Most musicals include an array of lead roles, full ensembles and elaborate orchestras — but not this one. Truman State’s production “Murder Ballad” features just four cast members accompanied by a small rock band.
“Murder Ballad” follows the story of Sara, a girl who can’t seem to escape the temptations of her past as a steamy love-triangle unfolds around her. The show explores the many complications of love, including compromise, betrayal and revenge.
Assistant director Ryan Webb says the show’s darker tones match the theatre department’s ongoing theme, ‘What would you kill for? What would you die for?’
“This year was all about revenge, death, lust — all these heavy materials and we chose ‘Murder Ballad’ because it’s very much a contemporary play… and it really deals with those heavy issues of violence, lust, and all these dark emotions,” says Webb.
As the title implies, the audience should expect a murder from the very opening. However, when the murder will occur and who will be the victim should keep the audience at the edge of their seats.
Senior Taylor Hawkins, who plays Tom, one of the lead male love interests of the show, says the small cast makes the production a lot more challenging.
“When you have an ensemble going behind you you have something to kind of rely on but this is really more soloistic in a sense and it provides a lot more theatrical moments, ” says Hawkins.
Hawkins emphasizes that small productions like “Murder Ballad” provide a unique theatre experience that many audience members have not encountered before.
“Murder Ballad” closes tonight, April 16. The final performance will be at at 8 p.m. in the James G. Severns Theatre located in Ophelia Parrish. Tickets are $5 and must be bought in advance at the box office located in the main lobby of Ophelia Parrish.