The COVID-19 pandemic has been particularly debilitating to the performing arts, forcing theatre troupes at all levels to retreat and find new ways of staging plays and performances.
Parkers Chapel’s Theatre classes and Thespian Troupe have trekked on through the setbacks, putting on a member showcase in December and participating virtually in the recent State Thespian Festival.
Now, the school’s Theatre II class is planning to perform the play “Check Please!” by Jonathan Rand on Thursday, April 15 and Saturday, April 17.
Theatre instructor Tracye Couture said that she relinquished some control for this performance and is directing the play along with student director Clayton Evers, a sophomore.
The cast includes students Madeline Couture, Ellery Paliculict, Hannah Elizabeth, Gracie Robertson, Evers, Coleman Slaughter and Heather Hudson.
Evers said this first experience in directing has been made easier by the cast.
“The hardest part is that this is a comedy, which isn’t always the easiest thing to put into a story. But I have good, funny cast members who are seasoned actors, so it hasn’t been too overwhelming,” Evers said.
The play is a comedy based around a series of bad dates, and several of the cast members are taking on multiple, contrasting roles for the performance.
Madeline Couture, who is playing the role of “Girl,” has enjoyed the experience of preparing to perform a comedic play and looks forward to engaging with an audience.
“I feel like with a comedy, there’s more room to bring your own ideas to the table. We’ve performed several comedies here… Whenever an audience laughs, it helps to fuel our energy and bring more to the table,” Couture said.
Ellery Paliculict will play the roles of “Ken”, “Old Man” and “Manny,” and has relished the challenge of taking on several roles.
“One role I play is a guy with phobias, so learning all the different names and which phobia is which, knowing how to react and what they mean, was a challenge,” Paliculict said.
Heather Hudson is also taking on two roles - “Louis” and “Mimi”- and said the task of performing a male character was no huge challenge for her.
“It wasn’t really that challenging for me, just because I’m more of a tomboy,” Hudson said.
Hannah Elizabeth will perform the roles of “Melanie,” “Pearl” and “Linda.”
“I love doing these different roles. It’s challenging but it’s also really fun,” she said.
Evers will play the role of “Boy” and, along with Couture’s “Girl,” will be the victim of multiple bad dates.
Cast member Gracie Robertson will play the role of “Mary” and Coleman Slaughter will play “Mark.”
The stage manager for the production is Stinson Battisto and the lights crew includes Jayden Bradley and Logan Seat.
The cast and crew have been rehearsing for four to five hours per week in preparation for the performance and are feeling confident in how it will turn out.
Tracye Couture said her own challenge has been simply stepping back and allowing the students to take more control of the project.
“I’m very happy with it. I’ve had to make sure to remove myself and not jump in. It’s been a rewarding project where I’ve been a facilitator more than a full director,” she said.
Madeline Couture recommended the play as a worthwhile, however brief, escape from reality.
“My mom and I were talking and said we need to do a comedy. This is something where people can sit and enjoy it, see the work we’ve done and have a good time,” Madeline Couture, who is instructor Tracye Couture’s daughter, said.
Both performances of the play will be limited to 100 tickets and will require masks. Family groups will be seated together and tickets are $5 at the door. Couture said those who wish to reserve tickets should email her at [email protected]. The performances both begin at 7 p.m.