Mafia Murder Theater: Alice in Wonderland -- Thespians Win!

Started by desert ashes, November 22, 2010, 01:54:38 AM

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desert ashes


Mafia Murder Theater: The Casting of Alice in Wonderland

For the third time in fifty years since the grand de Chantal Theater has opened its doors, living down the rumors of deadly scandal and deceit, a new set of investors has come calling to budding thespians.  Had the city forgotten how death and plague had once claimed the lives of those on the stage?  Perhaps the new generation of thespians and investors would not remember -- or perhaps it would simply do to liven up the marketing.  Who could resist the temptations of a potentially haunted theater?  All seemed to be going well for the owners of de Chantal Theater as they opened their doors and posted the next casting call -- suitably, of course, for Alice in Wonderland. 

Yet, as the auditions unraveled and directors went behind closed doors, it seemed all was not well for the budding cast and crew of the theater.  Death was once more entering from stage left, his glinting scythe in hand and summoned at the call of the Understudies who felt nothing more than the lingering blood and star lust.  Who ever remembered the Understudies?  Primary roles were a rare chance ... unless, of course, their competition happened to exit stage left as nothing more than a shell of what they arrived in. 

The final auditions have come to an end and while the investors and executive producers have been tucked away making their casting decisions, the ghosts of the de Chantal Theater are rattling their chains as the deathly cry for spotlight is becoming heard once again ...


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Cast and Crew
Eden -- Stage Manager/Alice
Imogen -- Thespian/The Duchess
Kyrsa -- Thespian/The March Hare
Remiel -- Thespian/The Cheshire Cat
Revenent -- Producer/The Caterpillar
Saku -- Thespian/The King of Hearts
Sanguine Obsession -- Thespian/The Mock Turtle
Valerian -- Props Manager/The Mad Hatter


Leorobin -- Understudy/Party Goer #1, Lynched, Act 1 Day
Marguerite -- Thespian/Queen of Hearts, Lynched, Act 2 Day
Aiden -- Thespian/The White Rabbit, Killed, Act 2 Night
Kip -- Understudy/Party Goer #2, Lynched, Act 3 Day
Josietta -- Understudy/Party Goer #3, Death by lights, Act 3 Night


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For those unfamiliar with how the game is played, a sample round is below.  Past theater games can be found here and here for further reading.

Act One - Day
After all the special roles having been privately assigned and the first murder (of an NPC) is revealed, the Cast and Crew gather to make the first vote on who they would like to see in the role of the Director.  Once that is settled, the voting turns to who they believe the treacherous Understudies are.  Voting should take no more than three days.  If there is a tie, the Director steps in.  One the voting is done, the results are revealed (whether good or bad) and all retire for the evening to give the Understudies their time and chance to strike.

Act One - Night
During this time is when the Understudies select their target, the Stage Manager may learn the identity of one of the Cast and Crew, the Producer selects their target to protect, and the Props Manager may elect to poison a target.  Once all matters are said and done, the night concludes.

Act Two - Day
The new victim(s) is revealed and voting commences again.  Repeat into Act Two - Night and so on.


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The Roles

Thespians (Innocents): The main core of the Cast and Crew, they are under siege from the Understudies (Thespians gone wrong) who are determined to eliminate their competition and secure their starring roles.  As a whole the Thespians must work together to discover and eliminate the Understudies before it's too late.

Understudies (Villains): A minority group of the Thespians, they are working in secret to bring down the Thespians.  Only the Understudies know who each other is and they must work together with their plots and schemes if they mean to win the spotlight.

Director (Judge): The Director is elected at the beginning of the game by all the players.  Their function is to be the deciding factor should lynch voting come to a tie.

Producer (Guardian): Among the Thespian lurks the Producer.  Once a night the Producer chooses someone to protect from the Understudies.  If they choose correctly, the Understudies' target is saved for that evening.  The Producer may also elect to save themselves, but may only do so once.   They can only target the same person twice in a row before needing to elect to save someone else.

Stage Manager (Seer): Once a night the Stage Manager can target someone to learn of their true identity.  It is their responsibility to attempt to help the Thespians and sway the opinions with the truths that they glean.  However, they may not want to reveal their own true position, for a known Stage Manager could easily equate to a dead Stage Manager.

Props Manager (Alchemist): Once a game the Props Manager may elect to target anyone within the group.  Their decision must be made within the Night round and done so before the start of a new day.  They only have one chance, however, and their target can be saved if they are being protected by the Producer. 

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Let the adventure begin ...


Everyone is welcome to begin mingling!
make me forget
how to breathe

leave me with the
taste of your sin
they will lie about you, insult you, hurt you,
betray you, injure  you, set you aflame and
watch you burn. but they will not, shall not,
c a n n o t, destroy  you. because  you, like
R o m e, were built  on ashes, and you, like
a phoenix, know how to rise and resurrect.
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Aiden

On the days of the first rehearsals he made sure to arrive on time, nice and early to get enough time to warm up and most of all to claim the best dressing room! Smirking as he took the room he wished, he walked out to the stage to warm up a little and wait for others to arrive.

Valerian

Val arrived somewhat later, amusing herself by looking over the scenery and a few of the props that were still out and being worked on.  This would be a great production, she had no doubt, and she hoped she got a good part.  She turned and looked out over the rows and rows of seats, savoring the atmosphere.  "Isn't this great?" she asked, of no one in particular.  "I love these grand old theatres."
"To live honorably, to harm no one, to give to each his due."
~ Ulpian, c. 530 CE

Aludiana of the Dusk

Alu wandered around the theater, poking around the stage and backstage areas before settling into a seat right down in front of the stage, pulling out a copy of a book that was so well read and dog-eared that even the cover couldn't be made out anymore, although anyone who'd get close enough to read over her shoulder could tell that it was a copy of Grimm's Fairy Tales.
~On Hiatus Indefinitely~

Poetic Fury

Ali had always loved Alice in Wonderland so the moment she had seen the advertisement for open auditions she jumped at the opportunity.  It didn't matter to her the part that she would be cast in, simply participating in a childhood favorite was enough.  She had seen all the movies, read the stories countless times and was amazed each time she closed the story.

She had lingered outside the building for a few moments, hazel eyes scanning the architecture of the building as she smiled, partial to old theaters.  It made things seem special, important, fantastical.  Of course, the music that was twittering in her ears amped up the awe.  Everything was better when set to a soundtrack. 

When she finally entered she pulled the buds from her ears, pausing to look around.  She found herself standing beside another woman.  "There is something about them, isn't there," she agreed readily though the woman hadn't spoken to her directly.

"Seduce my mind and you can have my body.
Find my soul and I'm yours forever."
-Anonymous

Aiden

"They say the place is haunted you know...supposedly the last production came to a close end after half the cast were murdered one by one..."
Aiden tilted his head and looked over at all of them, his voice dropping ominously low and terrifying before a smile crossed his face and he snapped back to his normal self with a charming smirk. He was still unsure which part he wanted but he was leaning towards the hatter himself.
"All rumors I would assume, something to give this place a reason to visit."

Zelric Miras

A loud maniac laugh echoed in the stage, closely followed by a voice with a mellow pace in it. "Haunted is it, hmmm? Well that makes this more amusing..." Leorobin appeared from behind the curtains a wide grin on his face, perhaps somewhat disturbing. He chuckled and hoped down from the stage, hoping to have at least startled someone from his fellow actors and actress. He had received the invitation a few hours ago, but it was a too tempting treat  to decline. The chesire cat paper was in his mind, of course, getting in character for such character was certainly amusing.

Poetic Fury

Ali couldn't help but jump at the maniacal laughter, a small girlish squeal escaping her before she turned and saw someone else walking to the stage.  She laughed softly, shaking her head at the idiocy of her reaction.  She had to give him credit for creativity, and spectacular timing.  Her attention returned to the others after she smiled in apology for her outburst.

"It does sound like a marketing ploy.  People flock to places that have a sordid history.  Ghost hunters.  Thrill seekers."

She looked around the theater, her gaze sweeping over the many vacant seats of the audience.  Hands moving into her pockets she shrugged. 

"Besides, ghosts don't exist.  Do they?"  She laughed softly, her words mostly to convince herself than the others.

"Seduce my mind and you can have my body.
Find my soul and I'm yours forever."
-Anonymous

Remiel

"The ghosts would say they do," said Remiel, stretching out on stage.  He was looking forward to the run; with any luck, this could be his big break.  He was aware of the sordid history and scandal that surrounded the place, but that didn't matter.  Hopefully, he would land a big part, and then he would be Noticed.  Obviously, the Mad Hatter would be the ideal male role. 

"But I'm sure history won't repeat itself," he grinned.

Marguerite

Marguerite raised an eyebrow at hearing the stories of the place being haunted and possibly a danger to all. She would have to make sure not to end up in dark areas without a knife by her side or even a bottle to throw over someone's head. Of course, the bottle would be empty before she used it up on someone. "Things will change around here. We are not to repeat the same story over and over," she muttered beneath her breath as she walked onto the stage and took a look around at the other individuals. A nod was given to each of them before settling herself on the stage to take a look at anyone else who came around.
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Revenent

Rev stepped lightly down the carpeted aisle, making an effort to not draw too much attention to himself for two reasons: one, he knew the actor that tried to hardest to be the focus of everything was usually the least liked by the rest of the cast, and he really wanted to make a good impression with these people for some reason, and two, he wanted to take a quick look around the theater itself before he talked to any of the other cast. It was his first big budget play in the type of theater that had real investors and from which people usually reserved tickets ahead of time. He was struck with respect for the place, as well as fear that its legacy would be continued. Quickly, he weaved his way backstage and took in his first view of his workplace for the next several weeks.

desert ashes

Thespian after thespian was called upon to sing, to dance, and, of course, to act; to a shadowed row of investors and directors they played courtier and courtesan.  They charmed and enticed, each one giving (just perhaps) the audition of their life.  It was as the auditions were drawing to a close that the gathered thespians could feel the slight chill in the air, the unknown ominous air of death as the hollowed ghosts of the de Chantal Theater knew they would soon be growing in numbers.  Released back to the stage and dressing rooms to wait for the decisions to come (they were told "not long" yet that was never a definite answer in the theater business), it wasn't long before that spectral number grew by one ...

The fair Natalia would have been perfect for the role of Alice with her long red hair, big blue eyes and demure figure highlighted by ingrained grace and innocence.  Unfortunately, for poor Natalia, she held the fate of death for the young actress was soon discovered laying propped beside a tree; through her heart had been plunged a dagger.

Who among them could do such a horrifying deed?

First to ensure that among them was someone who could remain fair and level headed, a true Director among madness.


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On Stage: "We're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad." (Director vote.)

Cast and Crew
Aiden
Ali012281
Aludiana of the Dusk
Imogen
Kyrsa
Leorobin
Marguerite
nik200
Remiel
Revenent
rottenaim
sinera
Valerian

Still Voting: Aiden, Ali012281, Aludiana of the Dusk, Imogen, Kyrsa, Leorobin, Marguerite, nik200, Remiel, Revenent, rottenaim, sinera, Valerian

The only person you cannot vote for is yourself.
make me forget
how to breathe

leave me with the
taste of your sin
they will lie about you, insult you, hurt you,
betray you, injure  you, set you aflame and
watch you burn. but they will not, shall not,
c a n n o t, destroy  you. because  you, like
R o m e, were built  on ashes, and you, like
a phoenix, know how to rise and resurrect.
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 ·· · ideas & cravings ·· ons & offs ·· poetry ·· a/a ·· stories · ··

let there be beauty born from ashes

Aludiana of the Dusk

Aludiana was the first one to speak up.

"Perhaps Leorobin would be a good choice for director; he seems quite mad as it is, and I don't think any further descent into madness would phase him much."
~On Hiatus Indefinitely~

Revenent

Rev shook his head and stepped forward, not wanting the consensus to go down this trail.

"More madness is the last thing we need. Aludiana, I think you'd be the better choice. You seem more level-headed and  analytical. We need someone like that to keep us from losing our reason."

Imogen

"Aiden should be our director." Imogen rested a pale hand on his sleeve and slanted large, kohl lined eyes up at the handsome gentleman. "He's well dressed and handsome. And I'm sure he knows what part to give to everyone." Her fingers pressed down slightly on his arm. "Queen of hearts." She murmured under her breath, for Aiden's ears alone, or so she hoped. "I scratch your back, you... well, you know how the story goes."
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Stor-E Writers Registry[/td]
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Aiden

"And I vote for Imogen."
He voiced his choice of director after taking a moment of silence, his eyes turning to the cast after warning them of the old theater when they first answered the casting call.

Poetic Fury

Ali laughed softly under her breath as Imogen spoke to Aiden.  She wasn't quite sure what looks had to do with being a good director but it wouldn't hurt to have a handsome face too look at for hours on end during the rehearsals.

"Careful," she mumbled under her breath.  "I'd worry there might be an 'off with his head' if you scratch too hard." She smiled sweetly, winking at Imogen before adding, "Or not hard enough?"

"Seduce my mind and you can have my body.
Find my soul and I'm yours forever."
-Anonymous

Valerian

Val rolled her eyes a little, seeing that the"negotiating" for the best parts was beginning already.  "Well, if we want someone who can really take charge, then how about Marguerite?  With the reputation this place has, we need to make sure this production goes off without a hitch."
"To live honorably, to harm no one, to give to each his due."
~ Ulpian, c. 530 CE

Remiel

"Aludiana of the Dusk seems like as good a choice as any," he said.  And why not?  Although she was new to the scene, sometimes a fresh point of view was what was sorely needed.

Marguerite

Smiling at Val, she could see as well people were vying with their flesh for the parts. It was amusing and she wondered who would end up in tears if they did not get the part they wanted; for her, she was eyeing Cheshire and would leave the rest of the parts to be fought over like rabid dogs on a bone. "I vote for Valerian, for she knows how to not be affected by the bribes and the sexual tension raging through the place."
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You Keep On Crying, Baby, I'll Bleed You Dry
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Kye

Kyrsa had been quiet, seeking no starring role herself she felt no need to see her name in lights, content to be a part of a production that would be an enjoyable nod to the arts.  Or so she had thought before poor Natalia had been slain.  Glancing around her eyes fell upon Aludiana, who appeared to be a trust worthy sort.  "I think Aludiana is a good choice as well, perhaps she'll be able to keep things in order, after all the production must go on."

desert ashes


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On Stage: "We're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad." (Director vote.)

Cast and Crew
Aludiana of the Dusk (3) - Revenent, Remiel, Kyrsa
Aiden (2) - Imogen, Ali012281
Imogen (1) - Aiden
Leorobin (1) - Aludiana of the Dusk
Marguerite (1) - Valerian
Valerian (1) - Marguerite
Ali012281
Kyrsa
nik200
Remiel
Revenent
rottenaim
sinera

Still Voting: Leorobin, nik200, rottenaim, sinera

The only person you cannot vote for is yourself.
make me forget
how to breathe

leave me with the
taste of your sin
they will lie about you, insult you, hurt you,
betray you, injure  you, set you aflame and
watch you burn. but they will not, shall not,
c a n n o t, destroy  you. because  you, like
R o m e, were built  on ashes, and you, like
a phoenix, know how to rise and resurrect.
· accepting new stories ·
 ·· · ideas & cravings ·· ons & offs ·· poetry ·· a/a ·· stories · ··

let there be beauty born from ashes

Zelric Miras

#22
"I appreciate the vote of confidence, but...'You may have noticed that I'm not all there myself'." He chuckles and stands from his chair to glance at the faces of his fellow thespians. He pouts for a second as he thinks lazily tapping his nose. "I will, however, reply in kind to your vote. Perhaps if you saw the me that dwells outside this walls you must have a good eye. Hmmm...it is settled then, my vote is for Aludiana" He bows, nods slightly to Aaludiana and grins again, turning around to regain his seat with a whimsical canter.

rottenaim

Aim slipped from the shadows at the back of the stage where she had been listening quietly to all that had gathered. Her normally smooth brow creased ever so slightly. She was torn. Her perplexed gaze flicked from Aludiana to Aiden, to and fro in the semblance of watching a somewhat deranged, yet dreadfully slow tennis match. They both seemed fully capable of the post of Director, but alas it could go to only one. Who to choose?! Dilemmas, dilemmas. There seemed to be only one foolproof way to make the final decision. She slipped a quarter out of her pocket and glanced to Aiden. “You shall be heads…” then to Aludiana, “and you tails.” With a nimble thumb, she flipped the silvery coin up into the air, her gaze never wavering from its ascent to its descent, catching it in the palm of her hand. “My vote goes to Aiden.” She announced with a smile, as the head of the coin had landed clearly face up.

desert ashes

#24

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On Stage: "We're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad." (Director vote.)

Cast and Crew
Aludiana of the Dusk (4) - Revenent, Remiel, Kyrsa, Leorobin
Aiden (3) - Imogen, Ali012281, rottenaim
Imogen (1) - Aiden
Leorobin (1) - Aludiana of the Dusk
Marguerite (1) - Valerian
Valerian (1) - Marguerite
Ali012281
Josietta
Kyrsa
nik200
Remiel
Revenent
rottenaim


Still Voting: Josietta, nik200

The only person you cannot vote for is yourself.
make me forget
how to breathe

leave me with the
taste of your sin
they will lie about you, insult you, hurt you,
betray you, injure  you, set you aflame and
watch you burn. but they will not, shall not,
c a n n o t, destroy  you. because  you, like
R o m e, were built  on ashes, and you, like
a phoenix, know how to rise and resurrect.
· accepting new stories ·
 ·· · ideas & cravings ·· ons & offs ·· poetry ·· a/a ·· stories · ··

let there be beauty born from ashes