Haunted Sawmill chills Delhi audiences

Delhi District Secondary School’s drama class and drama club presented their annual Haunted Sawmill, partnering with the Delhi Tobacco Museum & Heritage Centre on Oct. 24-25.

Chris Abbott

Editor

Delhi District Secondary School’s drama class and drama club braved the cold weather Oct. 24-25 to present their annual Haunted Sawmill, partnering with the Delhi Tobacco Museum & Heritage Centre.

"I am incredibly proud of my Drama class and Drama club students for their effort, skills, and talent,” said Delhi District Secondary School teacher Jenna Thompson. “This is our second year putting on the Haunted Sawmill, and the returning students have made major improvements in their acting abilities, work habits, and prop and set building.

“Our students who are new to the program stepped up and took on challenges, which they tackled with enthusiasm,” said Thompson. “I saw a lot of impressive growth in their problem-solving skills and their commitment to working as a team, which is what matters at the heart of a Drama program. I'm very much looking forward to our next mainstage production, Radium Girls, which will happen in January."

“We had good feedback last night,” said museum curator Andrew Moore as they prepared for the second night on Oct. 25. “We sold out last night and tonight.”

The ‘night of horror’ started at the Delhi Tobacco Museum and Heritage Centre parking lot. Following a safety talk, groups of seven were met on their way to the Quance Sawmill by a panicked student, pleading for them to “Help find my sister! She’s stuck in there!” 

Visitors learned this year’s haunted sawmill had a ‘Followers of Twilight’ horror theme with dark rooms and corridors, costumed actors, brilliant redlight rooms, spooky music, and a lot of screaming.

In total, 70 people came for chilly Friday and Saturday tours, joining the actors ‘on stage’ as they were guided from room to room in small groups.

“Last night was really good, it was fun,” said student Karson Duncan, official greeter on the ground floor, admitting there were a few ‘improv’ moments on the first night.

“I am liking the atmosphere, and I like my job being the guy that introduces everybody to the show - kind of a Twilight Zone presenter,” said Duncan, a first-year drama club member.

“This is my first time acting,” said student Hayden Charuk, who played a lead role seeking her sister.

Audiences, which included some family members, seemed a bit ‘hesitant’ on Friday, said Charuk, but she felt the morale of the drama team made up for it.

“Everyone performed really well and it was really fun leading people through,” said Charuk. “I think it went really well – I think everyone did their part perfectly.”

“I was stressed out thinking I was going to mess up… but I don’t think I messed up,” smiled student Stefanie Barnucz, an audience ‘plant.’`

“You did really good,” said student Riley Babbey.

Barnucz knew her parents would be in the first group Saturday night, adding to the importance of that particular tour.

“You want me to scare your parents?” another student asked.

“Yes! I’ll show you what they look like,” said Barnucz. “I want to scare them.”

“Scaring parents is top priority,” Charuk nodded.

Babbey, a Grade 12 student with experience at last year’s Haunted Sawmill, admitted horror movies were not her thing, but she loves ‘scaring people.’ The interactive nature of a haunted tour was right up that alley.

“I feel like this year it’s kind of better because last year we were more focused on ‘story’… and this year it’s more about the ‘scary.’ I love that, I’m all for that. Scaring people is my favourite thing.

“I’m a very easy person to scare, but I come back for revenge,” Babbey laughed.

The haunted sawmill experience builds confidence and friendships in drama class and drama club students, she said.

“There’s a lot of joking around, a lot of encouraging other people. That’s what drama club is about – encouraging people, having fun, and getting it done.”

***

Long-term, Moore said Delhi’s heritage sawmill could see renovations to floors, various gears and belts, and accessibility, eventually becoming a museum centre-piece. It’s a 3-5 year plan, however, that could be pushed back.

“In the meantime, it’s a creepy old sawmill and I’m going to let the drama students have it every year as long as they want to keep doing it,” he smiled. “And I think they love it.”