Student members of the Joliet West High School Group Interpretation Team will perform “A Series of Unfortunate Events” in a Community Showcase at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 19, 2019 in the Joliet West High School Auditorium, 401 N Larkin Avenue in Joliet.  The event is free and open to the public.

Written by Daniel Handler under the pen name Lemony Snicket, “A Series of Unforuntate Events” tells the catastrophic story of Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire, after they are placed in the custody of Count Olaf, a devious relative who attempts to steal their inheritance by all means necessary. Under the strict rules of the IHSA for Group Interpretation (GI), the students must perform without the aid of props, costumes, or scenery. Shows must be less than 30 minutes in length, and the performers must mainly direct their focus offstage, facing the audience rather than each other.

There are thirteen cast members in Joliet West Group Interpretation directed by instructor Kristin Blake.  Student Tony Nardi who plays the main antagonist, Count Olaf, said, “This is one of my favorite stories from childhood, and I’m really happy to share this story before I graduate. I’m really proud of everyone.”

Lily Villaflor, who plays Violet Baudelaire, added, “We’ve worked really hard to put this together, and I’m really excited to share this story with our school today.”

The West Group Interpretation Team performed the show for their classmates last week. The audience asked many questions regarding the challenges the performers overcame to develop the show, and many students in the audience agreed that they not only enjoyed the comedic moments of the show, but also felt true fear in response to Count Olaf’s menacing threats and impositions. The GI team is excited to now offer this opportunity to the public.

Kristin Blake said, “I’m so proud of these kids for their creativity, passion, and talent.”