A Very Merry Murderer

Photos by Alex Del Cueto

Oftentimes people assume that when a show is going up on campus, either the acting conservatory or the theater and performance program is producing it. Many people forget that there is an entire major of students who write brand-new original works.

The playwriting and screenwriting major allows students to focus on creating their own original works, culminating in a senior project of a 90-minute piece. 

Senior Molly McHugh wrote “Fred in Red” as her senior project and after attempting to put the show up last year she was able to put it up this year as a staged reading. The show went up on Nov. 22 and 23 to full audiences on both nights.

“Fred in Red” tells the story of Fred, who recently broke up with his girlfriend and needs to rekindle his love for Christmas. He meets Eleanor, the owner of a struggling home decor store, and together they handle the troubling events that occur during the holiday season.

The narrators of the show, Fuddy Duddy (Alyssa Bella) and Sprinkle Tinkle (Allison Iacuzzo), fought prior to the show starting.

Fred (Daniel Griffith) lit a cigarette and threw it at his girlfriend's house in order to burn it down to get back at her for breaking up with him. 

From left to right: Eleanor (Ariah Piper), Hank (Anthony Archer), Macy (Ysabel Alexander) and Sprinkle Tinkle. Sprinkle Tinkle was horrified by the conversation that Eleanor was having with her father, Hank, after he said he might take her daughter.

Fred was haunted by the spirit of his ex-girlfriend, Fiona (Hope Lowery).

Fred walked into the home decor store and realized they were in bad shape.

Fred dressed as the store's Santa Claus in order to help during their Black Week sale.

Macy came to work on crutches after she got hit by a car leaving work the day before.

Macy found out from her lawyer (Mila Perez-Segnini) that she was actually adopted.

Hank overheard Fred talking to Fiona about how he killed her and isn’t sorry about it.

Eleanor fought with Hank about Fred as he held her baby.

Fuddy Duddy looked disappointedly at Fiona for not doing a better job at making Fred a better person.

Fred stabbed Macy to death with a broom in order to prevent her from going to the police and telling them about him murdering his ex.

Fred, Hank and Eleanor listen to the news about the increase in murder on Christmas Day as they eat the bodies of Macy and Fiona for Christmas dinner.

The cast of “Fred in Red” took their final bow.