This fall, the Overland Performing Arts Department will be performing two fall plays instead of their usual one play schedule. The two fall plays this year are “A Doll’s House,” and “The Importance of Being Earnest,” two classic plays.
“We have such a unique opportunity to showcase so many of our students in both of these plays!” Says “A Doll’s House” director Ms. Garza, “These are some staple pieces in theatre literature, and we are so excited about the chance to share both shows with the OHS community at the same time.”
As for the technical aspect, these two plays will also be performed in repertory. “We are actually performing these plays in repertory, which means we are using the same set! Certain furnishings will be different and we will adjust the space accordingly, but the main set will remain the same for both shows.” Garza adds.
These plays have a very selective cast of only 19 people in total between the two plays. “I decided to audition since I really enjoy theater, and my goal is to be in every play,” says junior Maggie Condie. Similarly, sophomore Briar Gallegos said “I wanted to audition because I’ve been doing theater for almost 4 years now and I always love to try new styles of productions.”
Both Condie and Gallegos are excited for the new opportunities this fall. “I thought it was kinda exciting, I’ve never done anything like this before and I love when PA departments try something new.” Gallegos said.
Condie shared a similar sentiment “I’m honestly really excited about it, because it gives Mrs Garza a chance to direct!”
Both actors also described their characters. “My character’s name is Anna,” says Gallegos, “and she is the nurse of Nora’s children in “A Dolls House” when she was just a teen she gave birth to a baby girl, but she had to abandon the baby to have a shot at a better life,so that same year she started nursing Nora when she was just a child and now she is nursing Nora’s children.” “My character is a really old lady named Miss Prism- she pretends to be uptight and pretentious, but really she’s a romantic at heart,” Condie adds.
Overall, the shows have many exciting, creative aspects. “I’m really looking forward to what the costumes are going to look like,” Gallegos said “Both of these plays take place in the late 1800s and that era of fashion is really exquisite.”
But with the excitement also comes challenges. “I imagine that we will have some challenges when it comes to stage time with the set after fall break!” Mr. Ray adds. “Every time you’re able to get some time on the set with all of the lights, props, and costumes you go a mile, but we’ll be sharing this year and will need to find other ways to gain that distance.”
Mr Ray also provided a closer spoiler-free look into both plays to show Blazers what’s to come. “A Doll’s House” Ray adds, “Is the story of a woman named Nora who has had every decision in her life made for her by a man, whether that be her father or the husband she was told to marry. After living her life in the service of others Nora needs to make a decision on how she can best serve herself.” Ray continues on “The Importance of Being Earnest is a comedy of manners, which is a play that makes fun of the social structures of the upper class of the time (this time being late Victorian England.) We follow the story of two couples desparate to be married, but who are hindered by the rigid and ridiculous social standards of the time period.”
As the November opening date looms closer and closer, excitement is buzzing in the cast. “We are already having a blast in rehearsals,” Garza says, “and can’t wait to showcase our cast and crew’s hard work in November, come see both shows!!”
“People should come see the fall plays for the same reason they should go support our sports teams, choirs, bands, or orchestras.” Ray adds. “We have a lot of wonderful things happening at Overland and coming to support the students putting those wonderful things on is the best way to build community here at the “O.”
“The Importance of Being Earnest” and “A Doll’s House” Open this November 5th-8th. Come support Overland’s Performing Arts Department!