Miss Diega deftly creeps toward her husband’s back, grasping a knife in her hand.

She is about to sink in the blade when, all of the sudden, she unexpectedly runs into a gun aimed at the center of her chest.

This is just one scene from “Truth Covered Lies,” a dark comedy drama involving four different couples of serial killers, gay hitmen, undercover cops and crime lords.

All the couples are trying to kill each other except the undercover cops.

“There’s a lot of fake stage blood,” said Director Kevin Currier, an Alpena senior. “We’re dealing with people being shot and anything uncontrolled is hard to deal with.”

Currier said the actors will wear stage blood pouches that explode when shot.

Fenton senior Courtney Warba attempts to distract Troy senior Shawn Verbruggen, who plays her husband, from the weapon in her hand during rehearsal for "Truth-covered Lies" Monday in Moore Hall's Theatre-on-the-side. (Libby March/Staff Photographer)

“Truth Covered Lies” is one of two plays in Alpha Psi Omega’s One Act Festival, which takes place Thursday, Friday and Saturday in Moore Hall’s Theater-on-the-Side. The play will begin at 7:30 p.m. each night. Admission is $2 at the door.

“Truth Covered Lies” introduces a variety of new ways to look at relationships, said Interlochen junior Aaron Wineman, the script writer.

“The audience needs to keep out of mind morals and look at them as just couples,” Wineman said. “The whole point is about lies and relationships, it is something everyone can relate to.”

The cast works with violence and profanity throughout the performance.

A ‘very physical’ show

Currier said an unnecessary amount of stage blood is used for comical purposes.

Fortunately for the actors, the blood is made of soap and is easy to wash out, he said.

For violent scenes, the actors deal with a variety of stunts.

“It is a very physical show, and there’s a lot of running around and falling,” said St. Clair Shores resident Dave Giles, who plays John, a gay hitman.

Mount Pleasant sophomore Richard Bronson plays Giles’ partner, Steven, who falls out of a window during one scene.

Bronson’s stunt broke the stage window as he fell during a rehearsal.

“I have a lot of bruises,” Bronson said. “He’s almost oblivious and self involved.”

Bronson and Giles play a nonsensical gay couple whose relationship problems always miss out on the perfect opportunity to kill Miss Diega’s husband.

“He’s not very good at it,” Bronson said of his character’s personality. “He is also very difficult – he is always in his own world.”

Steven carries a lavender gun, which accessorizes his outfit, Bronson said.

Kristen Marzonie, a Novi senior, said each couple has its own plot and everything overlaps and intertwines.

The performance will be accompanied with “Ain’t that a Kick in the Head,” a play directed by Clinton Township senior Kevin Broomfield.

E-mail the author: Melissa Torok