The theatre troupe performed Noel Coward’s Hay Fever on September 11, 12 and 13. The show was put on by the theatre productions class, also known as varsity theatre, and takes up both 6th and 7th period. The students came in to prepare for the show over the summer, as only 18 of them were tasked with working on the whole production, which is about a third of the people that usually help out with the shows.
“This was my first time working on the productions show,” senior stage manager Jessica Lee said. “It was very different from my usual work on the musical, but everyone had fun and the audience loved it.”
Many of the audience members had glowing reviews about the actors and how the show was performed, but there were equal amounts of praise for the costumes and set. Behind the scenes, the set is heavily detailed. As it was fairly realistic, emphasis was placed on making it feel like a home. To achieve that homely effect, wood tile was hammered into the ground and ornate molding was placed around the walls and floral wallpaper.
“I like to work on the set because I love the creativity and teamwork that is involved with it,” senior set chief Imane Seddiki said. “Taking the script and bringing the setting to life is very fun, especially if it’s up to my own interpretation.”
Having nationally qualified for her set design for the previous productions show, Seddiki combines her artistic talents and knowledge of building in order to guide her set team. Many of the crews have skills going past those that they have learned at theatre, as two of Jackie Coryton’s (played by Gretchen Gille) costumes were made by costume crew member Cordi Leung.
“I like working on costumes because clothes and accessories reflect personality,” junior costume crew member Seriah Thomas said. “I feel like it better helps convey the characters and their intentions to the audience.”
The performance was magnified further by the technical aspect. Songs from the ‘20s and warm lighting made for the perfect ambience, and the extravagant costumes and props made the Bliss family’s wealth all the more evident. The students working on the production all worked on multiple aspects of it and used the productions show as a way to train freshmen in tech. The show was made possible due to all of the students working on it, crossing over into multiple departments to finish the show.
“Everyone that worked on this show did very well and they should be proud of it,” Lee said. “In the end, it was an amazing show that truly let every aspect of the production shine.”
