Cloverdale High School to present ‘Death by Chocolate’

Preparing for their roles in the upcoming Cloverdale High School production of “Death by Chocolate” are (from left) Sierra Kelley (playing Lady Riverdale), Alayna Oberkrom (Sweet Pea) and Timmy Hiatt (John Stone). The production will be staged this Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. each evening.

Courtesy photo

The Cloverdale High School Drama Club will present the comedy “Death by Chocolate” on Friday, Nov. 18 and Saturday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. each evening.

Admission is $5 per person.

The play opens finding members of the newly renovated Meadowbrook Health Resort dropping like flies, including famed chef Edith Chiles (Phoenix Breedlove). On the eve of the grand re-opening, this is not the best advertisement. It’s up to John Stone (Timmy Hiatt), the manager, to find the cause and the murderer.

Sarcastic and cynical, Stone finds himself teaming up with Ed Parlor (Landyn Shaw), mystery writer and amateur sleuth, in a race against time. The clues point to a box of chocolates, and the suspects include all the characters working for the resort.

Could it be Lady Riverdale (Sierra Kelley), owner of the resort, and a woman with dark secrets? How about the ever confused secretary, Dyslexia (Aleah Harris)? Or Ralph Deadwood (Kelton Fulkerson), gym instructor and all-around cad? Dick Simmering (Manny McDougall), the aerobics instructor? Anne (Ella Szczerbik), the panic-stricken nurse? Or could it be “Sweet Pea” Meadowbrook (Alayna Oberkrom), overweight and grieving daughter of the recently deceased founder of the resort? Or did the Butler, Alfwwred (Jacob Whitinger), do it?

Add in nosey reporter Margaret Daniels (Hannah Baker), who is determined to get to the bottom of it.

“Death by Chocolate” is directed by Brad Sandy, with the help of student director Izabella Oberkrom. Stage manager for the production is Maisie McKibben with Jacob Simpson, Emma Paauwe, Autumn Wheeler and Savannah Hubble on the stage crew. Running lights for the show is Peyton McKibben.

The show combines all the elements of murder mysteries with a satire of today’s health crazes.

NOTE: Due to the Putnam County Girls’ Basketball Tournament also being held at Cloverdale High School, patrons attending the play are being asked to park in the south parking lot of the high school and enter the cafetorium through the south doors.