BROOKINGS For its next production, the Brookings Community Theater brings to the boards of the proscenium theater of the Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center a production which is readily recognizable as the name of a movie that preceded it: Dial M for Murder.
The BCTs most recent production, Mary Poppins, which was staged in August, is also recognizable as a movie. Returning to this fall production is Olivia Davis for her first time as a BCT director. She was choreographer for Mary Poppins.
I was a director of a production while I was still a student here at South Dakota State University, she said. So thats as far as Ive come to this additional role.
However, Davis is recognized as a sort of BCT regular for her choreography: She had that role in 2017 for Little Shop of Horrors and in 2018 she helped choreograph Annie.
Following her bachelors degree from SDSU in 2022, Davis went on to earn a master of fine arts degree in London at Trinity Laban, a dance and music conservatory. Upon her return to the Brookings area, she was selected by director Mike Thompson to serve as choreographer for Mary Poppins. She called that her first big project since finishing my masters (degree). And now comes director.
As the putting together of Mary Poppins moved along, Davis was advised that there was some concern about finding someone to direct the fall show. She borrowed the Dial M for Murder script from BCT Board of Directors President Jason Thoren. Her first impression was that the script was boring. In brief its the story of Tony Wendice who married his wife Margot for her money; now hes ready to murder her for the money. He arranges a perfect for-hire murder and a perfect alibi, but
When I took some time to think about it, I found it was actually a very intricate script, a lot of details, She explained. Because its not a murder mystery. The audience knows what happened each step of the way. Its a suspense play because youre left wondering about whats going to happen and when.
Tony had this plan for how everything would go, how everything was going to stack up. When things dont go as planned, little pieces start to fall apart. The audience will find out. Bringing it all together is a troupe of five experienced players: Mellie Moore, Juliana Del Valle Rivera, Anders Brovold (also assistant director) and Stuart Melby.
Show times are Nov. 6-8 at 7 p.m., with a 2 p.m. matinee on Nov. 9. Tickets are: $20 for adults and $15 for seniors and students, and are available at Cinema 8; The Cove-Brookings Nutrition; online at brookingscommunitytheatre.org; and at the box office one hour before curtain up.
Contact John Kubal at [email protected].
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