No Refund Theatre returns with the second production of its spring catalog. This week, the organization presents “The Great Mallard.”

Written by Martin Clare and directed by junior Tess Murphy, the thriller tells the story of strangers brought together by fate in a modern-day mystery. Arriving one by one in time at The Great Mallard Hotel, each guest is greeted by the gleeful yet suspicious hotel manager, Percy. 

Running the seemingly abandoned British seaside resort, Percy is surprised by the sudden influx of guests and left even more confused as each individual requests a night in the same room. As secrets spill and pieces are put together, a clear theme emerges: While a simple hotel stay might seem like the suite life, nothing is ever as innocent as it seems. 

After previously working on No Refund Theatre’s production of Blithe Spirit, Murphy knew she had to return to the organization in another directing role. Searching for a play that prioritized personality in well-developed messages, Murphy discovered the hidden gem script.

“The ending of the show genuinely hit me,” Murphy said. “I was like, ‘I’m so in love with this ending and the message of this show.’”

Focusing on clever quips and storytelling, the script incorporates tongue-in-cheek humor to supplement the mystery instead of distracting from it. From casting in December, Murphy worked to embrace this aspect of the show, encouraging actors to make each distinct character unique.

“It’s not a super well-known play so a lot of the characters also aren’t super well known,” actor Alexis Dauley said. “So, a lot of it just allowed us to make it our own.”

Workshopping characters to allow for individualization, the cast collaborated to connect each player in the greater puzzle of the story.

“It was so fun to see one person talking about their character and other people hopping in and saying ‘Wouldn’t it be cool if…’” assistant director Judith Oller said. “So each one of their characters belongs to one person, but it’s really a group effort, and they all fit together really well because everyone’s a small part of all of them.”

Linking each persona through their past, the actors found further fun in the production process by creating backstories. Here, senior and NRT veteran Josh Sanville reflected on his character, the lead role of Percy.

“He is the manager, head chef, bellhop, and only real employee at The Great Mallard Hotel,” Sanville said. “It’s very fun to play a character where most of the show I’m hiding something and thinking about how he would react to others throughout the show.”

Serving the guests with an air of mystery, the hotel manager also brings laughter to the table. 

“While Percy tries to be suave and charming and cool under pressure, he fails miserably basically every time,” Sanville said. “As a person, he’s very awkward… There’s no filter between his brain and his mouth.”

Playing another standout character, sophomore Ashley Russo also enjoyed the expressive outlet when shaping the role of Sofia, a beautiful yet brutal businesswoman.

“While part of her identity is that she’s very attractive and all this, she’s not unintelligent… She’s very smart, and she’s very manipulative,” Russo said. “While she’s very beautiful on the outside, she’s ugly on the inside.”

Building character from the ground up, Russo was grateful for the production staff’s support and Murphy’s approach.

“She can tell you exactly what she wants but in such a polite way….” Russo said. “It’s great to talk with someone who has a clear vision and who also knows how to talk to people.”

Echoing a similar sentiment, assistant director Audrey Cressler synthesized the appreciation of the cast. 

“If you work with Tess once, you want to work with her again,” Cressler said. “She’s just a lovely presence to be around.”

Furthering the commitment behind the scenes, the stage is also set with clues to keep the audience on their toes. If one looks closely enough, they might crack the case wide open, even before the hotel guests onstage reveal their secrets.

Adding onto a family friendly feel, the setting also includes nods to the cast such as pictures drawn by a cast member’s little brother and various depictions of ducks including a stuffed Squishmallow named Pond.

Quickly becoming the mascot of the show, Pond has been featured in various promotional materials, representing the authenticity and welcoming spirit of the organization since its creation. 

Fostering an open environment for creativity, Murphy credits her actors with creating the end result onstage. 

“The fun that comes out of the show is from the characters, but really from the actors,” Murphy said. “Without them, the show would fall flat. The magic of the show really comes from the actors. 

Overcoming the cancelation of their last run due to school closure, Murphy shared a final message of the show that is quite relatable in context. 

“Sometimes what you’re looking for is not what you need,” Murphy said. “Sometimes what you need is right in front of you, and it just takes someone pointing you in the right direction to find what’s gonna make you happy… It’s not always what you think.”

Three performances of The Great Mallard will play at 8 p.m. on Thursday, January 26; Friday, January 27; and Saturday, January 28, in Forum 111. 

As always, all No Refund Theatre productions are free of charge.