We had been reading this play for years in our Advanced Acting Class. It seemed like the right time to do it for real. It was a special year of shows because we were forced into picking some smaller cast productions (due to our Auditorium being under construction). God of Carnage by Yasmina Reza is a wonderfully complex story, with extremely layered storytelling, and it has so many challenging moments; for any actor. We were fortunate to have a group of students in the department who asked to take on the project.
The teaser made by Parker Collier that we used for the production
It was shown on the announcements the day we opened
Poster Design by Freya Adkisson
REHEARSAL
We started in the Black Box right after the Fall musical closed and the cast worked on getting the show staged first. The set was kept very simple and the tech required mostly "light's up" and "lights down". There is one prop special effect in the show, but mostly the team got to focus on the blocking and line memorization.
Freya Adkisson took on the role of Student Director for this production
and she did an amazing job bringing this play to the stage!
The Cast at the very beginning of the process
Tate Harcourt is our "photobug" and has taken shots of many productions for us!
Luca, Ellen and Charlotte work on a scene
This cast used any way possible to rehearse!
The Cast on the unpainted set as we get ready to open the show.
After Winter Break Freya Adkisson (the Student Director) moved the scenes into polishing mode and Mr. Schaefer joined them occasionally. The Black Box worked great as a rehearsal hall and we had originally planned to produce the show in that space. The set was assembled and we collected and arranged the furniture. Mr. Schaefer had all of the lighting completed. Just needed to paint the wall unit and some set pieces, and we were go to go.
Mr. Schaefer, Colin Nichol and Mimi Mueller even built stadium seating for the audience.
The stadium seating we constructed for the audience seating didn't work quite as planned. The site lines for the audience were off, we couldn't see the stage well enough. The actors ended up on the floor at times during the play, and it was essential we had a clean view of those moments.
We quickly decided to scrap the idea and moved the show to the Frick Theater. It wasn't too difficult, everyone in the class grabbed something and carried it down to the other side of campus. We were able to get it loaded in and set up in one hour.
After the show closed, Mr. Schaefer used his truck to help bring it all back. The stadium seating in our new theater was exactly what the show needed, so it worked out in the end.
The set for the show looked awesome and way more elegant in the Frick Theater
All of the set pieces were pulled from our stock and we only had to buy a few items to decorate the boxes, 2 new pillows, the red tulips, and some perishable props (some food, beverages and cigars to tear up).
The set looked amazing under the lights in the Frick.
The T-Shirt Design we used for the production
Mr. Schaefer and his partner print them in the WGHS Makerspace
THE SHOW
We were very lucky to have a team that had been working tech on the shows in the Fall. They moved right into this show without missing a beat.
Mira Thies on the Sound Board, Colin Nichol on the light board
and Mimi Mueller as stage hand and props master.
The small stage crew ran the lights, sound and prepared all of the props. The play has no intermission or scene changes, so once it starts we don't stop. These three students were not in the Adv Acting Class , but instead joined the team during the after school rehearsals in January. The set had to be readied each night. It got TRASHED by the actors during every run and had to be reset. We tried to do that before we left the theater.
BACKSTAGE
The Cast and Crew used the dressing rooms to prep before the show began each night.
The Frick Theater is a great space. The dressing room provides enough mirrors and chairs for a cast of this size. They were able to do their make-up and hair. It also has a full bathroom attached. This group knew each other well, and the backstage energy was great! They brought in snacks and had plenty of time for bonding.
THE VOMIT BAG
Ellen and Colin had to set the vomit special effect each night...and that was a task.
The effect used a mixture of titanium-dioxide, water, a medical colostomy bag with tubing all
hidden under Ellen's costume so that she could vomit on stage each night on cue.
OUR BOX OFFICE TEAM!!!
Gabe Braun, Casey Drillingas and Robby Conroy ran the Box Office for the show and did a great job with our audience as they came into the theater. We had a great turn out for the production. SHOW PICS (Taken at final dress rehearsal)
Luca Thies played the part of Alan, a lawyer
Ellen Luecke plays Alan's wife Annette, she is finances.
They are the parents of the kid who hit the other kid on the playground
Parker Collier played the part of Michael,
he is in wholesale goods...toilet fixtures...frying pans
Charlotte Snell played Michael's wife Veronica...she called this meeting to order.
They are the parents of the "victim"...the kid who lost two teeth
Things start off fine...
Veronica goes over the details of the altercation...
Have some coffee and clafoutis
Michael's Mom keeps calling
Alliances begin to form...
Certain truths start to come to light...
People are not as they seem...
Annette can't keep anything down...
and it gets all over everything!
The hairdryer suddenly becomes a character in the show...
Then the drinking begins...Michael just can't leave the rum in the liquor cabinet
Once the rum starts flowing... things really start to go wrong
The adults begin to act like children...
Phones get thrown in water...
"My husband will have spent his entire afternoon blowdrying"
Purses get thrown...
Now Annette wants to get drunk!
Mom's taking the drug that Alan is litigating...
Cigars get torn up and Michael collapses...
Alan is done...
They just can't seem to leave...
they try a bunch of times, but the meeting never ends
Veronica had good intentions...
The poor tulips took a beating in the end, nothing was safe in that room
The Vomit trick was a success!
MVT's unite!
(Colin and Ellen)
We hadn't been there in a awhile, but we decided to return to our old "cast party" location of Steak n Shake on Watson. We used to go there after every production. Since this was a small group it worked out great. The cast and crew got to decompress after the last show.
Every worked hard and did an amazing job with the play,
the audiences absolutely loved it!
We sold a lot of tickets and the show was fortunate to present in the new space on campus. The Frick Theater was a great spot for this production and we give a warm shout out to the Frick's for their amazing vision and generous donation to the high school and the Fine Arts students.
THESE THEATER NERDS SAY,
"GO SEE A PLAY!"
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