December 8, 2004
Students stage heavenly play at St. Francis
St. Francis High School Drama Club presents lighthearted teen comedy
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
Misunderstandings and schemes, love lost and then found form the heart of "For Heaven's Sake," the St. Francis High School Drama Club production debuting Thursday evening at the Kohler Auditorium.
Running for three nights, the play by Robert Orth follows the trials and tribulations of two teens as they navigate uncertainty, a plotting father and eventual commitment.
"It's a funny play, really lighthearted," said Angela Neumann, a senior at the school who is in the play. "It's kind of cute because it's a little bit of a love story."
Senior Jill Swan directed the production, stepping into the breach to make her directorial debut.
"We always scramble to find a director so I volunteered to do it," she noted. "I've been a prop person for two years, never acted because I prefer backstage work."
A veteran of four previous productions, this summer Swan paged through numerous books of plays to find an appropriate one. She wanted to find a comedy that would appeal to families with children of all ages. She decided on "For Heaven's Sake" at the last minute, with the script arriving in the mail just before auditions began this fall.
Auditions were a challenge because she had to lead her peers, guiding some on technique, rejecting others for a role or giving them a role they may not have wanted. She eventually chose a cast of 13, tapping a mix of experienced actors and novices.
"I was new at it and was afraid I would make a mistake but Miss Foster [the faculty advisor] helped me make decisions," recalled Swan, who is considering attending Hillsdale College next fall. "Now it is easier to be more decisive and once you're in a leadership role you just have to do it."
This fall, art teacher Julie Foster stepped up to be faculty advisor for the drama students, a role that is often unfilled at the school. Over the years, the students involved in producing plays have learned to be self-sufficient. Last year, they enjoyed the guidance of Luis Araquistain, director of the Traverse City Children's Theater, when he directed them in Shakespeare's "Comedy of Errors."
Foster, for her part, found the students highly motivated and experienced in all aspects of production.
"They each know what is expected of them and I think there is kind of a drive in each of them to want to perform their best," said Foster, an employee of the Traverse City Area Public Schools who works at St. Francis High School three days a week.
"They definitely have a lot of drive and energy," she noted. "I've been impressed by their initiative and they've all been doing what's needed."
Senior Matt McAlpine is making his stage debut, winning one of the lead roles as a nerdy character that his friends tease is just like him.
"I always said I wanted to do one before I graduate and this is my senior year so I had to do it," he said.
The backstage crew created the backdrops and also tapped an extensive collection of props to make a living room set look real. However, director Swan turned to her parents for help with one crucial aspect.
"All of the living room furniture is from my house," she noted.
"For Heaven's Sake" will be presented this Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the Kohler Auditorium at St. Francis High School. Tickets are available at the door and are $7 for adults, $5 for seniors and students; children five and under are free.