After 12 weeks of rehearsal, endless hours of memorization, and the tedious practice of perfecting English accents, students in the drama club at Old Rochester Regional High School were ready for the final dress rehearsal of their production of “The Boy Friend.”
The play, which is more like a theatrical institution responsible for launching the American theater career of Julie Andrews, is a satire centered on a group of young women at a boarding school in the south of France during the 1920s.
While the subject matter of the production may seem both foreign and dated for the cast and crew of over 100 people, they embraced it from day one.
“I am so excited for this show and for these kids,” said Paul Sardinha, ORRHS Drama Club Director. “The kids have really pulled together and they are way excited.”
Backstage, it was excitement mixed with anxiety and uncertainty. On Monday, they had not made it through the entire show from start to finish, which left some members wondering how the rest of the week was going to go.
Katie Holden, a senior at ORRHS, plays the female lead character, Polly Browne.
“We had a really rough Monday. But then something happened on Tuesday and we really raised the bar. The whole night everybody was so amped up because we did so much better,” she said.
While Holden is a four-year drama club vet, she admitted that balancing her character with the rest of the show was a challenge.
“Polly’s character is unique because, the whole show is a farce, but she is the only one who has to play it straight.” Straight, in this case, includes her character speaking in a high-strung, silken head voice while striking exaggerated, statuesque poses one may expect to see in old silent films.
ORRHS junior Max Houck, who plays Tony (the “Boy Friend”), had never acted on stage before.
“I had fun, but I had to play catch up to a lot of people. I didn’t know how to act in a theater or how to even project my voice. But the whole show will be great, so I’m excited,” he said.
For old hands and green horns alike, being a part of live theater means you are part of a family, for better or for worse. Tempers often flare, but the frustration is rarely personal. Each member of the cast and crew knows they are part of a team that shares the same endgame.
Juliana Marques, a senior, has been a member of the stage crew for seven productions, and in that time, has become quite the “Jane” of all trades.
“The fun part for me is that I get to do a lot of different things, so I’m never bored. In the past, I’ve done lighting, sound, costuming, sold concessions,” she said. The set for “The Boy Friend” is sparse, relying heavily on gorgeously ornate painted backdrops to complete the scenes. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t much to do.
“I’m responsible for a lot of the set moving, making sure people are hitting their marks, and making sure the changes go smoothly,” said Kurt Correia, a senior and stage manager for the show. “I actually love the stress. It’s weird. But at the end of the night when it’s done, the feeling of relief after the stress goes away is amazing,” he said.
After a short delay, the show got off to a great start and the dress rehearsal was indeed a success. With a full pit orchestra, light and sound cues, the audience of senior citizens was enchanted by the whirling melodies and choppy Charleston kicks that emanated from the stage.
The ORRHS drama club was breathing life into an old favorite that ranks as the third longest running show in Broadway history. The troubles of Monday night seemed to be a distant memory for the cast and crew as they barreled forward with an innocent and tenacious charm most common in stage actors. Live theater has always been about giving and taking. The actors give everything they have and the audience takes with them what means the most, whatever that may be.
“The Boy Friend” will run from March 23-24 at 7:30 pm and March 25 at 2:00 pm in the ORRHS auditorium. Tickets are $12 for seniors and students with an ID and $15 for adults and can be purchased at the Marion General Store, the Pen and Pendulum in Mattapoisett, the Plumb Corner Market in Rochester or in the school’s office during school hours.
By Eric Tripoli
