For the past few years, East’s fall play has been a musical based on a Disney play, from The Little Mermaid last year, to Cinderella the year before, to Aladdin two years ago. These productions were full of the saccharine sweetness and familiar music numbers one expects from Walt’s famous works, and along with the spring musical, generated a one-two punch of cloying song and dance.
This year, however, East’s drama club decided to switch gears for the fall play with the song-less comedy Play On, which was performed on November 1st and 2nd. “This is something new, unlike anything we’ve ever done before,” said junior Lyana Macaluso who played Gerry Dunbar in the play.
Play On is the story of a very stressed-out theatre company and its attempts to put on a murder mystery despite the playwright’s frequent changes to the script. Unlike previous fall plays, which had a male and female lead and a large contingent of supporting characters and dancers, Play On has a small ensemble cast of about 10 actors. Everybody was excellent, starring Elias Miller as the slightly disgruntled, snarky thespian Saul Watson, Noelle Abdullah as ditzy playwright Phyllis Montague, and Lyana Macaluso as overworked director Gerry Dunbar.
The play was in three 45 minute-long acts; the first act consisted of the company’s rehearsal two days before the play, the second consisted of the dress rehearsal and the third showcased the first performance of the play within a play. The script was very well-written and witty; the entire audience was guffawing during the third act. Jon Anger, a 2013 graduate from East and former head of sound in Stage Crew said that the mishaps with sound effects that occur in the play—which include fire engines blaring when a telephone’s supposed to wring—are familiar to anybody who has put on a show in the past. “Messing up sound cues is something that happens,” said Anger. “It’s awesome to come back and watch something you’ve been a part of for four years from the other side,” said fellow Stage Crew graduate Ravleen Kaur.
You can tell that the actors are glad to have a more mature script to work with this year; they’re clearly relishing their time on the stage. “It’s been really fun. We’re like a family; we all get along really well together,” said Lizzy Bamford, who plays Aggie Manville in the play. “I’m proud of them,” said drama club co-advisor Mrs. Catalano. The drama club’s president Justin Hess, who played Henry Benish, highlighted the variety of grades represented in the play, saying that casting was based on pure talent and not on seniority. “We’ve all been working really hard, and everything is coming together,” he said before the performance.
The actors aren’t the only students involved in the play—the Stage Crew did an excellent job of managing lights, sound and props during the performance, and had a great time doing it. “The cast and crew are very fun to work with,” said Stage Crew member Nicole Cavanaugh. “Everyone gets along great. It makes for an amazing experience.” Audience member Lorna Krabill went so far as to call them the “unsung heroes” of the play.
Generally, the play received enthusiastic praise from its audience, and drew a standing ovation at the close of the performance. “…the actors have been great,” said sophomore Ryan Acklin. “It’s hard to look away from them.” “I think it’s wonderful. Everybody’s done a great job. It’s very entertaining and well-done,” said Mrs. Roberts, a French teacher here at East. “It’s really funny and Christie [Connolly, who plays Violet Imbry] makes it amazing,” said Prerna Singh.
Drama Club’s next performance will be Seussical in the spring, and will be sure to feature many musical numbers, East’s talented pit orchestra and flamboyant sets and costumes. Be sure to come and watch and support these talented actors—if you don’t, you’re really missing out.
