Taking to the auditorium stage on Dec. 18, Coral Gables Senior High’s Troupe 0476 captivated the audience with their winter showcase of “How to Get Away with a Murder Mystery”. Performing a comical metadrama, the team’s use of body language, wordplay and selective breaking of the fourth wall drew consistent applause. Through their stage presence, they allured viewers by turning their charisma into a flawless execution, as they presented a mock instruction on evading and solving an open case.
Every wisecrack, costume and minuscule character interpretation was a deliberate amount of thought on Troupe’s behalf as they worked among themselves and with their supervisor, Ms. Barrow, leaving no stone unturned and considering the most appealing choices. Prior to their winter performance, the team held a series of rehearsals where they expanded on their characters and focused on their personal improvement. Using their auditions as a reference, Ms. Barrow was able to select roles that truly embody their natural talent while developing that foundation throughout the blocking process.
“I look for plays that have a lot of characters, and this particular troupe had a lot of people with big personalities and senses of humor…I thought it would work well for them,” Ms. Barrow said.
Within their two-month window for rehearsals, Troupe placed their efforts into the most prominent adjustments of the performance, which Ms. Barrow recounted in a speech on the night of. She reflected on the pure passion and commitment her proteges have placed into the development of the act, pushing the notion beyond words on a script.
After years of taking to the stage in the little theater, “How to Get Away with a Murder Mystery” marks the first enactment carried out in the recently remodeled auditorium. Now adapting to new surroundings, Troupe had to adjust their blocking and expressions to match the quantity of space in the auditorium, which is twice the size of their customary location. Remaining mindful of how they divide themselves across the area while fully applying themselves to their character served as a challenge, but ultimately flowed effortlessly with Ms. Barrow’s guidance.
In the world of theatre, every accessory that surrounds the cast, whether that be the setting or what is on their person, exemplifies the story being told while telling one of its own. In preparation, Ms. Barrow had discussions with the team regarding characters and the plot, allowing each member to execute their ideas for costumes, props and set design that would later be tweaked to secure the final version.
“[Seniors] Abril Lettieres, Ashlee Hernandex and Lucas Aparicio all painted the set…they came up with the concept, ran it by me, and I’m like ‘Love it, do it’…[With the costumes], I told everybody to come up with something that you think your character would wear…,” Ms. Barrow said.
Putting forth maximum effort to perfect each aspect of “How to Get Away with a Murder Mystery”, Troupe 0476 waited patiently in their starting positions as guests began taking their seats. After helping each other finalize their costumes and makeup, the team reminisced on the grit and determination it took them to prepare for the performance, sharing a last dance break to the house music during the waiting period.
“We were all a little nervous, as we didn’t have much practice in the auditorium, but mostly excited to perform a show all together. We have a lot of seniors leaving the troupe this year, so it was particularly bittersweet to watch them take their final bow,” sophomore Summer Tatum-Cox said.
The audience’s attention was then directed by the spotlights as junior Jennifer Fundora, playing the part of the dead body, rumbled downstage. Surrounding her was the majority of the cast, who were placed in sections and defined by their distinct clothing colors.
Representing five characters by the names of Lady Indigo, Mr. Burgundy, Agent Orange, Madame Off-White and Soylent Green, they were appalled by the dead body before them and broke into chaos as they realized that they were pawns in a murder mystery. Emerging from the house, senior Ashlee Hernandez directly addressed the crowd with the intention of demonstrating how to survive during a murder mystery, implying that this is a common experience.
As Hernandez marched up the stairs and reached centerstage, she was greeted by her contrary narrator, played by junior Paloma Morales, who was motivated by a sole purpose to teach the viewers how to successfully solve a murder mystery if they find themselves filling the shoes of a detective. After a humorous introduction to each suspect, the storytellers chose to synthesize their “lessons” and present their strategies through examples, which is followed by the focal point of the play.
For the remainder of the performance, the audience was exposed to five scenarios in which a murder was executed by one of the suspects, ranging from a lavish clique of circus performers to the chaos of Ocean World, a fictional theme park that parodized the trademarks of SeaWorld. Despite a variation of settings, the entirety of the cast continued to remind the house of ongoing jokes, often relating to their awareness that they are in a comedy.
“My favorite part of the play was the way in which everyone had their own character and shined in their own way. It made the play so entertaining, and the talent put into this project was truly seen every time the actors stepped on stage,” sophomore Siena Van de Graaf said.
The combination of excitement and heightened emotions throughout the course of the play allowed Troupe to share a sense of chemistry onstage that expanded beyond their characters. Joining hands on stage and bowing to the audience in unison, they received a roaring ovation from the house, paying their respects for a one-of-a-kind performance. Celebrating with their final team chant of the year, Troupe 0476 was overwhelmed with pride from their achievements and anticipation as they prepare to take the stage in 2026.
