Redeemer Christian High School fully embraced the madness as everything unraveled on stage, proving that the show must go on. Their production of Play On! was a chaotic and hilarious tribute to the performing arts.
A Theatrical Romp
Originally written by Jack Sharkey under the pseudonym Rick Abbot in 1980, Play On! follows a community theatre company trying to stage a murder-mystery play called Murder Most Foul. The amateur playwright, Phyllis Montague, constantly interferes, leading to a catastrophic yet hilarious meta-theatrical experience.
Redeemer Christian's cast and crew masterfully superimposed the inner play over the outer one, creating a cohesive and multidimensional atmosphere. The actors seamlessly transitioned between their characters and their characters' characters, delivering polished performances with refined nuance.
Standout Performances
Mercedes Gelso shone as the exasperated theatre director Gerry Dunbar, bringing authoritative austerity and groundedness to the role. Luc Fohr balanced the parts of overworked actor and fulminating menace as Saul Watson, perfecting the villainous role with intentional accent fluctuations and manic rage. Anna Oeschger portrayed the entitled auteur Phyllis Montague with flamboyant and jocular swagger. Eli Kaiser delivered a fantastically farcical performance as Billy Carewe, while Savvy Steiginga personified the frazzled stage manager Aggie Manville with fluency and ease.
Costumes and Set Design
The costumes, designed by Pascale Adéa, Rebecca Van Popta, and Olivia Matera, along with hair and makeup by Emi Helleman, Liya Kuyt, and Pascale Adéa, perfectly captured each character's essence. Flashy tights, bulky furs, and vivid eyeshadow solidified Montague's pretentious air, while Violet Imbry's milky white gown and Saul Watson's dark suit matched their roles.
The minimalist set, with an open-concept design, allowed the cast full use of the space and enabled the crew to frantically dash about, effectively conveying the meta-theatrical chaos. Freya Anonby's clever use of houselights enhanced the inner play's evolution, with rapid flashing of multi-hued washes indicating accelerated time.
From casting to curtain call, Redeemer Christian High School's uproarious production of Play On! employed boisterous comic timing, naturalistic chemistry, and adept differentiation to earnestly embody the overwrought theatre troupe and their facetiously turbulent performance.
