Drama students from St. Timothy School are setting the stage for their spring production, Maleficent, and invite theatre lovers in Cochrane to come and watch their performances from May 2 to 4.
The production is being arranged by students and the script was written by St. Timothy School teacher Mr. McGregor. The play is a fractured fairy tale that will have a unique spin as an intentional parody of the animated film, Despicable Me.
“So, where they would have minions, we have dwarves,” McGregor explained. “It is a bunch of different fairy tale stuff and we added the layer of steampunk, but it’s actually ‘frostpunk’ themed, so there’s lots of brass, goggles, and scarves.”
Acting mainly as a supervisor, McGregor said it has been great to see his students leading the initiative and bringing the performance together throughout the rehearsals.
“It’s super fun,” he said. “I wouldn’t be doing it if it wasn’t, and they make it worthwhile.”
Actor in the production, Issac Thibodeau, said a unique aspect of the production is how the script – written by McGregor – has been tailored specifically to fit the students acting on stage.
“He writes the plays with people in mind, meaning that our characters all have aspects that reflect not only us, but also past actors in plays,” Thibodeau explained.
From the sets to the costumes, actors, and back-stage technicians, all elements of the production will be handled by students from St. Timothy. Actor and Grade 10 student, Amelia Solomon, said it has been a group effort by students in all grades coming together.
“We pretty much have one of our Grade 12 students figuring out mixing paint, getting it all, and a group of us are out paining the sets,” Solomon said. “There’s also quite a few of us who make the costumes. We go to Value Village, pick out a few pieces, and put them together with stuff we have here, and then it’s designated to the characters and fits who they are.”
Grade 10 student and actor Evalie Salkeld added that even other classes at St. Tim’s have become involved in the production.
“We even have some of our art kids helping us paint the sets, so it’s a group effort of so many kids painting sets and helping out with doing stuff,” Salkeld said.
Joe Goosney, starring as the role of Prince Charming, said everyone involved has done their best to help bring the production together. He invites Cochrane residents to come check out their work on stage next month.
“I can speak for all of us when I say I’m really excited to see the fruits of our labour pay off in our play,” he said.
The show times will get underway at St. Timothy School at 7 p.m. each evening. Tickets for the production can be purchased by visiting the school office, or reserved ahead of time by calling 403 500-2106. Ticket prices range from $10 for adults to $5 for youth and students, while kids ages nine and under get in for free.
