This weekend, the Naperville North Theater Department is proudly performing the comedic metatheatre, “The Play That Goes Wrong,” as this year’s winter production.
All January, the cast and crew have been tirelessly building furniture, directing, acting, all to ensure that the performance runs seamlessly and cohesively. However, perfection, by definition of this play’s terms, is much different than you would expect.
The story follows an amateur drama society’s ruinous attempt to act out a murder mystery. Yet, even when props fall, walls collapse, and scripts are forgotten, the show must still go on. What’s most eccentric about this masterful performance of charades, is not the set that seems to dismantle itself, but the special feature to a group of the most unassuming actors. Senior James Lu, the lighting designer for this show, described the emulsion of the run crew’s typical roles and how they are now the ones in the spotlight.
“Run crew, for all shows, go on stage and bring stuff on or take stuff out, but for this show, since it’s ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’, there’s… there’s a lot of moments where that happens,” Lu said.
The farce comedy is several polar steps away from the hauntingly intense showcase of last year’s spring play, “Macbeth.” Moreover, this contrary mood makes the cast even more eager to elicit a response from the audience. Many cast members are looking forward to the energizing feeling of opening night, emphasizing that the audience is like fuel. Naperville North already gave a special preview to sixth graders from Washington and Jefferson, and that audience did not disappoint with their giggles during the performance. However, for some of the crew, the sensation is bittersweet.
This time around, half of the eight cast members are seniors. With such an unusually small lineup, the cast formed a close bond with one another. Together the actors collaborated with the director, Thomas Parry, the set director, Mary Toledano, and student producers to shape the production from their own visions. When ruminating on her years doing theater, Naperville North Senior Bianca Esposito, who plays a snarky techie, reflected on feeling proud of what she has accomplished during her time at North.
“I’m a comedy girl; I’m glad this is how I am going out,” Esposito claimed.
Actor August Lynn, a senior involved with all but one of the theater productions at North, additionally shared his thoughts on what will be one of his last performances here.
“[The play] is one of the funniest plays we have had in years,” Lynn said.
To this response, his fellow cast-mate, Senior Victor Jimenez, chimed in.
“Hands down, my favorite [play] all four years; it’s amazing,” Jimenez said.
The last showing of this performance takes place in the NPAC February 1st, at 2PM.
If attending, Mr. Parry has expressed that the audience is in for a night of surprises.
“It’s an evening of escape, and it’ll be hard to anticipate what comes next; [the audience] will have to be on their toes while watching,” Parry declared.
