On November 22nd and 23rd, Colonia High School will be performing their fall play, Almost, Maine. On Friday, the 22nd, the show will begin at 7 p.m. and on Saturday there will be two more shows– one at 2 p.m. and the last show at 7 p.m. Tickets will be sold at the door for $7. The money collected at the shows will go to the Thespian Society, which is a guild of CHS actors and stage crew.
Almost, Maine consists of nine different love stories and it takes place on one Friday night in a “town” called Almost, which is in Maine. Almost isn’t necessarily a town, so it can’t be found on a map; it’s considered an “unorganized territory that never got around to getting organized.” The stars in the sky play a major role in this play; they draw out a lot of emotions in each of the characters and are the main reason some of the situations in the play occur.
The characters and the cast (considering that this is, in fact, a love story) all seem to have a lot of chemistry together. One story that stood out most in this play was about a couple named Marvalyn and Steve. Their scenes together were great, emotional, and hilarious. Steve tends to be an awkward and gullible character, while Marvalyn appears to be a regular, sweet, and innocent girl.
A lot of the characters are eccentric, but they fit very well into the strange, small town. Everyone has their own lives and stories and it is magical seeing how their lives all connect together. “The play has romantic elements with heartfelt moments but a slight comedic atmosphere. It’s never dull and you’ll definitely leave happier than you were already,” said freshman Izilda Jorge, who plays Marvalyn.
The cast and crew have been working very hard on this production, and it is evident in their rehearsals. Ms. Spiewak and Ms. Montalvo, who are the directors of the show, and the rest of the cast and crew, have been working since the end of September to put on an amazing show for everyone.
“Everyone is dedicated and driven, pouring plenty of time and devotion towards this production. Between cast and crew along with the directors and various others who contribute to the play, it was all made possible. The atmosphere is always friendly and inviting, like a family. But a family that helps you discover your highest potential and see just how much you can achieve,” said Jorge about the cast and crew working with her.
“Being the second year I’ve done the fall drama, having a new director so soon is a new feeling. The way that the directors go about things are very interesting and being exposed to two directors at once has helped me grow as an actor,” explained Richard Dare, who plays multiple characters in the show. “The show is definitely interesting. This show is different than last year’s show, The Yellow Boat, which was somber and serious. This show promises to make you laugh.”
Overall, this fall production is going to be a memorable one; the whole show is amazing and well directed. Seeing as though this is Mrs. Spiewak and Ms. Montalvo’s first year directing, the production has turned out wonderful. The cast and crew are looking forward to the performances and to the audience’s reactions to it. They’ve worked very hard and are expected to show it in their performances.
