With three shows, dozens of volunteers, and countless rehearsals, Loretto Abbey Catholic Secondary School's senior drama production of Wonderland by Karen Culbertson was a year-long passion project that lived up to every expectation.
The journey began on April 28, when the Abbey hosted a full dress rehearsal in front of 140 elementary students from St. Raphael Catholic Elementary School. The performance was broken up with interactive games followed by a Question and Answer session with the cast and crew. Not only did the visit help the high school students refine their performance, but it also gave younger students the opportunity to experience high school theater and immerse themselves in abstract characters and themes that help foster creativity.
The long hours of preparation were evident on May 7 and 8, when the Drama Department held their official performance nights of Wonderland. Each show had its own unique atmosphere, yet both were met with much fanfare from students, teachers, guests, and administration alike, with ticket sales spiking after the first night.
Wonderland would not have been the success that it was without the collective effort of a large portion of the school community. Ms. Pereira, the Drama teacher at the Abbey, was the driving force behind the entire production, serving as the backbone for everyone involved. She could be found running around the school all year while managing everything down to the most minute details that needed to exist in order for the show to go on and become the success that it was. As always, her dedication to her drama program is truly inspiring.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to the entire cast and crew for their hard work and dedication in creating a new world under the guidance of Veronica, who carefully guided the play from a class-created concept to completion as the student director of the production. Congratulations also go out to Sarah, who took on the lead role of Alice. Her deep understanding of the character was such a talent to see from someone only in high school. Sarah embodied Alice, a character with a lot of depth to interpret whose impatience and forgetfulness were sewn into each action and line.
Beyond Alice, the principal roles of the White Rabbit and the Queen of Hearts, played by Simona and Melissa, both in grade 11, were incredibly entertaining and engaging. Both performers were extremely comedic and expressive on stage. Simona, while bringing her own energy to the Rabbit, was clearly well versed on the movements and the manner of speaking that one would expect from the original Rabbit that Lewis Carroll invented. Melissa was commanding and calculated and had quite the entrance! When the Queen of Hearts appeared on stage, there was an anticipation for her presence. Melissa captured the hot anger that was sometimes broken up with a typically unrepresented coldness of a queen who knows her power.
The junior drama classes took the lead in designing and creating the set and props that made Wonderland feel so real even though it is a place of imagination. The Abbey's Art Department Head, Ms. Racioppo, was a miracle worker with her sewing machine, producing a large portion of the trickier costuming, including the Caterpillar's body and the multi-layered skirt of the Duchess. Ms. Racioppo continues to be a constant source of support for the Drama Department.
For many of the actors this was their second production, having previously performed or worked as crew members for previous productions of Rogues Gallery and Back to the 80s. Nevertheless, this was the first show for the entire ensemble, which also included students from Grades 9 and 10. There were also many hands working backstage on lighting and sound, stagehand work, stage managing, and directing. Though they were not visible on stage, their efforts and contributions were very much seen in how smoothly this show was run from transition to transition and beginning to end.
Next year's production has not yet been announced, aside from some whisperings that the Drama Department may "flip the script", so to speak, and move in a more serious direction. No matter what they choose, given the success of this year's production and the talent found within the Abbey community, it is certain to be another memorable show.
