Katie Tan, Reporter
@KtanCourant
The stage lights beam on the faces of dedicated actors and actresses. The play comes to life as audience members cry in heartfelt scenes, then find themselves in hysterical laughter during comedic music numbers. This is the experience the upperclassmen play ,“Feathers in the Wind”, seeks to provide its audience members this fall, from October 27th to 29th.
According to the New Canaan High School Theatre website, the play is a “whimsical musical weaving together a collection of Jewish folk tales about the the wise fools of Chelm into a single fable. As Rabbi Itzik searches the world for his scattered congregation, he recounts the rise and fall of his little village that proved time and again that ‘God loves the people of Chelm.'”
On or off stage, these NCHS students prove their dedication to the play program by attending practices after school and on the weekends. Junior Lauren Smith describes the rigor of the rehearsal schedule. “You are given a schedule and you have to plan all your other activities around that strict itinerary,” she said.
In rehearsals, they work with props and perfect the lighting. “We have something called ‘cue to cue,’” Lauren said. “It’s eight hours, and you have to edit scene by scene.”
Senior Jack Dahill knows that the hard work pays off, and is playing four roles in this year’s play – Melach, Pinias, Rothschild the swindler, and the barkeeper. ”I love performing,” he said. “It’s such a great feeling to escape your life for a bit and become somebody else.”
Yet, a play member who can not be seen acting on stage is senior and stage manager, Emma Dahill. She has been stage manager since sophomore year, and described how she has to be organized and hardworking to make sure the play’s opening night runs smoothly. She proves her importance as stage manager by taking notes, observing rehearsals, and keeping the cast organized by emailing nightly rehearsal reports. “When we get down to showtime, I’m the one who keeps moving and ends up backstage on headset talking to the people on lights and sound,” she said.
The week before the show, these already busy rehearsals begin to come to a close and can go as late as 8pm. The cast endures numerous dress rehearsals while taking critique and starting over. “We call it hell week,” Jack said, “As the name implies, it’s very stressful.
This year, the students’ hard work will be put into action in the class of 2018’s first upperclassmen play. “In the underclassmen musical, you still have to get to know everyone, and you’re still figuring out what you like to do,” Lauren said. “So, you may not exactly enjoy theatre sometimes, but in the upperclassmen play you know everybody’s there because they want to be there.”
This play is unlike any other due to its Jewish roots, charming humor, and thrilling musical numbers. If you are still unsure if you should go to “Feathers in the Wind,” here’s what to expect: “It has a traditional Jewish feel, which is really something we’ve never done here before, Jack said. “So people can expect something unique.”
Tickets are on sale now on the NCHS Theatre website. The production will take place on October 27 through October 29, so make sure to stop by and experience this comedy unfold in the peculiar town of Chelm.
