Theatre students travel back to the 60s for this year’s performance
This year the students of Lord Selkirk Regional Comprehensive Secondary School will be performing A Trip to the Moon By Tracy Wells as their annual play. This play sees the high school students swinging into the 60s for laughs, touching moments and social commentary.
Theatre teacher Kris Diaz says that this vignette-style play allowed more students to take part in the production.
“Kids who are really busy, and might not be able to normally do the show, were able to commit to the show, because [of the segmented play] which was really great. We like to involve as many kids as we can and there’s lots this year. I feel like it’s a great opportunity for them and A Trip to the Moon allowed me to do that and it’s a very fun show,” said Diaz.
A Trip to the Moon is comprised of 16 scenes, each named after an iconic song from 1969. From a woman trying to get a job at NASA to some kids hanging out just before the moon landing the play is a snapshot of the time.
“We have some scenes [where the audience will] laugh like the door-to-door makeup lady that comes and everyone remembers Avon and that kind of world. And then, of course, there’s also, lots of dance numbers and so those are fun. We have a live band with us so that’s, again, lots of fun. But also, we have touching scenes where a mother has just picked up the mail and finds out that her son has been drafted to Vietnam. We have another scene where a soldier, he’s talking to a new recruit, in Vietnam. He’s giving this new recruit a little bit of a lesson about what it means to serve and protect,” said Diaz.
Grade 12 student Miguel Braz said that he was excited to participate in a less linear play.
“It’s definitely different compared to the previous years that we’ve had. I thought it would be nice to have a unique perspective with a different type of play where it’s more short-story based versus linear,” he said.
Grade 12 student Sierra Lefteruk says that this play is different than previous year’s productions.
“I think you shouldn’t go in completely expecting a comedy,” she said.
The play will take place on March 11, 12 and 13 at 7:00 p.m. and tickets can be purchased at the high school.
Diaz wants residents to know that this production isn’t just an effort from the actors in the play but that the entire school is involved in making this a success. From the hair and makeup classes helping to get students ready for the production, to the trades classes that help to fix and fabricate items for the set, to the visual arts students who learned about graphic design work by making the play’s posters, it’s a school-wide effort.
Diaz encourages residents to get themselves a ticket and support the production as it’s a great night out.
“This is a great way to introduce yourselves or younger children [to the world of theatre] because it is a pretty family-friendly show at a very reasonable price in comparison to some of the city performances,” she said.
