By Duke Saunders
Staff Writer
With November right around the corner, students look forward to the approaching Thanksgiving vacation, cooling temperatures and falling leaves.
November also marks the time of the Drama Department’s fall production. For the 2014 production, the Drama Department will perform a comedy written by Thorton Wilder called “The Matchmaker,” which cast members say is different from any of the plays the department has produced before.
“The Matchmaker,” adapted from the original novel of the same name, is set in the late 1800s. The plot follows a stubborn old shopowner named Vandergelder who ventures from Yonkers, New York into the city with Dolly Levi to find a wife.
Vandergelder’s two rebellious clerks find themselves in an abundance of comedic situations; meanwhile, Vandergelder and Levi end up falling for each other.
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“The play will definitely amuse the audience,” cast member Layne Eichenlaub said. “The show will be dynamic and fast-paced, so everyone will be on the edge of their seats. I hope that a lot of students come and support the Drama Department because we are working very hard to make the play the best it can be.”
Originating from New York’s theatrical sphere of influence in 1963, the production ranked as one of Broadway’s longest-running musicals.
“The entire cast is excited about this production because it’s such an extreme contrast from ‘The Crucible’ last year,” junior Julianna Rosenfeld said. “‘The Crucible’ was more serious while this play is upbeat and light-hearted.”
After playing the lead role of Peter Pan in Costa’s 2014 spring production of “Peter Pan,” senior Julia McDermott will assume the leading role of Dolly Levi in “The Matchmaker.” Junior Hadley Thomas is portraying Irene Molloy while Kavon Tiegs, Preston Doran and Ryan Fiene will play the three male lead roles of Horace Vandergelder, Cornelius Hackl and Barnaby Tucker, respectively.
“The main challenge we face throughout the rehearsal process is understanding the diction and meaning behind the lines we are delivering because the play was written in the thirties,” Doran said. “But the fun thing about rehearsing is that we are able to become different people while performing on stage.”
The cast and crew have already begun rehearsals as well as costume and set preparation for the play. During Hell Week, which leads up to opening night, intensive rehearsals will run from 3 to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
The first performance of the play will take place on Nov. 7 in the Costa auditorium with the final show on Nov. 15. Presale tickets are $10 for students and $12 for adults, and regular tickets are $12 for students and $15 for adults.
“I am really excited about this production because rehearsals have been going great, and I think the audience will enjoy the humor,” Fiene said. “I can’t wait until opening night.”
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