Drama tackles multiple productions

“Honestly, Now!” is a student-produced play set in the late 1960s when Carlita Umbro, played by sophomore Lea Moustakas, throws a party, but runs into complications when she realizes that a pair of jewel thieves and detectives are among the guests. It was performed Jan. 16, 17 and 18 in the Thermond  Theatre, and directed by senior Nastasya Kutuyev.

The cast, as well as the audience, liked how it turned out despite several setbacks, such as a malfunctioning sound system and missing cues, which happened during the second performance.

“I realized that the phone cue wasn’t going to go off because our sound hadn’t been working,” said freshman Mateusz Kranz, who played Hector Umbro. “I spent five minutes trying to find an app on my phone that would let me play the sound cues that we would need. It was nerve wracking.”

The cast was forced to improvise lines onstage for about five minutes until a solution could be found. Luckily, the rest of the show went off without a hitch.

Even with small setbacks, the show was a general crowd-pleaser, drawing several laughs from the audience.

“It was a very funny show and they definitely did a great job at emphasizing the comical side of the play,” said junior Emily Ludwig. “I think that [Kutuyev] directed the show perfectly and managed to focus on the most important aspects of it.”

Although Kutuyev faced a few problems, such as trying to find a rehearsal schedule that fit actors’ schedules, the process was generally smooth.

“At times the show was a little stressful because I didn’t fully understand all of the complexities that came along with directing a show, but after I figured that out, the rehearsal process was a lot of fun,” Kutuyev said.

Added sophomore JT Hulme: “Because the cast had only eight people, we all became really close. We’re always laughing about something, and that’s what made the production so fun.”

 

‘Cyrano de Bergerac’ prepares for opening 

“Cyrano de Bergerac,” directed by senior Andrew York, is  the story of a valiant but unattractive man who enlists the help of a more attractive man to woo the woman he loves. It will run Feb. 6-8 and features sophomore Raymond McCarthy as Cyrano, senior Jay Sehmby as the Comte de Guiche and junior Emily Ludwig as Roxane.

“I am looking forward to having the students at SHS who have read ‘Cyrano de Bergerac’ in English, experience it the way it was meant to be experienced: through a live performance,” York said.

York said that seeing the audience members on the edge of their seats during intense scenes will “really make me feel like I did my job right.” 

York’s biggest worry is that people may view “Cyrano” as a comedy that doesn’t work with the modern audience.

“The jokes and phrases that may seem archaic when read come to life and make perfect sense when the actor understands the purpose of what he or she is saying,” York said. “I’ve trimmed the show to make it fit the audience better, but I also want to keep the beauty that it was written with.”

Senior Melissa Rogan, who stage manages both “Honestly, Now!” and “Cyrano,” said that “Cyrano” is an impressive show with cast members who all get along very well, making for an easier and efficient rehearsal process.

As a movement and blocking heavy show, “Cyrano” depends on actors to show up to rehearsals. If an actor isn’t there, they have to rely on other castmates for guidance, which they have done

“I’m also amazed at how they are able to pick up hilarious physical comedy bits and work with such a huge line load, which is personally terrifying to me!” Rogan said.

Adding to the difficulty of memorization, many of the lines contain lengthy French phrases. Because none of the actors actually speaks French, few actors know what’s going on.

“I think the hardest part is memorizing the insane number of lines and monologues,” sophomore Raymond McCarthy said. “The style of writing brings a lot of possible interpretations and opportunities for for humor and emotion, but memorizing and speaking in this style while also in character can be really hard.”

With many lines  to memorize and all the work that goes into the show, York has a challenging job, but his cast is liking the direction the show is taking.

“[York] has a very clear vision of how he wants the show, and I think that’s really important in a director,” McCarthy said. “He has kept us on our toes by methods such as soaking us with a squirt gun when we mess up.”

York said he wants to create the perfect show not only for the audience but also for everyone who has worked so hard to create this with him.

“Fourteen actors, my stage manager, all the techs and my drama teacher have all put their trust in me and invested their time, money and passion,” York said. “It’s my job to return all of that tenfold, and make something that everyone is proud of.”

 

Spring Musical: ‘The Mystery of Edwin Drood’ rehearsals begin

Auditions for the 2015 spring musical “The Mystery of Edwin Drood” by Rupert Holmes, based on an unfinished Charles Dickens novel, took place Jan. 21, 22 and 23.

The musical is a play within a play. The cast will play a cast of characters performing the story of Edwin Drood, a wealthy young man who mysteriously disappears on Christmas Eve.  

The show is a murder mystery, and according to director Sarah Thermond, despite the fact that the show has dark undertones, it also has bits of comedic relief. Thermond hopes it will give the audience the opportunity to laugh more than they had during last year’s spring musical, “Les Miserables.”

“I picked this show with many considerations,” Thermond said. “I knew that regardless of the show, it wouldn’t have as much hype as ‘Les Mis,’ so I took the opportunity to pick a lesser-known show.”

Thermond hopes that the community will get excited about the show because of a unique twist: The audience gets to vote on its ending, which means the actors will need more improvisation skills rather than memorization of lines.

Still, many of the actors are apprehensive about the temperamental nature of the show.

Thermond acknowledges that the actors generally don’t get top face these kinds of situations outside of a classroom setting. She thinks it will take a lot of effort for the cast to be able to perform the different endings, no matter which one the audience votes for.

The actors are facing this challenge with a mixture of excitement and apprehension.

“I’m super excited for the ending because I think that there are so many ways that Ms. Thermond can direct it, and I think that it’s a really unique spin on a normal musical,” said sophomore Kavya Sadras. “I can’t wait to see how it goes.”

The cast list will be announced by Jan. 28.

The musical will perform on April 24 and 25 at 7:30, April 26 at 2 p.m. and May 1 and 2 at 7:30.