeath" seems only fitting for the main character of a murder mystery, doesn't it? Wakefield High School's theatre company collaborated on an original play, titled "The Brutal Death of Brutaldeath," in which a group of train passengers attempted to solve the mysterious murder case of Brutaldeath. A blend of comedy and drama, this student-written show brought this ominous world to life for the audience to witness.

Each character on the train was vastly different from one another; every individual had their own sets of unique characterizations and nervous energies to build the tension between them as they discussed who they hypothesized was the murderer. Andrew Egeland was Detective Plaid, who presented as a mediator of the group with clear intentions and witty responses to the other passengers. As one of the more accusatory characters, Elizabeth Jane Vain, played by Penelope Wagner, exhibited strong energy and character choices, adding many comedic moments and truly exemplifying the group's distress as they whittled down their accusations. John Wane Bundy, played by Owen Andrews, brought his own unique energy and hilarious moments as he relentlessly argued in his own defense. An engagingly creepy performance from Abby Berner as Maria Derumer held a strong buildup and emotional journey. Lastly, Rain Varela offered incredible moments of distinct characterization as Brutaldeath, tying both the dramatic and comedic tones of this show together as the plot unfolded.

This show was completely student-written by the members of the cast. This was incredibly well-done; the transitions between scenes were smooth, and the tension grew continuously throughout the piece. The scene transitions were also accompanied by time stamp cards, created by Penelope Wagner, and music, put together by Abby Berner, that truly set the mood and aesthetic of the time period.

Overall, this show's characterization and mood were incredibly exhibited; the energy and tension were kept up throughout the whole show, as well. Wakefield High School's theatre company impressively built an incredibly unique experience from the ground up and provided an excellent example of how artists can gather in this virtual space and create something exceptional together.

Isabella Russo
H-B Woodlawn Secondary Program
Submitted for publication to Connection

In a first-class train car traveling through England, how long will it take an eclectic group of passengers to find the mysterious murderer of Brutaldeath? The Brutal Death of Brutaldeath at Wakefield High School uncovers this and more with a story full of absurdities.

The Brutal Death of Brutaldeath is a comedic murder mystery set on a train in London that follows a group of passengers as they piece together the mystery of Brutaldeath's murder. With the title character narrating the mystery as it unfolds, the suspects each offer their alibis and accusations before finally discovering the true killer. The unique group of passengers each represents your traditional murder mystery stereotypes-- the pretentious Brit, the brash Southerner, and the pensive Detective waiting like a lion for the right piece of evidence to be revealed.

The original script of The Brutal Death of Brutaldeath was written by Wakefield High School's Theatre Arts II class, with each actor writing their own lines. Inspired by the movie The Murder on the Orient Express, the play follows a classic whodunit style that places suspicion on each character with captivating suspense. In addition to student playwrights, the production was also produced by student editors and graphic designers to create a polished piece that takes advantage of the new opportunities offered by virtual theatre.

As Elizabeth Jane Vain, Penelope Wagner was a stereotypically elitist Brit with a quick sharpness to her line delivery, allowing each joke to land with ease. With an amplified but not overdone posh British accent, Wagner embraced the character's composed yet accusatory air to contrast her fellow castmates in their engaging interactions.

Rain Varela was a sly inquisitor as Brutaldeath, utilizing her character's ability as the narrator to pause the story and interject with a swift joke or key plot point. With an energized and incessant physicality, Varela clearly showed Brutaldeath's frustration with her inability to speak directly to the passengers as they discovered her murderer at a painfully prolonged speed.

No streamed production is complete without an excellent editor. Abby Berner was the student editor, choosing music and editing scenes together in a way that supported the story and made sure every second was utilized. As the graphic designer for the production, Penelope Wagner created title cards shown between scenes that immediately set the time and place, as well as adding to the mysterious mood.

Despite the challenges of virtual theatre, the cast and crew of The Brutaldeath of Brutal Death at Wakefield High School were able to share a charming story packed with humor and heart.