In the wake of COVID-19, students at Bonita Vista High (BVH) with extracurriculars were among the many that were affected by distance learning; BVH’s Drama production class and club was not an exception. The class produced two virtual plays during distance learning.  They put together “Left to our Own Devices” in December of 2020 and “Game of Tiaras” in April 2021. On Feb. 16 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Drama is putting on their first in-person play, “The Mystery of Shady Acres” in the Bolles Theater.

“The Mystery of Shady Acres,” is a burglary mystery where Mrs. Fairfax’s, the main character’s, million-dollar necklace is stolen in the Shady Acres Hotel. Clues are revealed as the Chief of Police uncover  motives other guests in the hotel are hiding.

“We [the Drama Club members] don’t come up with the ideas [of the play] ourselves. We find them online and purchase the play [script]. But, we discussed doing a mystery play with everyone in the class and in the club. We had a little meeting about what type of story [we wanted to perform],” Wendeln said. 

The idea to perform a mystery play was first discussed between Drama production members. After the idea was agreed upon by them, Drama teacher Rosamaria Sias approved it.

“I usually [approve plays] on the skill level [of] my students because the production course has [varied skill level]. We have students that are beginner level to students that have been in Drama for four years,” Sias said. 

Senior Kailee Wendeln Lankard is Sias’Assistant Director for the 2021-2022 school year productions. Wendeln is responsible for ensuring props and actors are ready backstage. She is able to direct cast members in scenes that need specific directions and works closely with individuals, while Sias focuses on the performance as a whole on stage.

“The play has smaller scenes that are split up; she [Wendeln] can work with [students] and I can work with others, then we put [it] all together,” Sias said. “She’s [Wendeln] a four-year drama student, so I feel confident in her decisions.”

The cast members have been preparing for the play since mid-October of 2021. Their daily rehearsals take place in their fifth period class. Junior Kailea Vickers, who plays Chief Whitfield, recalled memorable moments from these rehearsals. 

“When we [the cast] ran through the whole play and acted it out, it was nice to see our efforts come to fruition. There’s a lot of silly, ridiculous things that happen in this play,” Vickers said. 

The play was meant to be performed during the week of Feb. 7, but it was postponed to Feb. 16. The postponement was mainly due to COVID-19 related issues. 

“For the first week or two [of January], we [Drama class] had about 10 students out due to COVID-19. Naturally, a production would have understudies [to cover for the students out]. However, given the level of talent and the number of students, we didn’t necessarily have understudies,” said Sias

Due to the many absences related to COVID-19, a demand for fillers began. Sias explains that fillers are student substitutes for missing students who go on stage and read lines from the script. Prior to this year, students were only out for a couple days and fillers would suffice. However, due to current COVID-19 protocols students must isolate for 10 days after testing positive, delaying the production process.

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“Ultimately, if we have one student absent, it means that we can’t do the play because it wouldn’t seem fair to that student who’s rehearsed, memorized the lines and understood the blocking [stage positions],” Sias said. “It isn’t fair [and] it wouldn’t aesthetically look pleasing to have someone on the stage with the script.”

Through the hardships, Vickers still recognizes the work and the efforts put in by each of the cast members, acknowledging first-year performers. 

“Something that makes things so much more bearable is to see first year [performers] apply themselves to their role and give it their all,” Vickers said. “That makes everyone who’s been in the class for a couple of years feel good because even though we have this pandemic going on, we’re still able to work hard and act.”