Coming soon to Neuqua Valley’s very own stage, is Ah Wilderness. The small cast of fourteen will be performing on November 13th, 14th, and 15th.Ah, Wilderness is about a family on their Fourth of July vacation. The play mainly revolves around the second oldest son and his interesting choice of literature. On the path to self identity, he starts to read communist literature and romantic poetry, both considered extremely taboo in the play’s setting of 1906. “It has a happy ending,” said junior Zack Hersh, first time student director. “They all come together at the end as a family.”
In order to choose actors for the cast of Ah, Wilderness, Zack Hersh and freshman English teacher Jay fontanetta watched students perform one-minute monologues. “I was looking for them to take a script and make a character choice based on the script that they were given,” said director fontanetta. At rehearsal, the newly selected cast explained that they just began working on the script and will soon begin to work on blocking their positions on stage and subtle facial expressions.
For those watching the play, senior Cadence Mercer-Curtis said, “For whoever comes to see [the play], I would say that you should pay attention to the small things!”
Charlie and The Chocolate Factory
This year’s children’s theatre production was Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Unlike other shows put on at Neuqua, the children’s play is targeted for younger children. One way the cast worked to gear the play towards children was by condensing it to less than two hours to avoid losing the children’s attention. The most significant way the cast worked to keep the audience’s attention was by involving children in the play. Actors would come into the seats and ask children questions remaining in character. Child actors were seen on stage as well. These child actors were selected from Neuqua theatre’s summer camp and rehearsed with the high school cast once school started to learn their Oompa-Loompas dance.
The cast also catered to parents adding reference which entertain an older audience. Mrs. Salt, played by Grace Heimerl was had lines giving reference to republican John McCain’s running mate, Sarah Palin. Audiences laughed when she repeated Palin’s now famed ‘lipstick’ joke, and again as Willy Wonka, played by Bryson David Hoff, wished her luck on the November election.
The overall contrast to other productions that the children’s play presents keeps audiences wanting more.
By Alexandra Pastore, staff writer
