There was some extra entertainment for people at the middle school show last week. Before the curtain went up, an ensemble from the high school pranced on stage and sang the opening number from “The Mystery of Edwin Drood.” The performers were stirring up interest for the show they’ll be presenting next month. After getting an ovation, they rushed back to the high school so they’d have time to rehearse.
The opening number, “There You Are,” isn’t a song you have to hear several times to appreciate. It’s catchy, boisterous, and full of energy. The cast members boom it out as they parade down the aisles and onto the stage. As good as the song is, it doesn’t tell you what the show’s about. You have to wait a few minutes to get the scoop.
With the entire cast scattered about the stage, Rhiannon Guilfoyle and Stephen DeRosa (with more than a hint of a British accent) give the audience an idea of what to expect. The show is based on a novel by Charles Dickens, but Rhiannon seductively explains that while Dickens was writing the story he committed the one ignoble act of his career. “What’s that?” the cast members gasp in anticipation. “He died,” Rhiannon tells them.
So the script goes as far as the novel, and then it’s up to the audience to provide the end. The spectators vote on who committed the murder, who solved it, and who gets married (since every story needs a bit of a love angle).
In modern terminology, this is an interactive show. Even in the opening scene, the characters seem to be playing to individuals in the audience. And they do it, without making anyone feel uncomfortable. But how do they pull off the end? We assumed that were three or four possible conclusions, and the cast members rehearsed each one of them. But James Gillick, one of the performers, claims that’s not the case. He says that given the number of potential murderers, detectives and romantics, there are hundreds of ways to wrap up the show. It would be impossible to practice them all, so the cast members improvise.
People can see how that works by attending the show. There are performances in the high school auditorium at 7 p.m. on April 3-5, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 6.
People can call 497-3914 for ticket information or can e-mail requests to cchsdramatix@yahoo.com.
Characters: Dabney Brice, Rosie Canzoneri, Sam Corby, Stephen DeRosa, Christian Longueira, Mike Donato, Rose Foody, Brooke Garfinkel, James Gillick, Rhiannon Guilfoyle, Glynis Halliday, Mariah Hernandez, Christian Longueira, Maxx MacRae, Krissy McGonnigle, Dylan Messina, Callie Noland, Gavin O’Gorman, Olivia Perrone, Dharani Rao, Kevin Stevens, Siena Tice, Branton Toback
Company: Dan Aalfs, Samantha Bartul, Lauren Berkery, Haley Boden, Victoria Boswell, Gio Brice, Ethan Brondum, Elena Byassee, Rosie Canzoneri, John Cascino, Maddy Cleeves, Eileen Clerkin, Lindsey Cochran, Darcy Conley, Will Corby, Liz Davis, Cara DiMedio, Jaclyn Doherty, Christen Donlon, Michael Doulin, Fiona Durkin, Rose Foody, Samantha Fowler, Colin Franke, Abba Frey, Emily Giardina, Marc Gomez, Brynne Growney, Eric Growney, Glynis Halliday, Olivia Heller, Kristin Henry, Sarah Henry, Dan Hess, Kayla Horisk, Julia Hughes, Alec Hydos, Julia Kerr, Olivia Kerr, Elizabeth Klosky, Sydney Korycinski, Jillian Larson, Charles Longueira, Amber Malagoli, Samantha Malvey, Giselle Martinez, Eva McGill, Hannah Mellino, Dylan Messina, Sara Mintz, Kelly Moran, Valerie Morel, Katelin Mrekva, Marina Pandoliano, Angela Pepe, Stephanie Peters, Brooke Reilly, Haleigh Reutershan, Sophie Rice, Matt Rose, Larissa Ross, Gabriela Scala, Sophia Scala, Emma Schilling, Serena Smacchia, Will Snyder, Taylor Summerfield, Siena Tice, Samantha Tighe, Rose Tommasi, Amanda Torres, Amalia Vazquez, Aria Verzi, Natasha Wagner, Emily Zyla
