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Alice Does Live Here Evermore
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Class of 2006
Senior Class PlayNBHS Apr 1, 2006 A play is like a mirror - a looking glass which in some way reflects our lives. It can be said that, generally speaking, annual school plays are considered to be a great experience for the participants and their families and friends, an experience to add to a scrapbook of fond memories of childhood. Occasionally, though, a troupe of players play so well together that, as if by magic, a little door opens, the mirror melts, and the audience finds themselves through the looking glass gleefully. On Friday, March 31 and Saturday, April 1, North Brookfield was treated to just such an experience when the Class of 2006 put on their Senior Class Play, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, based on the novel by Lewis Carroll as adapted by Tim Kelly. Lewis Carroll's tale of Alice's adventures down the rabbit hole charmed the many children in the audience as much as it delighted the adults with its quick wit and double entendres; but the true thanks for creating the magic goes to the troupe of performers who made it all happen ... when it almost did not happen at all.
Budget constraints this year affected many programs at NBHS, and the senior class play was one of the programs which was cut from the budget and not funded. Katelynn Chartier, a willful, creative, and resourceful student, determined that that situation was not acceptable and sought to produce and direct the senior class play on her own with the help of a band of talented, and also very resourceful, friends and fellow students. With the help of some mothers and friends, the students made their own costumes and scenery. Mrs Barron and Mr. Robbins volunteered their time so the troupe would have a place to rehearse. Mrs. McGrail helped with the program. Debbie Southwood-Smith of Long View Recording Studio volunteered to assist with direction. Jody Gauthier and Marty Toomey volunteered to help backstage. Nine NBES kindergarteners are in the play as citizens and flowers (cute! cute! cute!) Ms. Buzzell and some parents volunteered to watch them during rehearsals. Aubuchon Hardware, Howe's Lumber, and Klem's all donated supplies. The final result was just magic!
There could be no better casting for Alice than Kristen Kularski, whose looks, sweet innocence, and wonder appeared cut straight from the pages of the book. Andy Forgit's Cheshire Cat was absolutely feline!
The play was full of delightful moments: Holly Lavallee's disinterested caterpillar (Whooo are yoooou?) slinking off stage, Amanda Desmarais and Katelynn Chartier as Tweedledee and Tweedledum, Jenny Hick's March Hare with Jake Wetherell's sleepy Dormouse at the Mad Tea Party, Dominic Miner's Mad Hatter leaping on the table to sing and his portrayal of the Knight being bucked off his wooden horse (OWWW!), Heather Cambell as the Duchess and Wynnie Clark as the Cook (more pepper, please...), the caucus race with Hillary Lamothe as the Lory, Alicia Cote as the Dodo, and who could have been better cast as the mock turtle than Nora Miller ! Hannah Forgit and Rachel White debuted as the soldiers from the deck of cards. Emily Zona, Fran Caputo, Alicia Cote as Lily, Daisy, and Rose with their bed of little sprouts were perfectly petulant. Amanda Budney as Alice's sister maintained a stoic silence until the end when she shook Alice from her dream. A special thanks goes to understudy Mr. Rigney as the doomed Knave of Hearts.
The ever-so-bossy Red Queen, played by Fran Caputo, was paired with Robyn Lilly's completely illogical Queen of Hearts, and the antics of Nellie Condee's absolutely wacko White Queen were amazing. The King of Heart's chauvinistic illogic chimed through in Andy Forgit's delivery of the line, "Make me a ham sandwich.." Finally, kudos must be given to Jenna Hubacz, not just for her portrayal of the nervous and forgetful White Rabbit, but for her absolutely side-splittingly funny portrayal of an irascible Humpty Dumpty irritated by Alice's "peculiar" questions.The memory of this year's Senior Class Play will be cherished not only for the entertainment enjoyed, but because of the talented, activist students who will be graduating this year who made it happen . We will miss you, but is is clear that you have what it takes to succeed in your future pursuits. It is also fortunate that the underclassmen with whom you have shared this challenging experience will be with us for future class plays. We look forward to seeing them blossom as you did.
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