By: Angelo Lucier , Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Lakeshore News Reporter
Welcome to the Renaissance, and immerse yourselves in 16th century England, as the Sandwich drama program presents a spectacular show called “Something Rotten!” Follow brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom, as they attempt to gain success in the writing industry. The problem? Master William Shakespeare. The brothers need to write something innovative in order to steal the adoration of England from the famed writer and find themselves right in the middle of the first musical. Along their journey, they meet plenty of wacky characters, from devoted love interests, to a quirky soothsayer, to a determined investor, to even a malicious magistrate. Will the Bottom Brothers come out on top, or will a combination of obstacles add up to be their demise?
Shows will take place in the first two weekends of April, with shows on Apr 4, 5, 11, 12 being at 7 p.m., and matinees on Apr 6, 13 at 2 p.m. You can see Something Rotten at the school gym, with tickets being $15, and available for purchase at the door. There are also two shows on the 8th and 9th, open to elementary schools in the district.
Sandwich has always hosted plays, but this year, the Sabres are taking a different approach. Instead of a serious tale, like Matilda/The Little Mermaid, Something Rotten focuses more on lighthearted comedy. Though there are some serious and emotional moments showcased by the wide range of characters, you will definitely be laughing the majority of the time. Long time director and drama teacher Mrs Michelle Fields speaks on this change. “This is the first comedy I have directed. It is still family friendly, but the subject matter is more mature than our last two shows… with a lot of jokes that will appeal to every age and over twenty references to a variety of musicals.”
The director isn’t the only one excited for the upcoming play; cast members are excited to showcase their hard work and dedication in front of a mass audience. I asked show lead Akira Lee, who plays Nick Bottom, about how her role as a lead gives her extra responsibilities, and the overall eagerness of her, and the rest of the cast. Lee states “As the lead and a senior, I try my best to show our younger actors the ropes, taking after the seniors from past performances. As a whole, we’re extremely eager to get this show running, as it’s come a long way from where we started.”
Not only are the cast members stoked, so are the relatively unseen part of the operation: the student-led crew. The crew carries plenty of responsibilities, ranging from moving set pieces, to controlling the lighting/sound, to even controlling microphones. The leader of this operation? Grade 12 student Leyla Bosnali is in the midst of her second year as Stage Manager, the person responsible for all cast and crew during the show. Though it is a massive undertaking, Bosnali is not afraid of the responsibility. “The play becomes the most important priority in my life… while it can be stressful to have so much to do before and during the play, it is very fulfilling. As for the crew, they are some of the most important parts of the show, as they give the cast a foundation to act on and something to immerse the audience into the story,” Bosnali stated.
Be sure to come out and support the hard-work and dedication of these proud Sabres the first two weekends of April.
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