05s - red and white.qxp - Stanstead College

A Glass of Elderberry Wine, Anyone?OUR SCHOOLAlthough not my first thought for this year's school play,Arsenic and Old Lace proved to be the right choice. If there is anythingI have learned from working with teenagers it is that flexibilityand a good sense of humour are key to a positive outcome.It wasn't until the students came forward in November to sign upfor the school play that I knew the composition of the group Iwould be working with. Only then could I finally decide on theplay, chemistry being another important consideration whenworking in theatre.This year, Jeremy Stuart, a four-year veteran of Stanstead'sTheatre Arts programme, stepped forward with a play he hadhad in mind for quite a while. Initially I was wary, not reallywanting to tackle a play with old ladies, dead bodies, dotty brotherswith crazy friends in tow, arsenic-laced elderberry wine, teaparties, a traditional box set, as well as numerous props. Aftertoying with the idea of modernizing the time period, I decided tostay with the l940s, in spite of the hats, gloves, tidy handbags, suits, and ties, much to Jeremy's relief as he is a bit of a throwbackhimself. We had to make some minor adjustments, however, and policemen became policewomen. Then onward we went, headlonginto a very busy condensed rehearsal period.Anyone who has ever worked on a theatrical production is well aware of the hustle and bustleof trying to get all the bits and bobs, costumes, set construction, painting and lighting togetherand in place for our first dress rehearsal. This year I was lucky enough to have the added bonusof Jean-Jacques Prevost's technical know-how, along with his wife, Erica, who inherited the jobof costume/set designer. Erica's professional background in costume design and ability to navigatesecond-hand clothing stores in the area resulted in authentic 1940s costumes for the actors.Jeremy assumed his traditional role as stage manager along with his first-ever acting role.So much of the success of any performance depends on the commitment of the actorsthemselves. This year's group of talented students worked hard at balancing the demands of theplay along with their regular academic commitments: not an easy task. We all worked as a finelyhoned team, meeting for daily after-school rehearsals, collecting props, costumes, as well as,painting and constructing the set.There is, however, nothing like the high of a successful opening night. The magic in theatrelies in the creative process: beginning with a bare, empty stage, a new script, students mumblingand bumbling through their lines, hardly heard or understood, and ending with actors whounderstand the process and have managed to create, through solid hard work, a successful, polishedproduction. This is a memory that will be in the hearts and minds of these students for alifetime. Hats off to all who were involved in this year's Theatre Arts production of Arsenic andOld Lace!Barbara Elliot - DirectorCAST: Alex Cerretani, Sam Copestake, Charla Farquarhson, Hope Hutchins, Brandon Lee, Jessika Mathurin,Phoebe Miller, David Osei, Joseph Pape, Jeremy Stuart, Melissa Vargas and Ashley Wilson13